The Columbus journal., 1890-03-05
WOMEN On

WV0kN VN M
6ally Joy White, the Special Writer and
Correspondent, ON Routine Work.
Not ell women will make successful
nevspaper workers, any more than ill men
will. Il 10 not an easy task, albeit il il
fascinating. 1t, more nearly than any other
I know, will answer the description given
OF woman's work in the old doggerel which
ran,
Mans work is from sun to sun,
WOman's work 10 never dOne."
This is really true Of newspaper work. It
10 literally never done. Your paper goes
On through everything; it is printed every
day, and sometimes several times q day, as
in the case OF the paper with which l Ann
connected, the Boston Herald, which
has eight editions every day. Can You
understand what that means? Something
fresh and new in every One The last
incident caught even in its happen
ing, 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 .
word, dlireness. A readiness to do what
ever may come to you, to turn out a in
teresting story on any subject, to make the
most of trifling incident, in short, to give
ralue to every piece. Of work put into
your hand to do.
Here, for instance, is a sample Of what
may come to Q worker, what has come, in
fact; and it is no exaggeration. Busy on q
special" as q 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.
Il have Just heard. he says, that there
is every likelihood that Mrs. - will be
put on nomination for the school board.
1t is to be done suddenly, and isn't gen.
orally known. We want to be prepared
for the emergency, SO will you 60 out
and get q sketch Of her to use this
afternoon? Get o 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 q person." naming
some distinguished individual, is to ar
nve this afternoon. Can't You sec him
and get q little interview? Have it for the
morning. Perhaps you'd better 60 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, of you 60. To facilitate matters
you take q carriage and 60 to the house Of
the proposed candidate for school COM
mittee. She has just gone to see some
one who is interested in her nomination,
and of YOU start after her. Perhaps You
catch her at this point, and perhaps, which
70 morn liko1v vnn hova IN fp1lCvV hor nIC0.
where. You find her, get your points
speedily, back you 60 to your desk, for
mulating 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 door and te-
gin. Somebody knocks. and you keep on
writing; nothing short of the crack of
doom or the managing editors bell will
stop your pen. You and Time are having
q fine race, and, being a true newspaper
worker, you win. Hurrah! the last line is
wri ten. five minutes to spare. You carry
the COPY to ''the desk" there's no time for
blue pencil, and up it goes to the compos-
ing room.
And now for Q good luncheon. But what
is this? The city editor appears; some
body is i'll, an assignment overlooked;
won't you take it, please? There's really
else; everyone is out or busy
catching the edition." 1t will take you a
mile in the opposite direction from which
you are to GO to capture your inter-
that is coming in on the train;
good-by, luncheon. A cup of coffee, or
q plate of soup is hastily swallowed, if
there is that time to spare; If not. |
you 20 without it. You get the
needed, write them out on your lap
in tho horse cars, then 60 on to the inter-
view, with Harmony Hall" by way Of di-
Luckily for you there isn't much
going on there-a paragraph will dispose
of it-so on you 80. You are in time for
the train, you look about, there's. nobody
any other newspaper there. Your
spirits rise, you've scored a point.
In comes the train. Your inter-
drive to the hotel and talk on the
It's astonishing how much informa-
lion you can get in q very little time. Cor |
rect information too, just what your pub
lie wants. And here is a point which de-
sire to give to the wOuld-be newspaper !
girl. You are of little value to. your paper ,
unless the information you gets perfectly i,
and reliable, and unless you know
and understand the points which the pub
lie and the paper not only want to know,
but have the right to know. i
Well, you 90 back with your material
and write out your interview. Perhaps |
think since that is done You will be at
1t may be that o will; and it
may be also that you viii be asked to 60
in the evening and write an
of a lecture, a party, n convention,
fancy fair or q revival. That is the news
paper day, and pretty much every day. !
SalIie Joy White in March Wide Awake.