The age-herald., 1900-11-22
SKETCHES FROM
 EVERYDAY LIFE

'I have been here about a month and a half," said the host of a prominent hotel, and I have been so crowded with guests that I have not been able to renovate any of my rooms. No sooner does a guest va- cate room than two more are fighting to get in it. Such repair work as I have been able to do requires my personal attention This, in addition to looking after the af- fairs of the hotel, keeps me on the go from <4S0 in the morning till 1 o'clock at night. The result is that when I do get in bed I am a pretty sound sleeper and it would take something like freight train run ming over me to wake me up.
 "The other night two commercial travel CTS, old friends of mine arrived at the hotel. did not have a spare room in the house, yet hated to send them off To accommodate them I had two cots placed in my room. I slept on one, put one. of my friends in the bed and the other in the re- maining cot. One was named Harrison and the other Mitchell. They both went to bed some hours ahead of me.
 "'By the way, Mitchell said Harrison, T hope you don't mind snoring. I am sorry to say that I snore sometimes, and I wouldn't like to keep you awake "'Oh, that's all right said Mitchell I'll bet you the cigars that you complain be- fore I do. I'm somewhat of a snorer my self
 "The bets were made and both of them went to bed. About 1 o'clock went up to my room. I lit cigar and sat down to read Harrison, who was in bed was wide awake and Mitchell was sound asleep snor- ing in a manner that was truly marvellous. I enjoyed the situation for some time before going to bed. Pride and the dislike of los- ing his bet kept Harrison silent for quite while. Finally he could stand it no longer. For heavens sake, Mitchell he yelled, turn over Mitchell turned over and for few moments there was quiet
 
 "Harrison was knocked out and the next day I succeeded in getting him room to himself Mitchell, however had to spend an- other night in my room. This was Monday night. had slept good deal on Sunday and was not as sleepy as was the night before. went to bed as usual about 1 o'clock. I had not been in bed long before something woke me. I looked at the clock and saw that it was not time for me to get up. Then I suddenly heard frightful noise as of someone being murdered. The noise could have been heard in Second ave- nue. It was Mitchell snoring. Turn over, you fend I yelled. Mitchell turned Four or five times between 1 and half-past made Mitchell turn over. He never woke at all. I made him sleep on his back, his stomach and both sides, but to no effect believe he could snore standing his head
 'He shall have room to himself to- night" he continued, If I have to build it."
 It is not so easy to get news, said an ex- reporter, as people think Nine men out of ten if asked if there is any news will say no. They do this from several reasons. One is that most people think that the on- ly news a reporter wants is a murder case, a burglary or something of the sort. An- other reason is that few people know what news is. As a matter of fact anything from the office cat having a fit up to the assassination of a president is news. Then too, many people don't want to be bother ed with reporters and they think the easiest way to get rid of him is to say no. Sensible people are always the easiest to interview. Without circumlocution they tell the reporter what they can, he writes 1t down in quiet way and takes his leave.
 When a person says there is no news, and the reporter knows there is, then the pumping" process has to begin.
 "Ah, nothing today? I am sorry By the way, MI. Official, was there not wreck on your road today?"
 ''Yes, now I come to think of it, there was a wreck"
 'One man killed, was there not, and sev- eral injured?"
 ''Yes, believe there was"
 Then by a series of questions the details of the matter are finally corkscrewed out of him.
 Reporting in the city has it's difficult ties," he continued. but when it is neces- sary to get in the country then comes the tug of war I remember my first assign ment. was sent to a suburb one night to get some news about a meeting that was to be held there. For certain reasons I was detained and did not get there until 10 o'clock. The meeting was over and every body had gone to bed. I learned that a MT. Wilson had presided over the meeting and I endeavored to find him to get some information. It a black and rainy night I saw light in a house about d hundred yards off and made my way there. l knocked on the door and after awhile a colored woman opened it.
 Can you tell me where MT. Wilson lives?" I asked
 MT Wilson, MT. Wilson," she muttered in thoughtful tone q believe dere's a man by dat name bout half mile up de road"
 l thanked her for the information and proceeded through the rain about half a mile. Here I saw another house with a light in it. and stumbling over a ditch and several hosebushes I knocked at the door,
 Who's there? said voice, and at the same time saw the muzzle of a gun stick ing through the crack of door. I hast ened to explain that I was reporter hunt ing for MT. Wilson.
 ,' Well, he lives down the road in the oth- CT direction, he said just go back about half mile, cross the track, then go three a Ioft tl,I,.,