Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-06-14
AN EDITORIAL VENTURE
by HERBERT A. JUMP.

Col. Jared Quiller's private Office was
unoccupied. From the mantel Horace
Greeley carved in marble looked stern
ly down at the bronze statuette of At
las upon the colonels writing desk;
while Atlas tended strictly to business
as was his won't, and sustained upon
his sturdy shoulders little bronze
earth filed with black writing fluid.
In front of his metal feet on the blotter
covering the top of Col Quiller's desk
dark spot could be seen, which, as
the seconds rolled by, gradually grew
In extent, widening in all directions
from the point of Col Quiller's pen, an
ever-enlarging ink-island in an inn
mense sea of white blotting paper.
This new isle, however, was not alone
in its glory; the whole surface of the
desk is one grand archipelago, and all
because Col. Jared CUTLER, proprietor,
editor and manager of the Welham
Gazette, was exceedingly careless and
forgot always after he had finished
using his pen to stick it into the small
cup Of shot that stood by Atlas SIDE
Less than five minutes ago there had
been knock at the door, and Editor
CUTLER, after substituting for the
choice twenty five cent cigars in his
vest pocket several Of cheaper brand,
had stepped out to meet his visitor.
If Col. CUTLER is anything, he is
sagacious; and perhaps his sagacity
was never so well illustrated as in the
way in which he succeeded in making
his Gazette the mirror of Welham pub
lie sentiment A diligent reader of It's
pages was sure to know the pro and
con, the says he" and "says l" of every
story current in the miniature city.
When the woman's suffrage question
was agitating the commonwealth
several years ago he devoted several
pages through number of weeks to an
open discussion of the all-absorbing
theme; and in more than one way he
has reason to congratulate himself
upon the result of his policy. In the
first place he had been fair to both
sides, which was very satisfying to bis
circulation had increased by severa
hundred subscribers, which was
equally gratifying to his pocketbook
And so as Col. CUTLER was sitting in hi,
library one evening, after spending hi
afternoon in figuring up the gains from
his woman's suffrage venture, he sale
to his daughter Rose as he entered tn,
room:
Rose, here's the account of the bes
piece of business lever did: Debit sid,
nothing; credit side, the adoring es
TEEN of two hundred and twenty won
en-, six hundred new subscribers to tn,
Gazette"
Rose was evidently pleased by thu
information, but said:
swell, father, you'd better let wei
enough alone. Don't tempt the dew
too often by these experiments Tisn'
his habit to smile twice on the sam
person.
But Col. CUTLER had nevertheless un
dertaken another venture, and tina
was the subject upon which he an,
George Fanchard were talking so earn
estly while the ink island on Col. Quill
er's desk was slowly advancing it
shore line. About month ago Their
had appeared in the Gazette a para
graph inviting all who would be inter
ested in the formation of a bachelor.
club to meet at the home of Rober
Grant on Friday evening. Insomuc
as this Mr.. Grant was young man c
most attractive presence, and quite
lion among the Welham young ladie
through virtue of possessing head {
remarkably thick curly hair, this ar
nouncement caused considerable flu
ter and curiosity. The Young Woman
Mission band, the Sacred Six SEWN
circle, the Ladies' Browning club an
all the other organizations among tn
younger members of the meeker an
weaker sex discussed the startlin
news in all its phases. Would there b
enough bachelors to join? Would the
remain true to their principles, or we
it merely "a mutual benefit leagu
planned to give the girls scare S
that they would be anxious to snap u
the first offer of matrimony that PR
scented itself? But after being TIL
ever-recurring SUBJECT of conversatio
for week the matter was at lengt
definitely settled by the appearance {
the next Gazette, which contained tn
notice:
"A Bachelors club was organized O
Friday evening last at the home of M
Robert Grant. The platform of pril
ciples declares that we are solemn
of the conviction that the suprem
bliss of living can be enjoyed only
the bachelor state, and we therefor
agree not only ourselves to live live
consistent with this belief, but also
strive in every way possible to NAL
converts to our way of thinking fro
among our unenlightened and delude
brethren"
Then followed a list of officers chose
grand bachelor, bachelor scribe, etc
and the plans made for the work of Il
ensuing year.
Had meteor struck the publ
square of Welham it could hardly ha'
aroused more excitement than did tn
announcement among the feminil
portion of the community. "The lie
ington of our matrimonial liberties hi
come" is the way one war-loving dan
expressed it. The Young Ladies' Mi
sion band held several special NEE
ings, though the annual report fe
months later failed to Indicate tn
any work was accomplished at them,
least in missionary lines. Everybot
talked and conjectured about the ne
organization. The story even went Il
rounds that Ethel Davis, who w
nothing more anyway than bundle
affections tied together with sentimer
when she heard that Rob Grant hi
been chosen president of the clu