The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-23

Schneider had a curious adventure
with a thief. IL came about as the al.
rect result OF his newspaper work IN
the great municipal campaign OF a few
years ago. He was on the Sphere, then
a rank Tammany paper. and one night,
after he had been doing politics of ana
on for two weeks. ne came back 90 the
Office boiling inwardly. Schneider was
not a Tammany, nor. for the matter of
that, was he anti-Tammany. His only
tenets were that all politicians were
frauds.
Schneider had no more conscience
than most reporters. But he had a
knowledge of the truth. Reporters
learn 10 distinguish keenly truth from
daisehood. Ii AS often "A matter OF dol
lars and cents and libel SUITS TO them
10 write the exact truth-or not TO
write IL as the case may be-and some-
times they come 10 have a prediction
Tor IL. schneider Was not rapid on the
subject; he could dress up ne, dis
tort the truth, on pun out half truth
with skill. But too much lying disgust
ed hm. Thus after a fortnight OF
Tammany, ne had a nausea OF lying.
one night he sat down and deliberately
wrote up his STORY" with the light Of
truth shining from every line. IL re-
heved his feelings, and he then began
the most ardent pro- o-Tammany-eRp0rt
Of the campaign.
say. where is that story of yours ?''
the night editor asked, coming up be-
hind him. "Don'r you know that's got
To catch the first mail edition sure?"
For an instant Schneider was tempt
ed to give him the first report. He re-
pressed the impulse, however, finished
the second in few minutes, took IL 10
the night editor and left the .aftieo II
came out triple loaded with nearly half
OF IL full-faced type, and next day the
city editor asked Schneider IL ne had
tapped the Tammany bar'l. Others
praised IL; even Rose, the owner OF the
paper, strolled i'm and complimented
him, and Rose did not often compli-
ment his employees; and two days later
schneider saw sentences from his story
placarded about the city. Steve Null
queen, one OF the men nearest the boss,
met him that day in the lobby of the
Holman house and jerked his thumb
suggestively toward the barroom.
Schneider shook his head. He did not
drink with politicians. When he want
ed TO get drunk, he put sufficient money
into his pocket and paid his own way,
starting out on foot, graduating into a
cab as the night wore on, from that
into the best rubber-tired vehicle for
hire.
Mulqueen did not take the refusal
Ill. Great story, that of yours, Thurs |
day." he said genially. n
How did you know it was miner"
Schneider asked.
"oh. we found out. The boys amt
talking OF nothing else since"
"Yeg?P
Say! when this things over, you '
come around and see the old man; he'll 1
make II all right with you"
"Yes?" Schneider answered again.
'l.lCkX II uha I
it?"
''How?"
''Supposing I'd been on the Planet:
now i know just about enough about
you fellows TO rip you up the back good.
It's never been properly done yet /
think could do ii TO the queens taste"
A dreamy look came into his eyes as II
In imagination he already saw himself
writing on the Planet. Schnetder's
sense Of acquisitiveness was impeffect-
ly developed; a bribe always maddened
him.
The politician laughed. "well, suit
yourself" he said.
The other story, which Schneider had
written first, ne brought into my room
about o'clock in the morning of the
night of writing and threw il over to
me. "rhem's my sentiments, II yOu
want to know" he said.
i read his stuff. Ii was hardly a
good news story-he editorialzed too
much-but there was a bite in every .
word.
Look here what are you going to
do with that 1 asked. when ! had
finished t.
"Oh, nothing" He took il from me.
II just thought il would amuse you"
We'll. you send IL TO the Commenta-
tor it's just the kind of stuff they ,
print, and they're red-hot against Tam {
many"
Send It yourself, ~ you want to.
didn't write IL for publication" He Z
tossed ii on my bed.
Wrote 1t for your little children
clustering about your knee. as the story 1
books aIe written, didn't you? All I
right; I'll send II and sign it, too" and
picked up the manuscript.
He jumped up. mo, you don't" He =
had an unconquerable objection-odd :,
n a newspaper man--to see others re- :
'eive credit for his work 1t was the !,
orm his egotisn took. Upon one occa- !,
ion, when he was writing editorials on n
he st. Louis Missour-an. he left the o
'aper because he happened TO overhear
visitor compliment the managing edi- g
or on certain article and the man. n
ging editor smilingly take to himself
he compliment. r,
Schneider helped himself to long en- i
elope of my table, put his manuscript ii
nto IL, and directed II TO the Com a
nCntator. 81
Did you sign it?' / asked c,
II put schneider in one corner
inged." he answered. grinning. II 3
ont think IL would be profitable for "
ny name to appear" Considering the Il
aper he was on, didn't think IL
fould. v,
The article came out in the next HI
umber of the Commentator in the nj
lost prominent position.
That was the beginning Of "a great oi
ampaign for Schneider. He kept on "a
slieying his feelings. INST, in bitter, al
'pathic doses, and then writing the al
Luff his paper wanted. and twice found 10
th