The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-03-14
A WOman's Work in Il News
paper Office.

scrlptlon given of woman's worl
in the old dogerel which ran,
"Man's work is from sun to sun,
WOman's work is never DONE"
This is really true of newspaper
work. 1t is literally never done
Your paper goes on through every
thing; it is printed every day, and
sometimes several times a day, as
in the case of the paper with which
[ am connected, The Boston Her
aid, which has eight editions ev-
cry day. Can you understand
what that means? Something
fresh and newin every one. The
last incident caught even in its
happening, chronicled in white
heat, and put before the waiting
public before it is two hours old.
Nothing must escape; every class
in the community must be looked
after from the merchant prince to
the rag-picker Do you realize
what this requires? Quickness,
alertness, and more than that, if
you will let me coin a word, alive
ness. A readiness to do whatever
may come to you, to turn out an
interesting story on any subject,
to make the most triaing incident,
in short, to give value to every
piece of work put into your hand
to do.
Here, for instance, is a sample
of what may come to a worker,
what has come, in fact; and it is
no exaggeration. Busy on "spe-
cial," as long Article to be ready
for use at any time, is called, you
are interrupted by the call from
the managing editors desk. You
answer the summons and find
your superior officer with an open
letter in his hand.
81 have just heard" he says
"that there is every likelihood
that Mrs. will be put on nom
ination for the School Board. 1t
is to be done suddenly, and isn't
generally known. We want to be
prepared for the emergency,.,..'ais..
will you gtitys szs {, fsi i s.. sicl;s
her to use th21lss tins ftsrnoon? Y U " j. !
full column, more if you can, and
see what her views are on such
and such points, naming them
over. ''And, by the way, such a
person" naming some distinguish
ed individual, "is to arrive this
afternoon. Can't you see him and
get little interview? Have it for
the morning. Perhaps you'd bet
ter go to the station to meet the
train; and while you're waiting
you might run into Harmony
Hall and see what is going on
there"
Well, off you go. To facilitate
matters you take a carriage and go
to the house of the proposed can
didate for school committee. She
has just gone to see some one who
is interested in her nomination,
and off you start after her. Per-
haps you catch her at this point,
and perhaps, which is much more
likely, you have to follow her else
where. You find her, get your
points speedily, back to your desk,
formulating your sketch in your
mind meanwhile. It's pretty near
lunch time; but there's no time to
think of anything but that sketch;
there is little over an hour in
which to catch the edition you
want, and at least a column to be
written. You lock your dock and
begin. Somebody knocks, aud you
keep on writing; nothing short of
the crack of doom or the manag-
ing editors bell will stop your pen.
You and Time are having a fine
race, and, being true newspaper
worker you win. Hurrahl the
as, line is written, five minutes to
spare. You carry the copy to "the
lesk,p' there's no time for blue
pencil, and up 1t goes to the COM
losing eom-
And nov for a good lunchuaeaaR. :
But what is this fHHe city editor
appears; somebody is i'll, an as
,ignmeut overlooked, won't you
AXE it, please? There's really no
,ody else; every one is out or busy
catching the edition. 1t will take
,ou mile in the opposite direc-
ion from which you are to go to
capture your interview that is
coming OF the train; good-by |
luncheon. A cup of coffee, or a
plate OF soup is hastily swallowed,
f there is that time to spare, If
not you go without it. You get
the points needed, write them out
On your lap in the horse-cars, then
20 on to the interview, with "Har-
monv HalP' nv wav of diversion.