New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04
THE easy CHAIR
BESIDE A PINE DESK IN THE HARPER
COMPOSING ROOM. 49,
PRINTERS MEMORIES OF MR. CURTTS-HE
LOVED THE BUsTLE OF THE woRKMEN.

with thought about thought There hundred men
break manuscript into chapters. paragraphs, sem
tences words; pick words pieces; find bits Of
metal that represent each piece-each letter each
conventional token that the letters married In
words belonging to separate words) are no
more to each other than are chance neighbors In a
railway train: with discretion, with intelligence
quietly under mperceptibe bun real government
one hundred men putting together notched slips Of
metal And presently, If you resting there after
having wound yourself up the famous winding
stairway, and If you are sympatheticaly looking
on in the composing rocm-not nquisitiveiy, but as
a workingman among workinsmen-you how
each smallest bit OF each manuscript becomes i'm
perlshable; imperishabe the union OF letters into
words OF words into sentences. chapters; and
finally the whole work. the entire purpose and will
Of the author, made one indivsible thing-ust one
thlng like one letter. forever and ever: thoughtful
recreation of each creative impulse in this serious
roorH which, for the rest. is more orderly ana
clean than other composing rooms. but oldishook-
ing with many dim windows two sides and
with dim skylights: with its own good stories OF
the good fellows who have worked at its cases;
with its traditions already.
\ few years ago, if you had visited the compos-
ing room on a Thursday morning. and if you had
turned from the windows in search Of interest
there would have been point to catch and hold
your attention; desk next To the fOreman's desk
an old desk battered. ink-stained; never very
grand desk, but substantial; in fine a desk. good
!
ing things for every one, everywhere to read with
delight and to keep reading until people shall
stop being pleased with delightful things. once In
q while he would have to write Of some poor fer
low workman who had left his case In the compQz,
ing room for good and all: he would write obtte
uary notice. Even these things" the Latin poet
has said. may BE- remembered with certain kind
OF pleasure one Of these days" At any rate, We
may touch the theme without depressing insist
ence now This would be the manner of 1t: When
Mr. Curtis had come In for his Thursday morning
in the composing room, proofreader or composor
would tell him that poor --- Saying. You know
how sick he was') had died. And Mr. Curtis would
ask. very gently and sadly. thing and another
that 1t was necessary to know and that would be
all until the next number Of "Harpers Weekly"
appeared. containing tribute TO the dead mans
memory that might have been written by the COM
bned wisdom and more intimate knowledge Of his
one hundred associates. OF course. this happened
rarely but you may find these obituary notices.
written by George William Curtis. here and there
in The Weekly" If you look through the files. And
because there isn't much in the printing bIsi-
ness" the compostors say of their own life
saying they get only about as much toward the
end OF it as they get soon after clearinghouse
times one Of the men would be discouraged; or.
perhaps. something irritating would happen; and
then "a few years ago. would be heard the saying:
Never mind you'll get your obituary.
The present foreman, Mr.. White. was recalling
Curtis a roonf to himself" he continued, 'he said
tina he would feel home In it. and that
how t. be near the type and the typesetters exer-
cisel a benign influence him, and greatly aided
him in his work.
And every week George William Curtis came
TO be regular visitor to the composng-room.
changing with all whom he met the kiniiest greet
ngs from the boy to the Oldest man there. Per-
haps the pace grew little quleter than usual
when he arrived. though he always said the noise
ID not disturb him. such the unfaiing sun
shine Of his nature that he never TO be
In bad humor, but brought smiling face and
genial manner with him at all times.
after the first greetings. Afr. Curtis lost very
little time IN getting 10 work Laying aside his
Overco1t he would seat himself IN the chair that
had thoughtfuly been placed in readiness for him,
and soon leaf after leaf OF his copy would be in
the hands OF the printers. II very plain al
ways carefully punctuatcl. and he WAS never seen
to pause in its preparation II he needed a quota
ton to more clearly emphasize embesh his
article, there was no need for him to consult the
volume In question. lie simply wrote Il down on
hand: and II any one curious enough to COM
pare ii with the original ii would always be found
to be correct No matter what the subject upon
which he was writing. the same thing was observed
Of him, until he was one day asked how he man
aged to write his articles with such seeming ease.
oh. think ii all out In advance said he. and
when l commence write the IDEAS
faster than can put them on the paper.
"Pausng sometimes in the middle OF one OF his
articles he would read to the proofreader near
him sentence that struck him being somewhat
complicated. and ask him II he could suggest any
clearer way Of expressing the idea The reader
would pause in his work. listen attentively to Mr..
Curtis. perhaps offer suggestion. which would In
turn BE- carefully considered and its adoption
he would say Yes; / think You are right; thank
You. thank you
ITO hear Mr. Curtis thus read portion OF his
work treat. The words seemed to pos
a deeper and more significant meaning than
when read by any other person. His voice
clear and musical. and there a sustained tone
and enunciation that denoted deep and earnest feel
ing
Again resumng his writing. he would work
steadily for some time. He wrote rapidly, and
would soon have half dozen composors at work.
When the proofs of his editorials were laid on his
desk he would read them carefully and few were
the changes he made Indeed in that respect no
was remarkable. lie seemed 70 be able TO write just
exactly he wished his frs, attempt.
when he had finished everything 70 his satistac-
to face the foreman. and would soon be engaged
IN an animated discussion Of the leading topics OK
the day Many anecdotes OF men and things were
thus told. none OF which ever found their way 20
the printed page. but al are siiil r,membered by
worked
MIR. Curtis said one day that when Matthew
Arnold was in this country he met him a, BANQUET
in this city During 4 conversation Mr. Arnold
complained of the harsh criticism he was receiving
from the papers in regard 10 his public addresses
the critics saying that a good many people In his
audience failed 10 hear him. and hereupon he asked
Mr.. Curtis II he could suggest any way in which he
could improve his delivery. 1 told HIM said .ir.
Curtis. that when | addressed audience | se-
lected some In the hall at the farthest point
from me. TO whom | directed my attention. II
succeeded in keeping that person Interested and
attentive, always felt sure every one else IN the
hail could hear clearly
80 Why. 10 be sure said Mr.. Arnold, I wonder
never thought Of that before
IF anything OF a charitable nature being
circulated he always ready 10 aid. and none
ever went away empty handed after applying 10
him.
when he had closed his cheerful talk which
had been listened 10 with an attention that must
nave pleased him somewhat he would rise In his
chair. walk To the water-tank used by the men.
carefully wash his hands. and return 10 one OF
them. borrow his towel. and while drying his hands
engage that particular man In conversation. never
failing to make bright and witty remarks that lett
that person In q happy frame Of mind. Inc usins