Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-03-06

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CHAPTER III.
A srfR IN A xEwsPArER OFFICE
The loud voiccd gong that rang the
alarms of fire In ths ofiiceof tho Brook
lyn Daily Bugla had struck 1.-THE
hour of midnight. Tho once 10 not
what the readers of the paper have pic
turrd 1.-THE traditional title of sane
tum sanctorum lifting u TO . dignity
In public Imagination that 10 could not
claim even under the lstitudinous IT,.
cense of journalistic pretension.
The plate glass windowsof the build.
ing facing the city hall are covered
with gilt letters. The handles on tho
massive front doors are osidif~i. The
counters In the business once are OF
polished mahogany. and the railings
from the cashiers deck 90 that of the
advertising clerk are of heavy brass. OF
beautiful design. and shining almost
like gold. Round the walls are elegant
iithographs. 20 srtistically framed and
- neatly arranged that they sccm TO 10
tho original masterpieces Of which they
are but copies.
Let us look behind the partition. run
ming from floor 30 ceiling. that sepa.
rates the richly decorated business once
from the editorial and rportsrial
rooms. and shuts out from them light
and air. The rich dre~s of the newspa.
Per Cinderella tuins into rngs; not even
the rubbing of Aisddin's lamp could
work q stranger metamorpbo-is. The
entrance 10 by narrow hallway, such
Q hallway NJ you would nnd In tsne-
ment where travel has worn the softer
wood and tho knots. refusing 10 sink
benesth sole leather, stand mp In gnarl.
~,i determination 10 upset the unwafy.
Entering q side door. the.nninitiatcsi is
staggered by the sudden transition from
thu business palace 10 q miserable.
stuiiy. dingy apartment. where the In
tellectual force of the paper 10 both an.
nalising and snalyring the history of =
day and molding the policy VI decades.
as the great presses In the basement L.
/ low are about to awaken to breakfast
On ton. q PAPER while all the world IL
asleep.
Away of In Oh. farther corner OF the
room IL bollike arrangement formed
iy running two sides of . half partition
up against the walls, completing the
quadrangle that makes q private office
for the managing editor. ~ . desk
near the door of this little Office is .eat-
sd the night city editor. Two gas Jets
light q long table In the crntsr of the
room. where number of reporters are
seated, turning out stories oi murder.
Suicide. FIRE. romance and intrigue that.
after q few touches of the blue Irncil.
will read tomorrow lik. the classic pro-
ductions u q feuiiletonist who, unlike
the reporter. IL not hampcrcd by facts
nor FASTENED by time.
Against the walls are few common
ds-k, of rude construction, and each
has q gas jet o. itself. ~ enc ats the
telegraph editor. The others are re-
served for those who have risen to the
distinction 10 department men. 90 spe-
/ tiali.ts. TO whom some particular fea-
tur. of Oh. paper. frOm religion 10 sport.
and Iolitic.. has l-en assigned. AZ one
ofthe-e IL Laur,nc. Mangan. There has
been q rush of big stories. the finishing
paragraphs are awaited in the comps
Ing room. some articles must L. cut
down. the facts COMPRESSED into Ie-ser
space. for newspaper columns arr not
elastic. Mangsn is pressed into duty
ssA copy reader.
"what do you think Of that, Man.
Sanf' asked Oh. night editor. ~ bc
handed him . telegram from Albany
announcing the passage ai the evening
s.ssion of the Legislature sf the bill
appointing q commission 10 plan n sys-
tenn of city parks for Brooklyn and
another 10 bond the city for the amount
required.
Think oft. he replied: why. u 10
q conspiracy. II can IL converted into
q public benefit. but u IL most likely to
become . public swindle. The~s com
mi--ioners are Francis Raymond men.
AMI you can dsIsnd upon u he owns
some property he wants 10 dispose Of at
q big price. or he knows I-oplo who
own such and will pay him handsomely
10 get rid of 10, IL they themselves can
get an advance above the current realty
value. However. Il will not do 10 say
that now"
LET ne have a good story" hs said.
for every article is called story In
newspaper circles.
"Mangan." called out tho managing
editor, who had overheard Laurence's
criticism. when you finish that. j
want 10 SEQ you"
"All right" be responded.
Mansan went 90 his desk. and the
paragraph Of telegraphic matter In
les than half an hour was an article
no reader of The Bugie would over
look. IL reviewed the origin Of the
movement. in which The Bugle played
. prominent part, suggested the prob
able features Of the new parks, outlined
the prospects Of pleasure and enumerat.
ed many little details of the system that
would stir young and old into blissful
anticipation Of enjoyment, until. -
Goldsmith said;
Tho.s s-ntis hoars thu, plenty bAds 10 bloom
Tho.s calm ds,irss that asked bat little rooin.
Thoss heaithfui sports that srsoed the Ssaee'
1 full scene.
ly-d IN sssh look and brixhiss<d ell the
grvsn.
The article was finished, the bead
written, and after he had placed u on
the ds~k Of the night editor Mangan
stepped into the ofiice Of the editorial
chief. whose desk was covered with
proofs which be had been reading.
II heard your criticism Of Ray.
mond." the managing editor began.
~ think you have not libelcd him.
Now, I want you TO follow up this mat.
ter, 10 10 the bottom Of Il. hunt mp oil
ths records. and whether or not your
suspicious about Raymond are confirm
ID give m page story, and Ill have
On artist illustrate Il. Itisa subject In
which there 10 great interest. and well
run Il on . sunday. Just ~ soon ~ you
can get u ready"
''I don't care TO do Il, said Mangan.
"whyi
"I was going 10 ask leave Of absence
tomorrow for an indefinite period. and
falling to receive II to tender my resis'
nation"
II Laurence Nangan had had the