Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-08-06

sllghtly-stoOplng, scholarly looking
man entered.
"Good-morning, gentlemen" he
called out cheerily as he entered.
"Good- Mr.. Chipman,"
was the reply, uttered in unison.
1.-The first business Of the day is for
us all to become acquainted with one
another, and then we will proceed to
prepare the first number of the Gran
dali Post" he said.
Introductions followed. The men
forming the editorial and reportorial
stats of the new paper were gathered
from all over the country. The Post
was backed by q syndicate of business
men and politicians who considered
their little city entitled to daily
paper embracing their political faith.
Chapman, the city editor of the Times,
the only daily in Crandall, had been
chosen editor-in- chief, and he it was
who had gathered about him this staff
of assistants.
First of all must be mentioned Muir
dock. day editor. Next him in rank
was the city editor, "Joe" Farrell, a
young Irishman from Connecticut,
who always declared comically that he
was Spaniard The next man to be
introduced was George Edward Hunt
ington, called G.. Eddie. He was q
boy just out of the high school who
wanted to become journalist.
When Mr.. Chipman presented San
ford to us we all looked at him. Tall,
slender, with handsome curly hair
and long blonde mustache, he looked
a regular lady's man. We set him
down as "sissy" right away.
"Au esthete,'. 1 dubbed him when
talking to Joe Farrell later.
"An ass, rather" replied Joe.
He came highly recommended by a
Boston paper, however, SO he was
made reporter at fair salary. The
other reporters were Crandall boys.
Then there was the little French artist,
and last of all, your humble servant,
the telegraph editor.
Mr.. Chapman having introduced
the various members of his staff to
each other, the group broke up, the
chief going to his newly furnished
sanctum, Murdock into his cuddy,
Farrell aud the men under him into
the city room, where the telegraph in
strument and my desk were also To-
Gated, the reporters to their various
assignments. And 50 the new paper
was in train.
The Times having had it's own way
in Crandall for SO many years, it was
only natural that the starting of new
paper to dispute the field with them
should have mace the managers sore
The rivalry between the editors ex-
tended down to the very devil in the
press room. Especially was it bitter
between the reporters. The Times
men couldn't say anything mean
enough about the Post men.
Sanford was at once picked out by
the Times as a scapegoat. At noon of
the first day he went to a restaurant
frequented by newspaper mon. He
took seat at 4 table beside one at
which two Times men were dining.
They were apparently deeply engaged
in conversation, not paying any atten-
tiel to their fellow quill OF the
Post. Their conversation was carried
on i'll SO loud voice, however, that
Sanford could not help over hearing
what they were saying. Their talk
was of horrible murder committed
the night before in the little town of
Barlow, some ten miles north of Gran
dali. Sanford drank in all they said
his journalistic nostrils scenting
story afar. He hurriedly finished his
dinner and went out.
"Dollars to doughnuts that chump
will start for Barlow inside an hour"
laughed one Of the Times men.
"(h, but he's fruit" exclaimed the
other, also laughing.
They finished their meal at their
leisure, and, lighting cigars, left the
place. They were outside just in time
to see Sanford whirl by behind pair
of spirited bay horses. They stool
aud W; tcied him as he drove up the
street like whir " nd, not smile be-
trsying their inward mirth.
"The bill for that team will make a
nowl IN the fost once, remarked one,
after Sanford was out of sight
Meanwhile there were howls already
going on at the Post Office. They were
anxious to get out a particularly bright,
newsy paper on this first day, and here
it was after noon, with one reporter
missing. Farrell was fretting aud
fuming when a boy from the stable
which furnished Sanford his turnout
walked leisurely into the office, bear.
ing q hastily written missive from the
missing man. 1t read thus:
Just heard Of great murder at Barlow.
Have hired team and gone up to get story.
Hold paper until you hear from me again
SANFORD"
"Say Jack" said Joe, turning to
me, "th,t man amt such fool, after
all. Read this.
took the note and glanced hur.