Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-22
OUR LIGHTNING JERRY.

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in n case or rush UP few sticks in
order 20 get something 10 cat" The
country editor completed The sub head,
"A Bucket brigade Wanted. " in pro-
found article on The PRO perity OF
Our Town and looked up at the indi-
vidual who had invaded his sanctum.
The visitor, who very much resembled
the venerable chap who pc ell for tho
picture on the St Jacobs oil labels
continued. Il am nosone Of the COM
mon prints who waaaer up and down
the country, but have worked in every
state and territory in the Union during
my forty years experience and pill
grimage" He also volunteered the
information that nc could be holding
cases on enc OF the leading morning
papers OF the country, were it not so
that electric lights went back on his
eyes, and added that he never
drank anything" The editor seemed
TO be a little skeptical on the latter
point; at least he said We'll. Light
ming. We are little rushed now (the
country editor always SAYS we }. and
can give you n job for month or un-
til you get drunk. Go to the restau-
RAM around the corner and get square
meal, and when you come back we
will give you something 10 do" Thus
was an engagement made that lasted
nearly six weeks
Old Lightning was verify jewel.
He couldn't put up as much type,
perhaps rs he could have done thirty
years ago. but he set clean proof
and spaced superbly He would quar-
rel with the copy, of course and that
frisky contributor. Horny Handed
GrSnger," who advocated mangel-
wurzels as food for stock was his pet
aversion. ''Fhe idea - he said 'of
this old crank, who doesn't know how
TO plant potatoes, except in the
columns of a newspaper, wanting to
make stock food Of roots just because
they have got name that is on
hinges! Mangelwurzels. indeed! They
don't contain any oil and wine and
would't put flesh on anything. Corn,
wheat and other grain are the only
proper food for animals He was
also little severe on correspondents
who underscored every third or fourth
word, put "howling points" at the end
OF every line and make break lines
in the middle of sentences. Why is
it, he w3u.dpetulantiy inquire. that
folks .N'ho haven't sense enough to
S~rde in covered wagon imagine that
they can write something worth read
ing for a newspapers
He had a rich fund OF remiuiscencc
and spoke as fam liarly OF Horace
Greeley, James Gordon Bennett
not the follow" he always explained
'who owns the yacht and other
great newspaper men OF the old school.
as if they had been old chums OF his
His admiration for ''Old Matte Van
Buren, was intense. while he regarded
John Van Buren, as "a chip oil the
old block, although a little wild. "
His stock of anecdote in regard 10
country newspapers was large and
varied and would have made him
wealthy, il it had only been hay,
which could be sold at three dollars
per ton. He said: The toughest lay
out ] ever struck was down in Arkan-
sas in '67 Tho display type was
kept in smoking tobacco sacks, which
were hung on nails around the room. "
He pronounced the editor Of that paper
the best shorthand speller and long
handled writer" he ever met except
you, he added. in order TO keep down
any feeling of jealousy that might
arise in the bosom of the editor ad-
dressed. He also visited 1.-The Office
out West whore they used "a billy-goat
for press, AID explained elaborateiy
how an impression was taken. The
form was placed against the wall
sheet OF paper was put on it and
certain 'monkeying of fingers by tho
devil. the goat was induced TO strike
it with his head. This naturally set
the press" back on his launches and
gave the pressman a chance TO remove
the printed copy and put on another
sheet They used au old goat for
the paper and sale bills and kid for
visiting cards he explained. land
they were the cheapest presses l ever
saw, too as il didn't cost anything TO
keep them for they kept fat on old
exchanges and empty ink cans. g"
Many tramp printers claim to have
seen this printing outfit and no doubt
il existed.
The old man was sincere devoteo
OF the art preservative and always
placed the business at the head. He
expressed great attempt for the ''blacl;-
smiths" who got out some OF tho ex-
changes. and spoke OF the good old
days. when the 'cub put in two years
in washing and caring for rollers" a
young man. who was cashier of bank.
had natural fondness for the print
er's trade and possessed very excel
lent taste. He used to come into the
Office and sot up jobs merely FOR prac-
tice and amusement Lightning at
first resented this but when he saw
the class OF work he could do, he
formed quite a liking for him One
la he broke the young man all up
by remarling with great earnestness:
''Sce here young fellow. you are silly
for iooling away your time in n bank;