Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-09-05
SIDE BY SIDE.

ley, on last FRIDAY aItefnooHs h"hJ
thoughts were brought to the minds
of the trio of printers Valentine,
WOodhouse and Lauriot-whO. for
eight years, worked side by side with
this remarkable newspaper man.
The life inside of the composing
room, where the four of us worked,
was quiet and pleasant one. NO
jars between employer and employees
only the greatest efforts for the welfare
of each other, concentrated in one aim
to make the indicator one OF the
best newspapers in the State. Was 1t
a success The readers of that paper
from the time Mr.. Tinsley took charge
to the time it was sold, will testify that
| it did not miss the mark very far.
He was strictly business and practl-
cal, and we were glad to have him at
our side during working hours, as it
was great help as we'll as pleasure,
and more, it ensured quiet, which is
the thing for the composing room.
Once in while though, the click OF
the type was drowned in hearty laugh
by the force, the cause of it being an
epigrammatIc remark or witty critl-
cism from the man inside the railing
at the old Masonic Temple. He was
far from being an autocrat as to his
writings. and often took suggestions
from those at the case, and found that
some of us were better posted on spe-
cial local events of peculiar interest
than he was. l remember that once,
while holding the copy of an editorial
for his proof reading word in sem
tence struck me, and while perfectly
correct, at the same time, 1t might not
be understood by the majority OF our
readers, SO stopped the reading and
asked Mr.. Tinsley please to go back
and read the sentence again. He did
so without question and then stopped.
l read the word objected to and gave
the reason. After discussing the pros
and cons. he changed.the word to one
better adapted to the understanding
of all. Woodhouse and Valentine had
the same experience also. The above
simply shows what kind of man we
had to work for. Printers have no
idol, they only ask for justice, and
those who went through the mill" at
the Vindicator office, and they are a
small legion, all will know when they
learn of the death of Harry q. Tinsley,
that they have one true friend less in
this world.
This memorial erected in the hearts
of men belonging to craft in daily
contact with the events of life, is worth
more than any shaft to mark his. rest.
ing place, and is in accordance with
the wish of our departed friend who
disliked above all, shams and pretenses.
l have tried in the above, in my own
way, to give glimpse of our life in
the composing room, and now l would
llhS w pdy a low WOloc HoOuo oLAS IL
ing-those who had charge of the finan-
cial department of the Vindicator
while l was there. AS long as Capt. |
7. G. Morton was connected with that
paper the spirit which permeated the
composing room was also felt at the
Captains desk, where the bills were
settled without jar or red -tape-on the
contrary, pleasant word from that
agreeable gentleman. and thank you,
sir, put the finishing touches to the
interview. When bis son, Arthur s.
Morton, took charge, the same policy
followed, and the employees were as
much at home in one department as in
the other.
Many changes have taken place since
1890, when the link was broken by one
of the printers taking an extended trip
through the Southern States. But
the friendship between father and son
and their old employees is unbroken,
and undoubtedly priceless to us all.
Staunton, Aug 25. A. LAURIoT.