The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-19
THE EDITOR AT THE PHONE.
He Findn 1t Hard Work to Keep His Tenn
per at All Times.

per at All Timcs.
The editor OF morning daily in q
city, for instance, Of the size Of Roanoke
never moro fully appreciates tho fact
that he is servant Of the public than
upon the night Of an election. A tele-
phone runs into his office, of course, and
its number is down in the list, as we'll
as in the headline Of the paper. He
realizes this as early as Z o'clock at
night, when he takes his seat at his desk
prepared to wade through pile Of copy,
with his blue pencil we'll sharpened and
his mucilage bottle close at hand.
He gets ono sheet edited when-ting-
a,ling -ling-the phone boil jingles
sway, aud he jumps to the instrument
with the thought that he Is going to get
little piece OF news about q church
socisble being held in the far distant
future, and ~ wish you would make
paper" or that John Smith wants his
lad" changed, or James Jones would
like his paper sent to another address
for week. OF course the editor likes
to receive such little reminders, and
usually thanks the donor for interrupt
ing him in his labors.
On election night, however, his first
summons to the phone is from some
one-he never knows who-who speaks
as il he hadn't fully masticated his
supper, and was out Of breath in his
impetuosity to learn the result OF the
vote, as he finds after some suggestion
that the ques.ioner speak up little as
there is telegraph instrument near
asked, that this is what somebody"
desires. The editor answers very
politely that he hasn't gotten the re-
turns Of the city quite yet lit is only
few minutes after the poles have closely
but that he hopes to have it in the next
mornings issue if everything proves
favorable.
He then rushes back to his desk just
as the first rattle on the dumb waiter
box is the warning the foreman gives
him that he would like a little copy to
start the comps" upon.
lie manages to get 4 few sheets of
copy ready before the next summons to
the phone, when another somebody"
humorously inquiries: "Whose's elected;
Cleveland or Harrison?" The little joke
is appreciated then, and the editor re-
plies in manner equally as likely to
create laugh. He also politely informs
this somebody" that he don't know the
result OF the local contest, and with an
An Yes, is that so?" and "much
obliged (Which, by the way, the other
fellow had forgotten) he again takes his
seat.
The phone jingles merrily on, how
ever. Before o'clock it has rung 90
times and by the time the Tooth in
quiry comes in he thinks it would be
good plan TO start the reporters out to
the various ward polling places. In
% nf y,
in none OF them is the vote half counted
In the meantime he has replied in
graduating sca!e Of politeness and If
his voice didn't betray the emotion he
felt he is quite sure that central" must
have heard the isr on that phone as he
hung up the receiver.
Before IL o'clock comes he tries to
make some arrangements with the
halo girl" to cut off his wire, but she
doesn't acquiesce and wont even offer to
volunteer the information that is de.
sired.
At a quarter before 12 o'clock semi
official returns have been received from
one OF the wards. 1t is just at time
when the composiiors are pressing the
editor the hardest and the next answer
made is in the form of white lle."
He is getting out of temper, he must
admit, and he replies rather spitefully
to the man who rings the second time,
although he had answered at the first
tap of the bell.
AT IL o'clock he has lost all reckoning
upon the number of times he has
answered the phone, and not bit of
information has he been able to furnish.
Shortly after l2 o'clock the returns
from one of the wards is brought in by
a reporter, and there is lull in the
ringing for awhile. The next inquiry
is for news from just the wards that
have not made returns, and the interro-
gator seems surprised that there should
be this delay. The editor answers that
two years ago some of the ward returns
were not in until nearly daylight, but
this doesn't appease the man at the
other end OF the wire, and he leaves the
phone in apparent disgust.
One stray ring comes in at o'clock
and the editor is tempted not to reply,
for then he Is busy getting the results
into tabulated forms. Now the cues
TONER and central and everyone in the
Office knows the editor has lost his tenn
per, but there isn't very much said
about 1t as he jumps up, as he hopes. for
the last time The reply is curt and to
the point, and he hangs up the receiver
and sends up the heads" and Central"
settles back in her chair at the exchange
and sleeps the sleep OF the righteous.
BE sure and see ne Hiring Clock at the dead
0ny Of Music tonight.
Questioning Carlisle's Right to Remove
Him.
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The course
OF Secretary Carlisle in deposing from
Office certain Republican officials of the
treasury who held office under the civil