The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-09

THE PRESS ROOM on A DULL DAY
noon paper and time is precious and the
presses. perhaps thousand miles away, are
waiting for the last word, a boy stands by
the writer's side and grabs each sheet as 1t Is
filed and throws il before the operator, a
dozen feet away. From this operators hand
>the words fly on lightnings wing, by direct
wire. into the Office Of the newspaper in Chi
s3go, New York, Boston or San Francisco.
tlf a correspondent wants 20 send a note TO
a member on the floor or 10 a senator, or TO
De other end Of the Capitol, a page is near
y to move at his bidding II he wants a
document from the clerks room, or a book
rom the library, he has but 10 send for t..
Al these convenicnccs Of work Tighten the
Dor Of the toiler In the Washington news
aper field and enable him, with some degree
comfort, 20 cover a large field Of news
lthering--a field 50 large that il could not
adequately covered except for these facli-
~. AT the Capitol nearly all doors are
zen to the correspondents who are almost
well known as the prominent senator's and
ling members Of the house. and better
own and Of more importance and influence
m the obscure members Of congress.
ldded 70 the convenicnccs of work are
ay personal comforts. Near tho work
lies are easy chairs and lounges, toilet
ms, q coy conversational room, with an
fire in which burns government wood
10 cord, and employees 10 keep things In
sr and attend 70 the wants Of members.
ne hundred and forty men are now onti-
70 admission 70 the press gallery. They
escnt tho Washington papers, the press
citations and nearly oil tho daily newspa-
, In the United States. Some Of the large
% Of New York and Chicago have three
II r men, and some Ct the correspondents
-.nt q dozen or more small country dali
(which they send only the local on state
Tho number Of correspondents A.
ly Increasing. Three years ago there
but piucsy. In ave years more thac
"a al probability DO two hundred men
itching congress and keeping 1ae world
Il oi tho doinls Of public men AID the
A. q legislation. A few Of Tie zen
40 have lecn ~ tho work fer Vuar.
4century. Gen Boynton, q Tie Gin
IConiuercial 0axstte, tie dean q tha
20 teen doing Washington work TO-
Aau twenty-five years. C5L C@iSoas
Philadelphia Ledger, hes bssn here
l. lone lir. Wight, 81 Tic Cl..21o
T. .e' D'ffo-i lUriuai. has beer O
cton correspondents for moro than
ears Many others have seen six or
lgressls and two or three administra-
,e and go.
isdency, however, is toward young
zen in their prime. None but men
.,ession OF thtir mental and physical
esa rule, can meet all demands made
D.
Spondent must be essentially man
gcncies. A week, even amonth, may
ing which his work Is comparatively
a easy. So great are the conven.
well organized the work, that in
tunes no serious difficulties are met
.iere Is, however, the necessity for
alertnes& Tho correspondent who
fay or Indifferent la fancied security
j falls by the ways.de Occasionally
DIS "a big event, a sensation, and the
ehent must have the ability, the
,,e resources Of acquaintance aud
eet H. He must have his friend,
'"N ces, his sources Of information e
asei demand, for without them he il
Ofttwo or three such beats aud bis
hd career come 70 an end
unt light hearted lot Of men who
pro he press gallery They are from
10, the country. Of all shades Of
belief. Most Of them are men
""rce Of character. Of strong opiu-
GAS n a. not these opinions on po-
Is hfy questions are exactly the 70
enor entertained by tho papers for
ard ! write Public questions are
tlonf ~ much freedom and ability
tionfDss a. IN either Of tee other
"a Al