Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-08-22
SHE COULDN'T KEEP STILL.
A Reporters Narrowing Experience With
the New Typewriter Girl.

A Reporters Narrowing Experience With
the New Typewriter Girl.
For reporter with but little to write
and plenty of time in which to write it
there is nothing more pleasant than to
dictate narrative to cheerful typewriter,
particularly if she be young and have nice
soft hair to distract the eye, and well
formed white fingers, and be withal ex-
ceedingly pleasing. But for a reporter
with a long yarn to write and limited
amount of time to finish it things some
times have different aspect
Near Printing House square is type
writing office which many newspaper men
frequent. A new girl came there one day
last week-a real nice girl and an excel
lent operator-but she had never done that
kind of work before. While she was sit
ting in the main room upon the afternoon
of her first day newspaper man came
bustling in, and
Mrs. j., have you got anybody to take
two column story in a hurry"
YES replied the manager. 'Here is
young lady who has just come to US
Miss Brown-Mr. Smith. You can go i'll
to that corner ROOM"
In three minutes the young lady was
seated at her machine, the newspaper man
was sorting out his notes, and the dooi
was closed - as to leave them undisturbed
NOW, if you will please begin" the
newspaper man said In these days of
stern reality and suffering and struggle
for existence a romantic episode comes
upon one with the refreshing delight with
which traveller in desert beholds an
oasis -"
Clickety -clickety- click went the keys,
and then
Isn't that lovelys Is it going to be a
novel;"
The newspaper man looked up in amaze
ment, but it was utterly impossible to be
angry with such blue eyes regarding him
In admiration.
NO." he said. please 20 on. In the
monotonous routine Of Tombs police court
cases, however, there was one yesterday,
behind which lay story SO romantic and
10 picturesque that it would almost seem
to have been created by a great novelist
who had striven to excel all his past eff
forts >"
When this had been recorded, and while
the newspaper man was wondering what
he would say next, the young lady, smil-
Ing most radiantly, prattled on in this
fashion:
"That's just splendid 1t sounds like
a real novel. Did you ever read Clarissa;
or, the Forlorn Hope2' 1t begins some
thing like that, only it isn't SO interest
ing. Do you know, never took dictation
like that before. The last place worked
in had nothing to do but copy letters.
Oh, dear, wasn't it tiresome, thought
The newspaper man felt his collar get
ting too small, but after swallowing some
thing that seemed to stick in his throat he
said as gently as possible:
Won't you please go on? I'm in some
what of hurry. What have you got
there?"
''Where?" in great surprise.
II mean please read over what I have
Dictated
'Oh, how stupid 1 am! In these days
of stern reality'-how do you pronounce
that word, in two syllables or three'
Thank you-'stern reality and suffer
ing -
And she read what she had written.
Then, just as the newspaper man had set
tied back in his chair, determined to die
tate to the end without giving her another
Excuse me; think my hair is coming
down."
She went to little mirror in corner
of the room, examined her hair carefully,
and then, after touching up the puffs of
her sleeves and smoothing her waist, she
sighed and returned to her seat.
There, now, I'm all ready"
For the next few minutes she had to
work SO hard that she hadn't time to say
single word, But soon the page was
filled, and she had to insert new sheet,
and that was her opportunity.
Gracious, how fast you dictated 1t al.
most takes my breath away; but, do you
know, I like it. think it's good prac-
tice. We're you there when all that hap.
pened' My, I wish could be a reporter!'
The newspaper man went on with his
dictation. He was fast growing hopping
mad, but he hadn't the heart to say
harsh word to the girl. She was really
very pretty, and as she became interested
in the story delicate flush mantled her
checks, and 1t was pleasure to watch her
But newspaper man has no time for
pleasure during business hours, and these
charms did not interest him as much as
they might have done under other circum-
stances. But he struggled bravely on.
"Oh," she suddenly exclaimed, stopping
in the middle of sentence, ibid that
really happenS"
''Yes, yes! Will you please go ons"
'Well, the idea! wouldn't have be-
lieved it. Do you know, don't believe
half what read in the papers. But of
course If you say SO, it must be true
"1'm sorry can't chat with you, Miss
Brown, but really Pm in great hurry"
ooh, I beg your pardon! I forgot all
about that
For nearly 10 minutes there was not q
break in the dictation save where sheet
became full and fresh one had to be in
serted. The typewriter kept her lips firm
ly pressed together, as if she were exerting
all her strength to keep silent. 1t was
clear to see that 1t could not last much
longer. In the middle Of a paragraph she
suddenly stopped and with brief "Ex-
cuse me for a moment" left the room. In
few seconds she returned, with her jaws
moving convulsively and piece of chew
ing gum in her hand.
Won't you have some?" she asked po-
litely.
"N-n-no-and--I'llt tell you what-er-I