The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-21
WirrERsON,s FIRST TAKE.
How He Put on Harness After tho wild inns
of War Had Come to an Enc

The last time Colonel Wattersou was here,
SAYS the New York Star. he told a story about
his experience in Cincinnati
Il arrived in Cincinnati one clustering
winter night" he said. was ragged,
hungry stranger. lust out of the Confederate
army. had just enough money to pay for
nights lodging. How well remember wan
dering about the streets of tho city. wonder
ing what the next day would bring me. be-
lieved had ability as a journalist, and WAS
satisfied that If had an opportunity could
prove it. was in the act several times OF en-
tering the different morning newspaper ofhces
and applying for work, but was so DOWN
hearted that did not have the courage 20 do
So took a good sleep that night, and did
not get up until late next day.
NV case was desperate one, and felt
that must secure employment. never felt
more determined in my life. | felt a. II l
would face without a culver the sternest edi-
tor in the land. la this frame OF mind
started out 10 make n tour of the different
offices.
AT the first Office the editor. in blunt
way. told me that his stan was crowded, and
then resumed his work. visited all the
newspapers with the same result, except the
lines That paper had large job printing
office attached to it. which did great deal OF
theatrical printing | also noticed that the
paper had a miserably written dramatic col
umn called on Colonel Starbuck. the edi-
TOT anu proprietor, anu tShtu IL thchc WoAo
any vacancies on his stall
There are never any vacancies on q good
paper but there rs always room Tor goou
man said the colonel. | shall never forget
that reply, and 1t is one that have always
made 10 applicants on the COurier-y Journal. L
told Colonel Starbuck that could improve
upon his dramatic column. and proposed 10
to It for nothing If he would give me y pei
cent commission on all the printing aud ad-
vertisements secured from the theatres. He
declined the proposition. As | was about to
leave. he said he would give me sl2 a week to
perform that service. What change came
over me- Immediately found myself rich. |
told him | would accept 1t. He told me that
must not feel offended If at the end of the
week he found did not suit. knew would
suit for / knew the full extent OF my abilities
and told him that if ! was not competent,
should consider il an offense If he did not dis
charge me.
This was the first Of the week, and |
started in that day. never undertook a task
with more enthusiasm. | attended the
theatres every night Before the end of tho
week Colonel Starbuck expressed mis- APP
proyal On Saturday afternoon went 10 the
theatres 10 collect the money for printing and
advertising due the Times. At the National
Theatre after collecting the money, | was
handed an envelope addr, ssed 10 me. Sup
posing it contained an tenn otnews or atlcket,
| put II IN my pocket unopened. AT Plkes
another envelope Tearing my name was pre-
sented TO me- and the same thing
occurred at Woods Theatre. When
returned to the Office opened the envelopes
and found that those presented to me at the
National and at Pixies each contained sl0:
The one received at Woods contained IS. |
told Colonel Starbuck the circumstances and
rendered him the money He said that it did
not belong % him. and he would not accept
il. / said il certainly did not belong to me,
and that / would not accept it. returned
the donations to the theatrical managers.
They said the money had been given IN con-
sderstion Of the favorable notices had given
| their performances
Colonel Starbuck short time alterward
made me managing editor