Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
SCOOPS NOT APPRECIATED.

An Amateur News vender Finds 1t Difficult
to Collect His Pay.
New York Tribune.l
He opened the door of the editorial room
in hesitating sort of way, and stood gazing
about him in uncertainty. He was dressed
in garments redolent Of hay, and his boots
were badly spattered with yellow mud.
After a couple minutes of embarrassed hesi-
tation, during which nobody seemed to take
any notice of him, he inquired, Isis
this the place where you take the news?
He was informed that it was.
"Well, Z" he said, ''I've got little thing
/ wanter tell you. It's about piece OF
news that happened the day before vester-
day. Y'll have it all to yerselves, Ter l.
promise won't give it to no other paper.
was there myself, an seen it all. You bet
the people up to hum are goin' to stare when
they see it in print. They don't know
n0thin' about it, AM
$50 to that man at the desk In the cor
ner," said the busy editor. ''and tell him.
He approached the reporters desk.
"I've got blame nice"
"Well," interrupted the busy reporter,
"make it brief"
"Y' see," began the countryman, II come
inter town with Mrs. jackson the other
mornin'. She come in ter sell some apples.
work fer her. You know Mrs. jackson,
right across the Wesel bridge. It's big
white house, with farm around 1t. work
on the farm, an -"
"Well, what happened when you came
into town with her?" asked the reporter.
''Y' see, she was gittln' out of the wagon,
au' the horse gave sudden start, an she
fell"
"Yes."
"An' sne could hardly stump around when
she got up, an when she got home her ankle
swelled up, an she had to lie in bed all day
yesterday. She brought it down pretty we'll
with arnica, an she's up an she's around
to-day; but she looks pretty bad, an she
won't be herself agin for some time"
"All right. Thank yod," and the re-
porter turned to his work.
The countryman did not move.
will y put it in?'
eyes"
Silence for minute.
Il kin give y lots more news. I come
inter town three times a week, an kin tell y
lots of things that happens up our way. Old
81 jenkins fell off load O. hay the other
day. an got big bump on the back of his
head. Sis church member, but he swore
awful that time. guess y'd better not put
that in. though. 81 might know who tole
yer, an then he'd be inter my wool"
Silence. Then
"Well?" from the countryman.
"Well? What is it now?" asked the
reporter.
''Ain't that news wuth something? 1
orter git the price of a square meal, any
how"
Silence again.
81 kin bring yer lots of news. I've got
something else could tell yer now, but L
don't know as I'd better, cause it ain't
quite time yet, an don't want ter give it
away. But I kin let you know in few
days. BY goshi it'll make lively time up
our way when that there gifts in print"
"The business Office is downstairs" said
the reporter. "We don't pay for anything
here. Take this note to the clerk at the
desk downstairs" And he handed the
countryman a note written in shorthand,
which the clerk downstairs couldn't under
stand.
The man then left the reporter and went
downstairs to the busy clerk. That
functionary had hard time getting rid of
him, but finally convinced him that the
only proper course would be to make out a
formal bill for his services, and leave it to
be acted upon by the Finance Committee of
the Board of Directors, who would meet
some tim the following spring. This rather
discouraged the countryman, and he went
away.