The times., 1898-02-20
A Newspaper Book.


THE Copymaker.' by William Far
quhar Payson. is a book which will
| cause reminiscent smiles to fit across
| the visage OF more than one old news
paper man-if he finds the time to read
| it-and if there be, perchance. among
| its readers any men who have been in
| other days reporters on a daily news
| paper. they Will also smile reminiscent
smiles and almost wish they were not
| out of the business. 1t IS, in short, the
| experience of a very verdant youth
| who begins his married life and his
career in journalism" at one and the
same time After he has been at work
| for while he doesn't talk about his
career in journalism any more. He
tells of doing stuff and covering as
signments. His first assignment. his
| first housekeeping, his editor, the sa-
pient office-boy and the man who is a
born reporter, are all described with
humorous and sympathetic skill. The
picture of Scrabbles, the born reporter
is particularly touching. Mr.. Payson
says:
Some men are journalists by birth,
and though none of these We're born
with the proverbal silver spoons in
their mouths, they probably had pen
ellis in their hands. Their natures car
ry them TO the newspaper offices when
they are little more than boys. and here
leave them until age comes with dis
| missal, poverty, and their best blessing
death. One man, who l feel sure
must have been fonder of ink than
milk, even in his early infancy, is
Scrabhles. / like Scrabbles, for 1 feel
sure he has always been Scrabbles, and
viii be no one else until his dying day"
The new reporter and Scrabbles took
luncheon together just after this intro
duction. Scrabbles said he would have
same as always" one of his pet ex-
preSSions. Same as always in this case
was coffee and pie. Scrabbles allow
ed the waiter to select the pie, because
he said to ask for q certain kind would
be taking needless responsibility upon
ones shoulders: and the waiter gave
the order in this way: Draw two and
cut two of what you've got the most
of for number 81 Scrabbles is further
analyzed in this way:
He watches carefully the machinery
that makes the world go, and records
its motions. i doubt, however, if he
ever asks the child's question, why
do the wheels go round?' He knows
they rotate, and this knowledge suf-
fees him, but although. perhaps. their
movement pleases him somewhat / do
not believe he would care much if they
stopped altogether. The other day I
asked him what he would find to do in
the next world, and he answered with
that drawl of his: Well, I've been
court reporter for good long time; If
there is any next world, l shall stick
TO the rut and be recording angel
So much for Scrabbles.- There are a
good many rather epigrammatic say
ings in the book; for instance, this is
one as to antiques:
"We become antiques, but we are not
so much sought after by the world as
inanimate specimens of antiquity-old
laces, pottery, bric-a- -b1ac, paintings,
and other reminders of bygone arts,
for these are rare and ornamental, but
average humanity is neither the one
nor the other. The average man is
reader to buy one of Washingtons
grandmother chairs than to pay his
own grandmother's rent"
And here is a paragraph which sheds
side light on the housekeeping of
the scribe:
I'VE have not bought the sofa yet /
thought of giving it to Alice for Christ
mas but she said she wanted a pair
Of gloves, and l believe in giving use
full presents-the things people really
want. l gave her the gloves"
Among the varied experiences of this
reporter is one which concerns din
ner given by Mr.. Van Push, who
called his parlor saloon" and hia
bills of fare. gorgeously emblazoned,
''meenus." 1t is rather amusing, is this
experience.
But as one nears the end of the book
there is an atmosphere of unreality
about it. and the old newspaper man
scents the fake. And when, in the last
chapter, eccentric old uncle appears,
leaves hero big fortune and hero goes
out of newspaper business altogether.
this impression becomes certainty. Mr..