The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-20
SECRETS OF THE SHOP.
A COterie of ScribbIers Discuss Trade
Tricks-EvO1utiOn of "a Special.
AInur YnrI1 Mall and Exnress


Every man in that group of five had run
the complete newspaper gamut-the every
day reporter of the common, or garden va
rety; the travelling correspondent, with
wads of credentials; the Photographer and
his purring brain, the special story writer
the statistical editorialist-there was noth-
ing except running the presses that these
men had not done. 1T was in an uptown
resort where they, met occasionally 10
smoke and chat and 'sink the shop'-SOme-
thing always intended but never done, for
no matter what topic was started 1t IN
variably wobbled around to its relation
with the newspaper.
II am firmly of the opinion" said the man
with spectacles, that not one OF US mas
ever written an entirely original special
article. We are always drawing on the oid
stock and have been ever since newspapers
began printing that sort OF stun. ,,4o,. Mil,
For instance?' queried the editor with
ssWeii." was the reply, there's a million
of en- I can remember for twenty years
or more the story of all watchmakerS
wooden-clock signs marking $40 o'clock
was because Lincoln was shot at that houI'
the man with the jag who counted the pro
cession of lamp posts as they past hlm
the burly policeman who carried the httle
girl across the street because he had pa
bies Of his own; the faithful dog mat
guarded his drunken master In the snow;
the wretched husband steered against th9
bargain counter by his wife; the fearful
reunion of old army comrades after thlFty
years separation; the typewriter girl IN
all her varied phases why, there S no end
The typewriter girl alone has given mate
rial for a hundred different stories.
I'm inclined TO think there is something
in that" said the quiet-mannered para
grapher. Each of the subjects you nave
mentioned Is capable of being served up III
hundred different ways"
That will give 800 stories" remarked the
statistical editor and each Of those al
tered only 10 per cent. would give 800 more;
Take the head and tail off this 1900, ana
putting on new ones, and you practically
create 5000 new yarns out of your Original
Yes" said the first speaker; that's an
old trick. | remember getting UP yarn
about a flock of geese getting their feet
they took wing together in tho nirIDIng ny
ing off with the pond. SOMEBODY in Chi
cago revamped the story ana .n1de them
geese with glass eyes carrying tie pond 10
a neighboring county, and creating !1ke
where IL had all been dry land before. Inc
next fellow who took a hack at it described
the sudden appearance of body of water
in a desert, and how it attracted a flock or
wild geese
THE old farmer who never smoked or
chewed and cut two cords of wood on his
by" said the man with the spectacles.
You can have him wrestling. running loot
races or jumping four-rai fences"
Or bring him TO town and let him TOOL
a bunco man." said the Photographer.
generally work that in January. It's most
Popular in the winter months
The country boarding house keeper VINO
ehases a pullet around the yard with an ak
and then serves barreled chicken TO me
city boarderS is capable of considerable
twisting" said the editor with the bicycle
face.
And the ragged girl shelterIng her .starv-
ing little brother under her tora cloak on
frcsty day. put in Old Statistics Shs
can feed him on the food that the kind
lacy gave her for herself or keep him
warm so he can get education.
Gentlemen" said the paragraphev, let
us sink the shop. We've done nothing bhl
tax shop since We've been here. Don't y9aa
think special story on specials would