The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12

ments cannot be classified as
'tramps" ~
1t Is historical fact that Horace
Greeley, once editor of the New York
Tribune and candidate for president
of the United States, '.hoofed it" into
New York when he went there to seek
Job. The late James G.. Blaine
was practical printer and, it is said.
a fairly good one. He was proud of his
attainments in that line.
Sam Clemens C'Mark Twain') set
type in the office of a Hannibal, Mo-,
weekly newspaper prior to his attempt
to learn the river" and pilot Missis-
sippi river steamers between st. Louis
and points on the upper and lower
river
Twain was a sort of hero in the eyes
OF the old-time printers He was ever
regarded as a true member Of the craft
and he was as much Of an admirer
OF the typos as they were friends of
MN. TWaln's copy was bad" His
lnterlineations were something awful
to contemplate. When he had finished
with piece of manuscript it required
an adept to put it into type. And
Twain knew it. He, therefore, gave due
credit to the compoSitOr who could
wade through his copy"
RECEPTION AT KEOKUK.
On the occasion of Twain's trip up
the Mississippi, While he was gather
ing material for one of his books, the
author of 'Roughing IT, and limo
cents Abroad" stopped off at Keokuk,
10. The printers there at the time de-
c1ded that he must have a reception
Hon Caleb Davis, one of the pioneers
OF Iowa, and man who knew all
about the controversy over the Half
Breed tract and Dr. Shaffer. who was
known as the bug man. were .Iet
in" 81
The reception" was held in Dr.
Shaffer's office, on Third street. In that
office was rare collection of bugs,
birds. butterflies, snakes and the like.
Gale Davis had an Office just back
OF that occupied by DR.. Shaffer. He
acted as master of ceremonies" The
reception was success At least,
when big black bottle, produced by
Judge Davis, had been emptied.
The famous humorist arose and,
pointing at box containing two live
rattlesnakes, and then turning his gaze
towards a case of bugs" remarked
Il think 1 have had sufficient for the
day. [ can see snakes and bugs. Please
take me back to the boat" His re-
quest was complied with. His escort
was composed of a squad Of printers,
among whom were Charlie" Church,
Bill" Mason. Harry Stein and Kit
Carson, all famous throughout the Mis-
sissippi valley as peripatetic knights
of the Stick"
TOOK HOME A CHIP.
While foreman of the Washington Cd.
CO Daily Chronicle, back in 1875,
among the members of the news room
force 1 had three bright young men
from out of the West-''Nic' De Bong,
now resident of st. Paul; Newt Sny-
der, of Mount Pleasant, 10. avprotege
Of the late Frank Hatton, once post
master general, but better known to
the printers fraternity as a newspa-
per man and a good fellow" and AL
len Album, of Columbus City, To-, now
foreman of the Council Bluffs Co..
Nonpareil.
Auburn was the youth Of the trio.
He was an ardent admirer of George
Washington, and one day we took the
youngster to Mount Vernon to view the
tomb of the father Of his country.
While strolling about the well kept
grounds We came upon a stump of a
Cherry tree. Young Album was as
sured by De Long that that was the
veritable cherry tree that George chop
Ped down and did not deny to his stern
father.
Album gazed upon the relic with I'M
disguised veneration Then he drew
forth his pocket knife and cut there
from a goodly sized chip, which he
sent back to his Iowa home to be pre-
served. The story got out, and
"Wheezy'' Clark, a Baltimore celebrity,
who breathed hard / while sticking
type" Immediately dubbed Album
him for all time.
FRANK NATIONS CAREER.
Hon. Frank Hatton, who became one
of the most prominent of Iowa citizens
in public affairs, and who died in the
very prime of his career, was a typical
printer. Even after he had become a
big man he had a weakness for 1.-The
boys" and was never happier than
when in their company. No Knight
of the Road" ever lacked friend while
Frank Hatton was at the helm And
he was power with the printers. In
those days the typographical union
was the most arbitrary trade organiza-
ton in the country.
While clubbing" in the Job depart
p1ent of the printing house of Akers,
Blackmer & Co., in Burlington, To-,
got my first taste of strike" The
ice water ran out one warm afternoon.
and the father of the chapel" called
a meeting "for action"
1t was quickly decided that shortage
In ice water was an outrage that called
for immediate relief, and an ultima
work. To this was added a complaint
as to the thinness, of the curtains at
the front windows. 1--WE might as well
fix it all up at once" said Pat" Kelly
and the men walked OUT
Frank Hatton, then connected with
the Hawkeye, which was issued
from the same building, was in the
business Office when q the force"
marched down stairs. AS sSoon as he
learned the cause of the demonstra ton
he urged 1.-The boys" to return to their
cases-and they did.
UNBLOWN POETS.
There was much latent talent among
the famous old-time printers. There
were dark days in Washington, after
Pig Iron" Kelly withdrew his sup
port from the Chronicle, when 'spay
day" was somewhat irregular. Judge
Vail, the business manager, was made
the bull s-eye for sharp shots by the
unpaid printers generally in rhyme. I
remember one little. verse that was
pasted on the wall in theJnews room.
1t ran something like this:
Clouds may oft be lined with silver,
Streets of heaven paved With gold;
But the Chronicle can never
OF it have such stories tod.
Patience is a priceless virtue;
Bring it with you when you come;
For you'll never get your wages
Though az times you may get some
Judge Vail was naturally indignant,
and 1 was instructed toz1aGate the Gull
prit ct did il with NV little nopoiJ