Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-06-01
HIS START IN LIFE.
HE Desire to Accom- modate q Custom.
er Broueht About His Success.


HE Desire to Accom- modate q Custom.
er Brought About His Success.
The Philadelphia Times prints an in
teresting and encouraging account Of
the manner in which Mr.. Mclaughlin,
the late publisher Of that paper, gained
his first upward start in the world. He
was then employed in the printing
office of the Ledger. Young readers
may find in the narrative something
better than a good story.
Upon one occasion in 1851, when
Frank Mclaughlin was twenty three
years of age. it happened that the fore
man and his assistant were absent, and
that John Mclaughlin was at home i'll.
Young Frank Mclaughlin was then
the fastest setter Of type in the office.
At the dinner hour on the day in
question, when every "stick" was lying
at rest, Abraham Barker, the father of
the well-known Wharton Barker, ard
himself then one of the very few
brokers In this city, walked into the
Ledger job printing office with a stock
list-an enumeration of the figures OF
the financial market of the day-and
expressed a desire to have it put in
type and fifty copies struck off for i'm
mediate use.
BY reason of the conditions described,
there was no one in authority to wait
upon him, and Frank Mclaughlin
stepped forward and received the Or
der. The stock-list of that time. unlike
the complex affair of the present day,
was an abbreviated statement, and two
men could easily place 1t in type within
q quarter Of an hour.
When Mr.. Baker asked the young
printer If he would undertake the task,
the latter answered with cheerful alac-
rity, Certainly" Cutting the list in
two and turning to one Of the Oldest
compositors in the office, he said,
~! ere, Jim, take one of these takes
and I'll take the other, and We'll rush
her through In n jiffy."
The man addressed walked forward
with a frown on his face, and after he
had taken the slip Of paper and was
moving back to his case, he mutetred
some half-understood words about
"giving a fellow a chance to eat his
diuner."
Never mind, Jim," said young Nc
Laughlin, walking quickly after him
and taking the copy from his hands,
IN do the job myself" During these
proceedings Abraham Barker never left
the office, nor did he do so until the
work had been completed. He leaned
quietly against a makeup table, read
ing a copy of the New York Tribune,
apparently oblivious to all that was
going on about him.
Young McLaughlin's fingers flew as
he picked up the little pieces of metal.
In less than half an hour he had the
stock list in type, revised. and fifty
copies struck Off. He handed them to
Mr.. Barker with an apology for keep
ing him waiting. What! Done al
readyY' said the broker, and with 4
simple "Thank your he left the office.
The following morning the young
printer was surprised by receiving a
note from the customer of the day be-
fore, requesting him to call at his Of
flee. He did so.
81 heard everything that took place
In the Ledger office yesterday" said
the fnancier. ''and fully appreciate
your conduct. would like you to
print the stock-list for me every day
for one month, and I'll pay you five
hundred dollars for the work"
But 1t is not worth SO much rs
that" answered the printer.
1T is worth as much to me to have
1t done as you did it yesterday" was
the reply.
That was Frank McLaughlin's first
work for himself. At the expiration
Of the month the contract was extend.
ed to three times that period, and then
| to twelve months, with an annual re-
compense of six thousand dollars. AT
that time journeymen printers were
receiving about ten dollars weekly. and
only in extraordinary instances earned
one or two dollars beyond that sum.