The herald., 1893-01-16
NOTED IN THE LOCAL ROOM
Incidents Which Make News
paper Men Weary.
Episodes Which All Occurred in One
Evening in One Office.
The Various Characteristics Which
People Display When They
Enter Newspaper
Office.

A newspaper man of the city recently
took notes of the occurrences in the
local room one evening from about Z
O'Clock until in the morning. A few
of the incidents, all of them being too
numerous to mention here, were as fol-
lows. The names and subjects are of
course disguised, but the incidents are
OF real occurrence and in the main are
faithfully outlined. The interlocuted is
always the city editor, De Jones. He is
discovered at his desk surrounded by
several cords of copy, from which he
extracts libel suits, errors of spelling,
grammar and bad taste, writes heads,
wrestles with the foreman and oversees
the movements of the reporter, while
the following incidents occur:
NY
Enter woman richly dressed, inky fin
gers, nervous, evidently sorry she has
come-"City editor? Yes? | have a
little poem (De Jones shudders) which l
would like to have you print. My sis-
ter's little boy. Freddie, died yesterday,
and just wrote few lines,-yes, I'll
leave it, but think | had better
read it to you first; my
handwriting is indistinct; 1 wouldn't
want any mistake. (Reads.) Little
Freddie's gone above. We cannot see
him but we can love. He's left all his
playthings here behind. But he's with
the angels, so does not mind. Ode Jones
meanwhile surreptitiously writes note
to the church editor, ''go out in the
hallway and swear till she goes.")
Church editor does it with alacrity and
ease. Woman gets confused, then gets
mad, stops reading, bounces out with:
"Stop my paper tomorrow" and De
Jones attacks second pile of copy after
complimenting the church editor.)
Five minutes later-Enter tall sad
faced old gentleman, eyes red, his lips
tremulous, voice uncertain with a sus-
picion of sob Pardon
me, Mr.. De Jones, 1 was told to see you.
Can speak with you privately? Thank
you. It's about my-my son. Who is
he? Charley Goyboye (De Jones recol-
lected story the police reporter had
handed in and proceeds to harden his
heart against the attacks on his feelings
he knows is comingl you know
about it, l presume. Yves, Charley
took the money; he-he-he is guilty
l cannot deny that, but have succeeded
in arranging the matter; he went home
to 60 to-to-jail, cir. | have paid
back the money. 1t took all l have
in the world, and his old mother
and have to begin life over again; but
| don't want to trouble you with my
affection any more than to ask you not
to print his story in the morning. Give
my poor boy chance; If it's printed he
will never have chance again. The
shame of it will be more than his poor
old mother can stand. Pm 73 years
old, and Charley's mother is 20; he's
always been good boy. You won't de-
self, will you? Don't print his story /;
chance. Have you got son3 de
| hasn't from what he knows of many
mems sons.) If you had, you would
not be so cruel as to publish to the
world my boys shame" (Old man
puts head down on arm and softly cries.
DE Jones tries to explain to him the
necessity for showing no favors, for
never euppressing any news, but his
arguments don't come as fast as the old
gentle mans tears. De Jones then ex-
plains he has no right to "kill' story
without consent of the chief. Goes in
front Office, explains the matter
TO the chief, who says: "What, the
father there crying; well, its poor news
PAPER business. but guess you can tell
him the story won't go; if you don't he
may insist on talking to me. De Jones
goes back. Old gentleman jumps up on
feet, eager look. De Jones tells him
story won't be printed. Old man
throws arm around De Jones' neck and
weeps some more. De Jones shifts old
mans head 80 his tears won't make his
shirt collar limp and feels like bloom
ing idiot. After exit of old man De
Jones fondly fingers the killed story,
then resolutely tears it up, sighs and
puts barrel Of copy on the hook in the
next 10 minutes).
x*x
Enter Mr.. Savvy His Business-"Hal
low, De Jones' You're looking wor
ried. Yes, just got in. What have
got this time? Why, Mile Billian Bus
sell in La Sixgall, engagement opens
Monday at the opera house. Here's
some stuff about her. Know you're
busy now. Ia, ia! Will l lunch with
| yOu Wtll5 Will IL w ndb bluu0 Il .OU
at Billy's. I'll be there"
wv
Right on his heels comes Mr.. Nc
Savvy How-"Hallo. De Jones. How
are you? Pm here with the greatest
show ever in the town. Played to six
thou in Kansas City last week. House
can't hold 'em. Why, say, it's the big
gest winner you ever saw. Come out
and have q drink? Too busy? Oh
rats. You newspaper fellers never worl
any. Say, give me good send off il
the morning. Why, my boy, we have
the greatest company ever on the road
Why, we have two carloads of scenery
and carry IS people. We open Thurs
day. Why-um-um-um- he keep
on talking while De Jones works away
as if he was alone. No Savvy How al
last realizes the situation.) "Say, Tn
talking to you, De Jones; you know it
Well, you don't act as if you did. Dom
believe you've heard word I've said TO
the past Is minutes. Well, as was say
ing-(he commences again, but De Jone
tells him that if he don't get right ou
his company won't get line-and h'
goes).
De Jones just get we'll into most i'm
portant piece of copy, has corrected tn
spelling of the names of hall dozel
people mentioned in it, and is trying t.
think whether the reporter meant t.
write the name of L. F. Thomson or S
f.. Thomson when the door slam