Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-02-04
NIPPED IN THE BUD.
1t Was a Good Joke. but His Astronomy
Was on,

ne was very young man. That was
shown by the nervous way in which he
fondled the misplaced eyebrow which
his sister termed his musta che But there
was light in his eye which proved that
ne realized the seriousness of life.
He entered the editors office in hes
ltatlng sort of way, which seemed to in
dictate that he had a poem concealed
upon his person.
well, young man." said the editor
after his visitor had been induced to sit.
what can l do for you tits morning."
81 came in to see you about a-about
an idea. sir, that-that came into my
head this morning while NASHVILLE
was riding down to my office" replied
the youth. DO you care for ideas. sir?"
Once in awhile we d." the editor
replied. ''Of course in these times men
can get along without them, but occa-
sionally, if they happen to be real and
not ideal ideas, we do not mind hearing
about them"
"Would you mind telling me-" the
youth then said, putting his hand in his
inside pocket and half pulling out there
from small memorandum book, which
no sooner saw the light than it was
showed back into darkness again
would you mind telling me if there is
any way in which an idei. could be COPY
righted?"
why do you wish it copyrighted"
the editor asked
'Well-you know I'm new to tfSs idea
business, and | don't know Just how
safe am in submitting my wares to
TOTO the people who-er-to the people
who buy such things. You can't sub
NIT an idea without giving it away, You
know" he added with a smile, depre-
eating the glance of Indignation which
even he could see in the editors eve.
well, what then" qurried the WELD
er of the blue pencil. If you give your
idea away, why do you want it copy
righted? Are you an Indian giver?"
The young man was startled. This
view of the situation had apparently
never occurred to him before, and so
suddenly did it come upon him now that
he did not know whether to be impressed
by the editors logic or to be amused by
his joke
''Why'- he sad, and then he stopped.
81 don't know why the editor OBJ
served quietly. But You may submit
your idea to me with perfect impunity.
l admit | am an c.litor, but I'm no brig
and, and your lea shall be as safe in
my hands as ii would be if it were
guarded by pla,oo of police armed to
the teeth and backed by the militia"
THANK you,' said the visitor, with a
glance of gratitude. You are very en-
couraging. may as we'll tell you that
if you like my idea may have others
indeed l desire to have others, for |
really think the business is a delightful
one, and | am, oh. so tired of the line
am in now"
"What is your line?"
81 am a messenger for Wall street
firm, but I'd infinitely rather go into
Journalism if | could make it pay.
Here" he said, looking nervously about
him to make sure that no one but the
editor was listening and letting his
voice drop to whispcr-"here is the
scheme. / was reading The Times as |
rode down town this morning, and
found this"
Here he hani"d the editor clipping,
which read as flows:
sATURS's RINGS DISAPPEAR.
MADISON, Wis.-According to Professor
George c. Comstock, of the Washburn observ-
atory, in this city. the phen omcnon of the dis
appearance of the rings of Saturn has just oc-
Cured
"Well, what of it," asked the editor,
handing the clipping back to the visitor
at occurred to me that we might
make a joke out of it, the youth replied
eagerly. Then he smiled as he added
"You see it, don't YOU"
81 can't say do" returned the editor
"Why, we might have Epson Downes
meet Chappie Hicks on the street, and
say, All, Chappie, see by the papers
that Saturn's rings have Disappeared
and then Chappie would say, 'Aw. same
| old scheme to advertise a star -eh?
Pretty good, eh:'
Cline" returned the editor sadly
''Only one objection to it. Some idiot
would probably say that Saturn isn't a
star but planet"
'You wouldn't let little thing like
that stand in the way of good joke,
would you?" asked the'visitor.
81 wouldn't, ell? Well. just would, :"
replied the editor.
'And you think I'd better stay as a
messenger in Wall street,
mo; I'd advise you 10 kill off all the
idiots, and then try the joke business
again"
But what'll | live On meanwhile"
asked the visitor family.
Check" replied the editor. You
have a face full of it."
And the aspiring humorist passed sadly
out into the day.-Harper's Bazaar.
Photographic Fainter.