Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-05-30

used to enjoy out in the breezy West in
that time long gone when I tried to
work of mortgage on weekly news
paper.
| When I started on my erratic editorial
career didn't know q proof-sheet from
q Boovolopus nor q Gordon press from q
horned Jimplicute. But 1 had great
faith in my ability to do almost every
thing, from riding bucking broncho to
writing an essay On 'The Origin of
Man." was indeed quite popuias
with myself. 1 had also some success in
persuading other people to trust in me,
Is you may we'll suppose, when 1 tell
you that. after had run the paper for
! three years, the man who had the lien
on the concern said that was one Of
the most promising youthlets he had
ever met, and that If lived long enough
he thought would be able eventually
10 lift the mortgage-abouta foot.
met success, but, IS usual, success
was going the other way. What !
wanted was success that was going my
way and that could overtake.
However, am getting of the track
To resume.
What wanted to tell you was about
the difference between the life Of the
New York journalist and that of the
frontier newspaper man.
The New York journalist sleeps in
Harlem or New Jersey and lunches at
the Astor House or some such restau-
rant, where he climbs upon high stool,
eats clans and floods his inner works
with slate-colored coffee. If he buys
stimulants or cigars he is usually asked
to pay for them himself. This is an
outrage unknown to the newspaper man
in the West.) There is no "Old Sub
scrtber" to come into his Office with the
perfume OF the pew-mQwn hay chang
ing around him still" and pour q bushel
OF prize apples out at the foot of the
editorial tripod. No candidate for Con-
stable or Pound-master to rush into his
sanctum and pleasantly interrupt his
toll by planting q demij John on his blot
ting pad. Neither is there any one " no
feels 1t his duty to come in, accompanied
by gun, and vary the monotony of his
daily labors.
When started my paper out in Texas
had associated with me partner who
to this day says that on the following
weeks after the first Ave issues Of the
"
ab1ect apologies q week.
The first week received the follow.
ing letter:
"You know me and my capabilities.
Do you think would 1 be justified in
running for the Texas Legislature9 In
close stamp for answer. Yours,
''JOHN p. SIMMONS"
Instead Of answering the man by
mail, l, feeling in facetious mood,
published his letter and under it the
following reply:
You might be justified in running
for the Legislature If you feel that you
have not brains enough to teach in the
public schools, or II you lack the
physical ability to handle a hoe, but we
doubt whether even these circumstances
would justify the act. There are poor
houses and asylums in the State, and
imbeciles. taking the advantage Of their
charity, are we'll cared for.n
Two days afterwards received let7
ter from Mr.. John P. Simmons laconi-.
cally stating that he would be on hand
the next morning at 10 o'clock, on
which occasion 1t was his purpose to fill
full Of holes the man who answered his
letter. My partner, aided and abetted
by the whole force Of the composing
room, press-room and business office,
which consisted Of man by the name
Qf Prtmus Tucker, anticipating the