The evening Republican., 1902-07-14
AT THE TELEPHONE,


T sion. AT dsl6 about The big room doses
reporters were pounding typewriters al
top speed. They were closing up late storiel
| to catch the first" edition. A. the huge
round desk in the center of the room fvt
men, with green shades over their eyes, were
| "reading copy" like mad, sheet after shee,
as they finished it being grabbed up by wait.
ing copy boys and carried away to the limo.
one of the assistant city editors was busy
taking off story from reporter who had
been sent 80 miles into the country on a
late train. The night editor, waving a
bunch OF copy in one hand, was exhorting
the night city editor to ''get move on him" "
1t was the busiest hour in the 24-.he 60
minutes into which are crowded the con-
centrated effort of strenuous day. The
stereotypers, their molten metal sizzling in
the pots; the pressmen, their, huge two up.
per story machines trembling with pent-up
power; the wagon-men outside. ready to
make wild dash for the early mail trains
all were waiting in nervous anxiety on the
work of the men upstairs"
! Suddenly the telephone bell rings. One
of the men on the desk lays down bunch Of
copy with sigh and goes to the phone.
"Well?' he says, as he takes dowa the
receiver, with nervous haste.
| "Ilcllo!" says voice at the other end
Of the wire. "Is this the Forum Officer
! eyes What is it,"
| "Is Charley Edwards there?"
"No; he's gone homc.'
"Well, who's this?"
"One of the copyreaders. What do you
want"
"a WHAT"
"a copy reader. What do you want?'"
"Well, I've never heard OF a copy-reader
before Is
''Do you want anything"
81 wanted to speak to Mr. Edwards. I
met him once ont at the
"Can do anything for you?"
"Why, if Edwards isn't there I suppose
maybe you can give us the information we
want
"Well?"
"You're sure Edwards isn't there?"
eyes What is it,
"Wcll, you see, John Hawley and took
party of friends to the theater this even.
ing, Say, the show is rotten. Have you
seen t!"
'No What do you want?"
"After the theater we went over for
supper to the Artichoke We're there now.
We got into a little dispute awhile ago and
Hawley bet ne a bottle Of wine that he was
right DO you know Hawley? He's the
most stubborn man | ever saw
"No. What's the pont?"
"Say, Hawley just interrupted me. Wait
a minute. Hold the wire Hawley wants
to know how the prize fight came out.
81 DIM know Is that a H.
"No. Iawley and | had dispute about
how tall President Mckinley was. ! said
he was feet 5, and Iiawley bet he was
nearer 5 feet 7. We agreed to leave it to
Edwards. Now
"Look it up. You can do it as easily as
can"
Two minutes later the telephone bell rang
again. At the moment there were three men
from downstairs calling for copy" and
only lj minuts were left before the first edi.
tlon went to press.
A sad-eyed man answered the phone.
"llello" sounded ii wOman's voice. '1'm
sorry to trouble you but I'm writing an es-
say lor the next meeting of our club and I've
been sitting up to finish it. I've looked in
the back part of the dictionary and every
where can think of and can't find it any.
wherc.'
"Well, what is IT,"
"Our general subject is The Indirect In.
fuence OF the Napoleonic Era on Ecclesi.
astical Art You We no idea how much read.
ing ye done"
What can do for you:'
"Why ! want to know Just how old Ma.
polcon was when he died and how many days
he was liz
"Ilelo' Say, wish you'd settle bet for
me- WHAT'S the private fortune OF PTes.
dent Roosevct?'
Hello Is there such a thing as a national
holiday: I'D like to know right away,
please
Hello Is this the Forum? All our clocks
| have stopped or are running wrong, l wish
you'd tell me what time it !s. Thank you"
"Wheres the head of that Waukegan
story? llarlow's reading it. It's a wonder
he would spend all night at the tele.
phone, Don't he know that we close up
at !: 10: Great Scott! He's enough to drive
anght editor crazy
"Hrlo. Forum Office? This is Mrs.
Brescn. I've been taking your paper for
three years and | nave every confidence in
it. That's why I'm calling you up now. My
little girl, Clara, woke up few minutes ago
and she's extremely hoarse. I'm afraid
She 5 gong to have Group. Now, could you
tell me the name Of good doctor to call
for Group? And If Clara gets worse before
the doctor comes can you tell me what Id
better lo' I've heard kerosene oil recon.
! mendei."
MADAM, I'm sorry, but the Group editor
has just gone home. Any doctor in your
neighborhood would be able to helpyou."
Hello, Forum This is Blackly, the at.
torncy. Some time last February | read an
article in your paper about some chap that
had murdered his great grandmother. Will
you Just look it up and mail me copy!
! Send me bill with it, please
"IIello, Is the sporting editor there? No.
I'm sorry. bu. perhaps you can tell me.
We've been playing pingpong all evening
and We want to know whether it is true or
| not that the rules al. wv only one serve?
| And after vantagc.in do ycu have to win
| three times 10 get the game"
"Say, dis is Devin's saloon. Did John H.
| lick Ryan de third time in ten rounds or nit?
] got my dough up dat he did an I wants 10
| know, scet'