Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-09

4
boat known newspaper men in the country and
If there j. branch Of the business that he has
not tri'd from carrying copy TO editing ono OF
the great New FORK papers no one knows what
IL IL Coug-essInsn Cummings happened to
oyofhear the i scussion about the notice and
he at wanted to know how long it was
/ For. =" said he. Il could set 1t up In type my
/ self in short order II only had case.
That's all right, Amos" said Mr.. Walter
Welman. the correspondent OF the Chicago
I Herald. I'VE all know you can stick type, but
have nj idea that you would take longer at that
notice than | would my self. aud l haven't set
type for twelve wears"
Mr.. Cummings game as always. and
the only way to settle il to try he offered to-
go at II at once the only condition being that
the loser should buy the milk shakes for the
party. And the member from New York adj
united that il twenty-eight years since he
had stood at a case. But be didn't back ont, A
few members of the Press Club we're invited to
JOIN the party to sec fair play and an adjourn
mcnt was made to Gibson's printing office at
the corner OF 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue. On the wav across Mr.. Cummings
face was secn to grow pale rs he passed under
the light Of an electric lamp. Say, Walter i"
said he In a frightened tone. ARE YOU a union
man? have a card myself and | can't work in
the same oshce with uon-union printer"
Mr. Wellman assured him that it all right
a. he was n member in good standing.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
Whom the party reached the printing Office it
was found that all the printers had gone home,
for it was nearly 8 O'Clock. but Mr.. Gibson was
still at the Office and when the circumstan noes
we're explained to him he willingly agreed to
furnish the combatsnts with :he wea pons of
war. Everything dark in the composing
room ON the top focr, but soon the gas
was lighted the principals picked out their cases
and were ready for the fray. The preliminaries
we're soon disposed Of. Nr. Cummings selected
Mr. Hobart Brooks OF the New York Herald us
his referee and Mr.. Wellmsn picked Mr.. j. L.
Jones of THE STAR for his. Mr.. c. A. Hamilton
of the Buffalo Times and Mr.. Victor Kauff-
mann of THE STAR qualified as timekeepers and
Col. Z. d. Mussey of the Cincinnati CONNER
idl-Gdze,te selected the official
proof reader. The conditions that
each man should set the article and
then make the necessary corrections, the
time occupied IN proving and reading proof to
be taken out Mr.. Cummings drew the first
turn. there was only one copy of the article
and both could not set at the same time. He
took out his pocket book and drew from ii the
very same column lead that he had used in set
ting up his last take in 1864. He also took off
his coat. and his strong right hand trembled
he reached out for his stick. Mr.. Hamilton
called time. and the member from Gotham
grOsned audibly as he began to hunt for a CAPT
tai t. But II all came back to him in short
order and soon he was picking out the letters
good living outside of the Capitol or an editorial
room either.
Where in tarnation is the boA?' This was
almost the first sound that broke the solemn
stiffness in the big room. Then every one knew
that there was trouble. The man whom all his
friends call Amos and whose stories every one
likes to hear was now pretty near the rafting
point, end it seemed though that U never
would be found but this was only for a mo-
ment, and. a. he caught his second wind. the
member of Congress came up smiling. Beads
of Precipitation were rolling off his manly brow
and 1t was evident he d need another collar in
the morning. At the close Of the first round
he Was little groggy and once or twice. when
lie was spacing out a line. IL came pretty near
''pi. Never III there was. however. and many
printer would be making bigger money if he
could stick type rs fast rs Mr.. Cummings.
CUMMINGS CONCLUDES HIS TAKE.
The take was about one hundred and ten
words in length and had to be set up in the
form of a letter. 1t was just forty-six minutes
and thirty seconds after o'clock when Mr..
Cummings began and at GA As he dumped his
matter into IA galley. proof taken by
some of the amateur pressmen and il seen
that the word Capital had been omitted from
the title of the club and that there were three
typographical errors as we'll 1t took the hon.
orable gentleman from New York just four
minutes and fOrty-fve seconds to remedy these
slips making his total time an even thirty
three minutes
At four minutes add thirty seconds after s
as Mr.. Cummings had finished with the first
page Of his copy the newspaper man from Chi
/ cago began his whir! at n neighboring case.
Never a word he uttered and look of grim de-
termination sat upon his massive brow that
made IL evident he would never paw for those
milk shakes without a struggle first He
grasped his composing stick firmly in his left
hand with his RICH; he spared for an OPEN
. ing at the capital L box. He got it all right
and from that time that right hand went
/ back and forth as steadily as the pendulum on
eight-dav clock The that drew Mr.
Wellmans name in the French mutual pools
began to congratulate himself. for il soon be-
came evident that the Hernid's correspondent
was a sure winner unless some unforeseen acct
I dent occurred. Everything went nicely for the
vice president of the Press Club. however. and
at 6.2s 90. just twenty-four minutes from the
time the word was given. Mr.. Wellman finished
his task. The proof was clean and free from
error that col Mussey. hardened critic AS he
l.. could find no fault with il, and Mr. Wellman
a claFed the winner.
Il thought for a time. said the victor when
j. all over that never would he able to
find that small cap b. bu, it unearthed itself
after awhile. It's queer how it all comes back
10 man again. no matter how rusty he may
be
IL was a great contest, and no one heard any
conn lsluts or protests from the member of
Congress from New York when the time came
10 pay the forfeit.
THE CAUSE or THE TROUBLE.
The following. which has been transmitted to
every member OF the Press Club. is the circular
that was set:
NATIONAL CAPITAL Press CLUB
Washington. ID. C., Dec. 8, 1892
l Dear Sir: The auction sale of seats for the
Press Club entertainment will take place in the
restaurant OF the House of Representatives on
Monday. December II. at pm.
There Il a tHcit agreement among the men,
beers Of the club that each man will take at least
two seats at So each. You are urged to attend
tine auction sale on Monday afternoon and bid
for your tickets and also to bring with you two
or more persons who will bid
D The committee on entertainment deems this
important and urges every member of the club
. TO attend the auction.
COMMITTEE oS ENTERTAINMENT
At the bottom Of half the number printed was
the line set by Al. Cummings; at the bottom
OF the other half the line said set by Walter
WeimAn."
Pointed n Pistol at Him.