Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-01
.A Fourth Of July G6|ebT0HO|l.

| Watson & Wilson printers and pub
fishers, We're very much in need of
man. There was the new tax list,
county commissioners they had helped
to elect and they did not know
thing about the insanity
problem Of rule and figure work.
They 'had learned the trade" like
many another man In the country,
and could set straight composition
with anybody Watson. indeed, had
developed a talent for display lines,
and could satisfy all the demands of
Watertown merchants for envelopes
and letter heads, and, by following
the general form of ancient wall
borne specimens, could do" sale bills
to your hearts delight
But who should save them from the
pitfall of rules and figures?
As they stood Mt the bottom of the
stairway thinking of these things,
they saw stranger on the street
Watertown always looked twice at
stranger. 1t was Just unhurried
enough to spare the time. This man
was of medium height slender with
the appearance of one who has dour-
ished in cities, catching the style and
the garments that are unusual in the
country. His hands We're slender,
and there was a something about the
right thumb and forehnger which pro-
claimed his craft at once.
Hes a printer" said Watson.
Hes seen the sign, and is coming
over" said Wilson.
The new man paused at the en-
trance way read the cardboard Office
sign on the stairway. looked at the
two men critically, and inquired:
ANY chance for work2"
How did you know we were the
publishersW asked Watson.
"How did you know was a print
err asked the man.
In the afternoon he took charge of
the delinquent list, and in half an
hour they knew they We're secure. He
was a craftsman. He knew every
thing, from bending rule to casting
rollers But he would not pun the
hand press, and he would not work
Saturday afternoon. They labored
with him on these points; but he
laughed and said he was past it.
He was given to testing; and one of
his happiest thoughts was to shoot a
spray of water into the eye of an in
quisitive citizen who wanted to see
purple stars in d galley of dead type,
wetted forsdistribution. He changed
the figures in the advertisement Of
lands delinquent, after the first is
sue, and wondered if the money lend
ers who should later purchase could
make good title with defective pub
licatiOn. He taught Watson & Will
son how to double their income from
foreign advertisers by taking twice as
much business as the paper could
carry, and stop the press IN time to
lift out one line, and set in the other.
II troubled their consciences-attri-
butes which, he assured them, the
| foreign advertisers did not possess
In a good many ways he enjoyed
himself It was clear to everyone
that he held the town and all its be-
longings in something like contempt;
but he was so amiable about 1t, SO
suave In his treatment of people, that
punishment was unthought of, and
antipathy was disarmed.
When Watson a. Wilson began ad-
yertising for the Fourth of July cele-
bration, ''the Printer" was ready 10
move. He had worked three months
In one town, and was hungry for the
city. They wanted him TO stay They
sat down one day In June, when the
paper was on, and tried 70 argue II.
He told them he must make a con
fession. There was a young woman
In the town, sweetheart-afiiance he
feared, of a man whom he regarded
as his friend; and she had smiled
upon him. She was very fair, and he
feared he might forget himself, prove
disloyal. and court a girl 10 his friends
NOVT(iE An b11OtinQ fishing a,