The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-08-14
HOW HE RUNS THE RANCH.
LARGE PART TAKEN BY THE OFFICE
BOY OF A DAILY PAPER.

A~AS-
Among all the attaches Of big newspaper
there is one who imagines himself the head
and front Of tho concern, the pre-eminent
manager Of the Office, but for whose untlrinS
energies and indonitable will the paper would
never find its way to the subscribers front
doorsteps two hours before SUNRISE rain or
shine, every day in the week, including Sun
DAYS This self important individual on whose
shoulders rests so great q responsibility is no
less a parsonage than the Office boy, the
much abused, greatly maltreated, and ever
underratcd youth who spends many sleepless
nights worrying about the editorial conduct
of the paper.
The office boy is not, properly speaking,
marvel OF probity He Is q nearer kin to the
devil He may think he gets up the paper.
but be doesn't He only assists, and he as
ssts in his own peculiar wny. he Is always
in the way when one doesn't want him, and
is never around when there IS an urgent case
on hand which requires his immediate atten-
ton He is slower than his brother OF the
district messenger service, and chews gum,
keeping time with his jaws to all his move
ments But he isn't aware, or pretends not
to be- that there is anything in his general
make up which tends to detract in the least
from the many excellent qualities be thinks
he possesses.
Johnny thinks he has hard struggle for
an existence, but Johnny Is mistaken It's
true he has to run back and forth a hundred
times in the course Of night between the
local and telegraph rooms and the composing
room. 1t is also true that everybody wants
him at the same time, and on such occasions
be has to bring his fine Judgment as news
paper man into play and decide on the spur
of tho moment whom to serve first The
CODY in the local room must be carried into
the composing room Immediately; Likewise
q big bundle Of news that has just arrived
by the lightning process over copper wire.
The foreman, too, has some proofs which
must be taken at once to the proof reader,
but Johnny, if he is as bright as the average
Office youngster, knows just whom to serve
first Strange to say, he doesn't attempt to
run all three errandS OF once. He doesn't go
to the nearest place either, but hurries, after
bis own fashion, to the room where he would
stand the best chance Of getting blowing
up if he didn't answer the call promptly
Ten minutes later he shuffles into the local
room.
"Did you ring?' he asks.
"Ringl Why we've been ringing for you
for the last half hour :"
mo you haven't, either. I've been sitting
out by the elevator for the last ten minutes
and you haven't run2 once during that time"
"Well, here now, take this copy out and
hurry up about it. Tell Mr.. Jones that this
leads the South side murder with display
head"
"Who was murderedl" asks the boy.
"Peter Brown Hurry up, now"
"Who killed hnf"
"Oh, Sam WilIiamskilled him in saloon
row on Clark street. Now take that copy out
and hurry up about it for The first edition"
"All right, sir Did he shoot him or stab
him?'
'sWill you take that copy outT' asks the
copy reader, losing his temper.
'sWell, amt l taking it outa What are
you givin' usa Do you take me for streak
Of ughtning"
This is mora than the copy reader can
stand He jumps up and makes for the fiery
headed youth, but on these occasions Johnny
displays his latent agility. He invariably
reaches the door first and slams it in the
others face with the parting a2@ossitso6 stasss
he's ''gettin' too fresh.
Johnny stars sst With the copy after this
little episode, and as be couldn't get the In
formation be wanted verbally be stops on
the way to digest the contents Of the copy.
It IS important that be should know every.
thing that goes into the paper, but he hasn't
| educated the employees of the local room up
to recognition Of that fact yet He hopes
to do so before long he hopes also to get
j caise Of salary soon, for he is tired Of ''work
Ing th;;;;naseif to death" for dollar a week and
car fare. zs5szss.
Johnny has one sympathizing friend into
whose willing ear he pours az his woes. This
Is the elevator man. He gives the younster
all the free rides he wants down to the street
| floor and back and thereby incurs his evers'
lasting friendship. Johnny swears by the
man who manipulates the wire rope that con.
trols the movements of the elevator cage and
that individual is the only person whom he
recognizes as his superior. For him he will
do any service. He IS the only person about
the Office whom Johnny envies bis position
and the only one on whom he won't play
tricks.
After johnny has had one Of his frequent
rows with r::e copy readers in the local or
telegraph room he seeks consolation from his
friend.
The Office boy is the only person in Q news
paper Office who does just as he peases When
the circus comes to town he takes his day of
without asking anybody's permission. On
the Fourth Of July be touches off q big fire
cracker under the proofreaders desk and
sticks crooked pin in the night editors chair
to get even with that individual for sending
him out after his midnight lunch. He never
means to do any Of these things They and
O hundred other annoying little tricks that
he is responsible for are accidents, and when
they happen he puts on his most sorrowful
look and seems so genuinely repentant that
one doesn't have the heart to strike the lad.
These woe begone looks arc all on the surface
however, and as soon as he gets chance to
slip away he hics himself to an unfrequented
spot and has good laugh all to himself. his
vacations generally come whenever he gets
"ick," which he does on every holiday and
about once week besides
Tho office boy, in fact, is probably the
sickliest person living, but the redeeming fea-
ture of his,sickneSS is that it always comes
over him aSthe most opportune time for bis
own convenience. The office boys position Is
not sinecure, after all He is everybody's
property ard every one takes a kick at him
when be chooses. He is eternally kicking up
fuss in some department, but he Invariably
pays up for it by running his legs of on i'm
possible assignments about the Office, but II
the fellows ION the desk do get the best Of
Johnny in tho long run he remains in bhssful
ignorance Of the fact, so the victory Is only
half ono after all, ana it is probably better
for the copy readers that this Is so, for if the
boy could read the thoughts of some Of them
he would make it so hot for them that in self
defense they would tender their designations
Chicago Times
"Stephen Adams" otherwise Mr.. May
brick, the song writer and singer, Is tall,