The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-12
WHY ONE MAN FAILED.
His Training i'm n Circus Untitled Him for
Newspaper Work.

Newspaper Work.
They we're talking about newspaper
work the other evening. The oldest
man in the party, who is now doing
something in the real-estate line, said
that he had tried newspaper writing
when he was not fitted for the business
and had given it up.
Il was always called good writer at
college" he said, land l thought had
good style. When | began work for
myself l got employment with circus
manager
scan you write?' he asked.
al can,' | said.
"'Well, I want a two-sheet poster
that'll catch the town. Write one for
me-
"And this is what wrote, as nearly
as | recollect:
"This is the last week that Mr. Saw
dust's great circus will be in the city
and every one should visit it at once. 1t
offers to the public number of admir-
able features, including several anus
ing clowns and many cleverly trained
trick animals. The ring performance
IS highly creditablc and consists of
various acts by the aforementioned
clowns and animals. There will be a
number of interesting races between
elephants and dogs ridden by trained
monkeys. Mile. Comehigh, who has
done very good work abroad, executes
dance on the bareback of a running
horse and also jumps through some ig-
nited paper-covered hooks. Children
and clergymen will enjoy the collection
of wild beasts in the menagerie. The
whole will conclude with an enjoyable
exhibition of the siege of New Orleans,
the effect of which will be heightened
by fireworks. Admission will be fifty
cents for adults, children half price
THAT was about it. l turned it in
and smiled, for l thought l had done
well. The manager differed with me
in coarse and profane way, but for
some reason or other he didn't discharge
me. He hired an ignorant man to write
new poster, and set nae to work SELL
ing tickets. l stayed with him three
seasons-until he went out of business
and at the end of that time | was one
of the most proficient circus poster
writers in the business.
after he sold out I sought employ
ment in a newspaper office, got it. and
was set to work. My first job was re-
porting fire in the Bowery. | can re-
member only the first part of my report.
1t started out in this fashion:
1.-The grandest exhibition of the fire
fiend ever given. Thousands Of specta-
tors thrilled by the grand and over
towering scene. The untold wealth Of
the Indies was threatened at an early
hour last evening by grand and I'M
parallel holocaust at the corner of
Bowery and Grand street. This great
and throbbing cutlery of robust and
living humanity was halted in its course.
The streets were packed. The side
walks We're jammed. The flames started
in the basement of the doomed build
ing, and creeping stealthily up the air
shaft, burst out, amid the wild, hoarse
cries of the multitude, from the front
windows. Higher and higher they rose,
now licking the pale sky with their
blood-red tongue, now sweeping down
ward and envelOping in their fiery en-
brace the neighboring chimneys. 1t was
the sight of a lifetime, and the crowd
looked on with bated breath.
"While I was writing the city editor
came around and looked over my Shout
der.
"'What was the damage?" he asked,
when he had read thus far.
"a bout $1,000, said.
Any lives lost?'
"'None,' | answered.
"'All right, he said 4 guess you
needn't finish this thrilling tale
"'All right, SIR
"'And by the way he added, as
was putting on nay hat, you needn't
come back tomorrow. You need rest
after that effort. Suppose you take
year or so, at your own expense. Good
night.'
The next day went into the real
estate business''-N Y. Recorder.