Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-03

strated to them to be mechanically lmpossi-
Bile to set type with the left hand, without
having a left-handed stick, ''and then the
matter would read Backward" or from
right to left! I have many times had it so
demonstrated to me by old printers, who
''had travelled this wide world over" To
me these demonstrations were conclusive,
because | took them without giving the
subject any thought, or making any en-
deavor to test the thing practically Every
printer knows that distributing with the
left hand can be accom- plished easily, sim
ply by turning the matter "other end up,'
in the right hand. That type can be set and
lines spaced out in tho ordinary stick with
the left hand was demonstrated to me first
in Sherman, Tex, by witnessing Mr.. Dick
Hopson, of the Courier Office, performing
the eat at rate of speed equal 10, if not
above, that Of the average Compositor. Mr..
Hopson sets type no other way than with
his left hand. He does all kinds of work
included in the work of book, newspaper
and a job compositor.
But the greatest surprise yet remained
for me, in the person of Mr.. c. S. Glassco, of
Tuscola, Ill, whose portrait IS herewith
given. Mr.. Glassco not only sets type left
handed. but has only the left hand TO set
he was deprived of his right hand. The cut
is good picture of the gentleman, and rep
resents him with his stick in the position in
which he holds it when setting type.
In distributing Mr.. Glassco lifts the mat
ter with his left hand, and places it in the
elbow of his short arm, head up, or in ex-
actly in an inverse order from that of one
who distributes with his right hand; that is,
he distributes the matter in exactly the or
der of its composition, beginning at the head
Of the article andfollowlng down. The feat of
holding the matter in the elbow joint of his
short arm Mr.. Glassco performs with ease
and holds all the matter he can lift with his
hand. His method of distributing iob-work
is the same as in reading or newspaper mat
ter. He can pick up any width of matter
and get it in position Oh his arm that any
twchanded printer can get up and hold in
his hand, and he prldes himself in the fact
that he makes as little pI as the average
typesetter or foreman. The appearance of
his Office when / saw il substautiated this
fact
Mr. Glassco was born IN Coles County, III,
July 90, 1856. He was raised on farm, and
after becouing old enough always made a
hand at any thing and every thing, from
chopping wood TO binding grain, notwith-
standing he lost his hand al FIVE years of
age, as above stated, by an accident in a
sorghum mill. He attended college at
Greencastle, Ind, and Ann Arbor, Mich
He began learning TO set type in the Journal
Office, Tuscola, Ill, ii 1874. being then eight
cen years Of age. Worked in both the Jour
nal and Review Offices, Of that town, and
assisted IN "Iaying" the material of the
Decatur I'LL Herald, and was foreman
of the acknowledgements Office, Ander-
son. Ind. for two years. He can and does
do any and all kinds OF Job work in coun-
try oficer (as he expressed II himself in
conversation with me- can set an average
of 7,eo0 ems per day, and has set I3, so ems
in ten hours. NJ. Glassco Is 81 present fore
man in the Tu.cola Saturday Journal Office
He is a robust and intelligent, genial gen.
tleman, as his picture Indicates and writes
a splendid hand, az was proven 10 me By
letter received since seeing him he takes
a deep interest in al things pertaining to
the art Of printing, and - catches on " TO the
new things as readily as the best two
handed printer sny where / take great
pleasure in introducing Mir Glasseo 20 the
craft n general, through the pages Of the
Inland Printer, and extending 70 hin the
hearty wish that his days II tie LAND MAJ
be many, and happy and prosperous ones