The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-16
A Life Among the Exchanges.

After reading 800 consecutive newspapers
per day for 500 consecutive years, strange
phenomenon occurs in the mind of the ex-
change editor 1t is not exactly analogous
to the position in which the chicken eater
who eats chicken day for 100 days on a
wager, finds himself. But it has features
similar. The chicken eater, as time goes on
and chickens go down. begins to note an aver
sion for the fowl growing on him and it is
his ability to rise above this distaste that
makes him a successful eater of chickens on
wagers.
With the exchange editor the aversion is
not directed to newspapers as a whole. But
in the course of time he feels a distaste for
certain paper which finally grows into a
sturdy hatred. 1t is not that the paper in
itself is Objectionable, it may have been
favor1te exchange few months ago, but he
knows that the distaste for newspaper read
ing in general is settling in that particular
channel sas ..s ~. r.
The present exchange editor of this paper
has confded to me that just now salary could
not hire him to read the Pittsburg Dispatch
He knows that it is one of the best papers
Oh the list. It's news>service is well handled.
print is good editorials concise and clear,
miscellany well selected, pictures attractive
and yet Well, all he can say is that he
won't read it. In few days this will wear
off and the paper will take its old place as a
favorite
There are some bright spots in an exchange
editors life. The exchange f1end is not so
troublesome as he formerly was. The Old
Reliable who used to come in and explain
that he was an old subscriber-had in fact
taken your paper for about eight million
years-and wanted to see a copy of the Bally-
hoo Blue Blazer, does not call as often as he
did in the eighties. The newer variety of
fiend wants to see everything and to see it
every day. He has an advertisement running
in twenty or thirty sheets and is anxious to
see how it looks. He usually smokes sec
ton of Manila rope with bouquet that draws
nails and suggests Filipino cooking school.
But the Exchange Fiend is not always a
bad fellow. He relieves the monotony of the
sea Of papers, and the cockroaches leave after
they have piped his cigar once or twice. No.
the exchange fend may be met with insult
and contunely, but he turns the other cheek
always having cheek in reserve and shows
Christian forbearance that cannot fail to
make hit in the exchange-room as at pres
ent constituted:'
Since my dear soul was mistress of her
And could Of fends distinguish, her election
Hath sealed thee for herself; for thou hast
AS one, in suffering all. that suffers nothing;
A man that editors buffets and rewards
Hast ia en- with equal thanks; and blest are
Whose blood and Judgment are well CO.
mingled
That they are not pipe for Fortunes finger
To sound what stop she please.
,so will say that shouldst thou wish
From this stern Office to secure and drag
away
The Billville Eagle or the Moorhead Blade,
Welcome thrice welcome, fend, but leave. I
Thy s.snipe,'' of wet dog in the tender spring
81 suggestive. H
There to suggest unto the forceful and stern
languaged janitOr
The mouse In niainscot persisted.
;Ss Ell A ]. Russell