The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
PHILADELPHIA's MOE VA rs.
Case or a Man WIN Was sporting Editor OF nj
Eminentiy DiEnincd Newspaper.

Case or n Man who Was Sporting Editor OF nm
Eminently DiEnincd Newspaper.
Every newspaper man who has ever worked
In Philadelphia has n stock of stories about one
newspaper which shall DO namelcss and,
curiously enough, they arc all vouched for as
true. This paper frequently sacrifices news to
its traditional dignity. anG tho ways OF the
office are sometimes amusing to the uninitiatcd.
A man who was connected with it told this story
to II group of newspaper men. and. before he had
finished 1t, two of his auditors said that they
were in Philadelphia at the time and know that
the circumstances were as related.
The editor of this paper discovered a few years
ago that every other paper in town employed q
sporting editor. His paper printed little or no
sporting news, but. not to be left too far behind,
he engaged n man who may be called Bangs as
sporting and yachting editor. No one ever saw
the results OF Bangs's work in the paper. For
eight months all letters and clippings pertain
ing to sporting matters were placed on Bangs's
desk. Bangs would report at the office every
day. look over the material on his desk, shove 1t
into the waste basket and go home. Once "a week
he collected $50 from the cashier.
Philadelphia is not a yachting centre, but at
that time an event occurred down the bay that
was of general interest. and, for personal rea-
sons. it was Of particular interest to the paper
on which Bangs worked. This event was sched-
uled for Sept. 3. Bangs had accepted an invita-
ton to a planked shad dinner on that day. He
wanted to go to the dinner. and at the Same
time his conscience as yachting editor suggested
that it was his duty to cover the one yacht race
of the year. The dinner won, and Bangs eased
his conscience by thinking that he could get a
description of the race in the evening from some
lie returned to Philadelphia late. after his
dinner, and merely succeeded in getting the re-.
sui OF INC race. which he nrinfpi Tho nnyt
morning. To his great surprise one of the other
papers in town printed a column about the
he had been beaten badly.
There q is no use OF ny going near the office
care to 20 down and be told that ! have been dis
charged, SO | will just stay away"
Two months later an acquaintance from New
York called at the newspaper office to find
hangs. He could get no information about him
~ iio tae G ibs OF rooms and went down and cues
said;
"Bangsi Bangsf All, yes. Bangs. Iremcm.
Der now. Well. l think Bangs must be i'll.
There is two months back salary here for him.
Tho New York man thought that If Bangs
were IL IL was his duty TO look him up. He
found him at q club frequentod by newspaper
"Why; Bangs I'm glad to see that you are out
'e!esn; ma! s = bsG Bn 1ns m nhaiting b,s or.
drawn drawn your YOU salary for TIVE months, and he
thohkub thiby pu 10 III.
What the-why-say, was that all he said r.
Yes, and he seemed 10 be worried about YOU"
A broad smile spread over Bangs's face. He
wrote a note to the cashier asking him to give
his money to the bearer and stating that he was
conyalcscing and expected 10 be back at his
desk In two weeks. A messenger took the note
and returned with the money. Two weeks
later Bangs turned up at h $ desk and received
the congratulations of the staff on his recov.
cry. he said that he had suffered from nervous
prostration, and for q month after his return
the managing editor frequently cautioned him
not TO attempt to do too much. Bangs is still
thriving In Philadelphia.