The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-14
TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS.

Example of the DihHculty of Obtaining
Clean Proof Sheets.
"a proof-reader who can read proof ia
q thing very greatly to be desired around
a newspaper Office" growled the city
editor OF the HERALD. sarcastical y, as
he pointed to ''estranged" which had
crept into the paper by way of "ostra-
cised" written in the copy.
every true," vsntured the proof
reader, witt the humility of his class;
las NO paper nor pamphlet nor book
was ever printed, anywhere, accurately,
and as all OF them desire to be accurate,
a proof-reader who could really read
proof would be very good thing to have
in the print family"
"Pooh % said the editor; 'point out
errors in this book. If you dent fnd
any you'll learn something while you're
hunting"
AS he spoke he pushed the proof
readers Webster's International diction..
airy across the table, throwing back the
cover and standing with his hand rest
ing on page XIV of the Editors Preface
to the Revised Edition of 1847; and the
pr0oI-renuUr IcuKss~A 10.-sa- INA
caught the words council and cooper
alton" just above the editorial finger
tips.
reader, you've chosen book which ia
supposed to be nearer absolute accuracy
than any other in the English language.
and out OF that book taken an article
which has been published in about six
editions and read and revised and re-
read and re-revised by IL to "a different
proof readers; and you've put your
hand on bull just as souarely as man
ever stepped on toad in the night time.
A man doesn't give council"
Nonsense, said the editor, reading
the sentence: Counsel and council
may be used interchangeable"
Look 'em up remarked the proof
reader. "CounciP and counsel" were
looked up, but even then the editor in
slated that there was no error, until at
length it was agreed to leave the matter
to the publishers of the dictionary, and
this letter was written and farm with
brick house on it wagered upon the
result:
G. and o. Merriam & Co., Publishers, eJc.
GENTLEMEN On page XIV, lnterna-
tional dictionary, appears hie
| cOunCll anu CO-OpoidtlOA Va NoiuO
! CITY editor contends that the expression
| ia legitimate. Proof-reader insists that
COUNCIL is unqualiiedly and bald
headedly wrong, the result OF conspiracy
between intelligent compositor aud care
less proof.reader. Please submit to due
authority and use enclosed stamp for
reply.
In the multiiarious duties of news
paper Office the incident was forgotten
until last night letter WAS brought to
the HERALD proof room, bearing the
card of the publishers OF Webstsr's In
ternational dictionary. The editor and
the proof-rsader each tried to sell the
other the title in fee simple to tarm
with brick house on it, and then the
letter was opened.
With formal and old fashioned cour
tesy the receipt of the letter printse
above was acknowledged, and then fol
lowed the written endorsement:
"Your proof-reader was doubtless
correct"
So when this article is read and some
errors found in it, the reader need no
necessarily conclude that the composite
must nave been Intelligent" and tn
proof-resder aeleep. 1t only shows tina
there are limits to the capacity OF human
beings for continuous attention-And 70
all lapses the proof-reader gets jumped
uDnn