The Washington times., 1894-05-21
John McQuais's "S0;;'
Telegraph Editors Story

a morning newspaper are between 1 and
o'clock. There is no time then to entertain
visitors. TIA man comes in with a good, live
piece Of news, he is welcome to the night
editors room. Otherwise he is, to qnote
Major Cotton. OF Houston, Texas, ''the
mostest displeasantest. unwelcomest man
what they is" Between II o'clock and in
the morning the bulk OF the copy arrives
from the telegraph wires. Meantime the
city editor has had more space than he should
have had. He has run In lot OF matter
that he thinks is fine. while the night editor
expresses the opinion that the most Of It is
"veritable rot," Just like the city editor
would say IL he were on the night editor 8
desk. The editor In chief has had his page
filled with long and dry dissertations on the
tariff and suggestions about running the
government. The sporting and dramatic
men get their matter in before IL O'Clock,
after which hour the telegraph news is sup
posed to have the right Of way.
When the night editor starts in on his work
at o'clock in the afternoon he Is informed
that he has so many columns for telegraph
news. Before o'clock this space is usually
cut down by the business office, a department
of a newspaper that is bore and a bother in
the eyes of the editorial boys; department
worth nothing to nobody or anything except
to be on hand promptly with clean, crisp bills
on the day appointed for 1.-THE ghost to walk. ="
Perhaps by 10 o'clock the ten columns first
allotted to the night editor have been cut
down to SIX. By that time it is likely that six
columns have already been sent to the COM
posing room. II that be the case. 1t then be-
comes necessary to take the proofs and begin
''sashing." The cream of the news is just
beginning to come. There is tremendous
fire here, an atrocious murder there, and
frightful storm somewheres else. Then comes
the time when the night editor loses his tenn
per-the very hour when he should be as cool
as Spring morning But he can't help it.
He is jealous OF his desk and wants his news
to show up as picturesquely as possible to the
proprietor who regulates his salary.
Years ago was editing telegraph on a big
western daily Besides the night editor.
there were four assistants, who handled the
"fiimsy." BY my side worked John McQuaig,
New Yorker by birth and education, and
one Of the best fellows that ever lived. When
he first came on the - he never knew
what 1t was to go to bed sober. He rolled
'em high. He never seemed despondent. but
vet his intimate friends. looking down into
his big, honest eyes, could see painful secret
seemed SO dark that he could not laugh, tell
a good story, and stand the saloon man at the
corner of for the drinks. Finally one morn
ing just as the night editor had sent "30'' up
John received letter that had come in on
the early mail.
After he had read it, he put on his coat and
started away.
'.Wait, john" said I, "we'll have drink
when we go downstairs"
NO" he replied; mo more for me. I've
quit"
Then the bows laughed, and John went to
his room earlier that morning than he had
for some time.
For a long while-many months-John
avoided the boys, who sat up until the paper
had gone TO press. He did not buy drinks
now, nor cigars, nor give beer suppers any
more. He kept sober himself. which, in all
truth, was a mighty good thing for him to do.
No one could interpret this sudden change in
his life.
One night wanted him to sleep with me,
and he accepted the invitation. When we had
retired and had pulled the cover over our feet
he got in a reminiscent mood. He started TO
tell me story. He paused at the completion
Of each sentence. until finally he got down to
what newspaper men term the "meat OF the
matter Here it is: He had fallen in love
with beautiful girl far back in his eastern
home. He had fondled with her curls and
had carried her books when they were neigh
Dor children going TO schoI. They were
sweethearts then, and as time grew on through
sun and shade they became betrothed. Then
he went to college. There he contracted dis
sipated habits, and when he returned to his
country home he was physical wreck. OF
course, the girl had rejected him, or, rather,
she put him on probation to see if he had the
manliness to mend his ways and be man
again. Well, to shorten the story, he went
west. There he found a friend who was doing
newspaper work. and like the candle and the
moth poor John he fell in.
He got in with the newspaper crowd. happy
fellows, who take the world easy, have forgot
ten yesterday, and never think about what is to
become OF fto-morrow-ac class who are friendly
to everybody, and whose heart strings are
more easily touched than in any other profess
sion in the world But 1 digress. So John
lay there that night and told me one OF his
plans: now he had reformed, saved his money,
and that in few weeks he was going back
to claim the sunny-haired girl who had been
true, loving. and forgiving all through the
painful weeks and months that had past.
How bis heart beat with rapturous Joy at the
contem plation of his homeward journey.
The next night was a busy one in the night
editors rooms. Copy seemed to come in
more abuudantly than usual, and the most of
1. seemed to be good news. At 2.30 o'clock
the foreman said he was flooded with matter
from the business Office and the city editor
spoke through the tube, saying that he had
great local sensation and that he must have
two extra columns, and if he didn't he would
know the reason why. Well after considera-
bic swearing he got it. Then the night editor
wheeled around in his chair and addressing
his assistants spoke out:
''Boil, cut. kill! Down to the bone every
thing"
John was working away like ''true
blue" rs the boys would say, and he was.
Here, john" said the chief about o'clock,
''cut this down to five lines. Just a girl
drowned in Lake Erie, and who in the -
out here cares about her."
John took the copy and with his blue
pencil poised between his fingers began read
ing it. His eyes suddenly closed, his breath
became faster, his form began trembling, and
his hand dropped lifelessly on his desk
'Here there, John!" shouted the night
editor "Do you suppose this is weekly
newspaper? Hurry up!'
"When am going to get 1907" yelled the
foreman.
I'm few minutes" replied the chief; ''that
e, II I can ever get John down to work
again"
In q moment more there was sigh,
gasp, a twitching of the muscles, long
leave OF the breast. stified. muttered cry,
md John rolled from his chair to the floor
We lifted him to the table and took the page
,f telegraph from his nervcless fingers. 1t
vas his sweetheart who had been drowned.
N minute more good, true, and generous
John, his "30'' was in. ]. S. EVANS.