The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-11

The last bit of copy was gone and we were gathered in the reporters room. It was early in the morning, and though we were tired. we were reluctant to leave the warm rooms of the fourth story to face the raw winter night outside. We were taking our last pipe for the night and exchanging the notable personal ex- perienees of the profession.
 Mike, you were at one time coun- try editor, l believe" said the "eommer- cial" man to the police man.
 well l should reckon" replied Mike Donnally, lighting his cob with poem on Fair Fills" Would you boys like to have my experience as the editor of the first paper in Turniptown? You would? Well, I was strip of a boy, but had an idea that l possessed the most improved method of successfully conducting newspaper. Upon investi- gation I found on the map of Georgia a rown without newspaper On crisp, frosty morning in November l dropped into Tirniptown full of the idea of rum ming the model newspaper and becoming famous l was emnently successful in the latter ambition, for 1 have doubtless never been forgotten by the inhabitants of Turniptown and those who have for gotten my name have only to turn to their old ledgers to be reminded of it with the words, Account unsettled,' or IN. G. for embellishments Do l pro- pose to eyer settle? Yes. when l have a dead rich uncle l will settle those scores for pure spite.
 "But I am digressing. Turniptown had never enjoyed the distinction of having a newspaper-I doubt if it enjoyed it when 1t had one On my arrival l carried all my possessions in a faded canvas tele- scope, and had one dollar and seventy cents, a thirteen em composing rule and A iack-knife in my pocket. q will di- gress just here to say that when 1 came away I carried my hat in my hand, an unpaid board bill in my pocket and did not wait for the formality of buying a railroad ticket will explain the hurry later on)
 'Turniptown was village of 800 in- habitants whose principle occupation was chewing navy tobacco and whiting white pine goods boxes. The town, like most small Georgia towns hung on both sides tho railroad like a pair of saddle bags. The only trains that stopped at the place were local freights and those that collided with farmers wagons on the crossing. My first view of the town was not inviting, but when I took an in- ventory of my prospects I decided was just as well off there as anywhere, so decided 10 give 1t a trial.
 "The mayor a blacksmith, gave me a cordial welcome and promised to sub scribe for my paper and pay for it three months in advance if I would put his picture in the first issue.
 "The news soon spread there was a paper-man in town and that Turniptown was to have a real live newspaper. Be- fore night I had the promise of liberal support from every citizen of the place, but nothing pledged. MT. Brown, the leading merchant was so much en- unused that he gave me a nickel in ad- vance for the first issue, remarlSing that he wanted to see what kind of an ad ] gave him. If you treat me right will subscribe for six months and pay you in advance if you will trade it out with me. You will have to have some dry goods, you know
 "I secured board from a widow (That was the meanest act of my life boys) and that night a committee of leading citizens called on me. By way of pa renthesis. l will add, that about the same committee called on me during the last half hour of my stay in Turnip- town.
 'The spokesman for the committee was the blacksmith mayor. He said in part: