The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-17

| tribune this morning. By the time
the gaIiey proof containing the adver-
tlsement had reached the prOofreaders
II mad leaked out. through the devil,
IhaL the hollow eyed cOmpositor in the
third row of linotypes was the author
OF the pathetic want" The news
made its way to the city editor in the
course of the evening and a reporter
was assigned to see the printer and
get his sad story.
Are you reporter2' asked the limo
type man, with frightened regard for
the interviewer who had penetrated the
mysterious region upstairs" at the
peril of his sanity if not of his life.
You won't put my name in the paper,
Will your pleaded the haggard one,
shrinking beneath the reporters scruti-
! ny. I don't mind telling you my trou-
bles If you'll only keep my name out
would see it and they'd put me on their
blacklist with a double cross in front of
it"
With the promise to withhold his iden-
tity there came into the desperate mans
eyes the first light of hope that has
burned there in weeks.
do you happen to know of a fiat, or
house, or shed, or palace, or hollow tree
that could be rented by father with
eight children?' anxiOuSly inquired the
printer. Il don't much care what it is
now-Im all in. I've hunted flats ever
since the first of the year. began
early because knew what job L had
on my hands. I'm more experienced
than I was when I had only five. 1t
was bad enough two years ago, when
had only six, and a year ago, with sew
en-, was up against it and had to buy
a house. That broke me, and now 1 m
looking for fat again"
as it all because of the children?"
asked the reporter.
Yes groaned the printer. when
the landlords find out I've got eight OF
them it's all off. I've walked all over
this city during my spare time after
moons, and it's the same everywhere.
For a while I tried diplomacy
would tell an agent had only four
children and trust to luck that he
wouldn't notice the other four. But
it was no use-when he heard me say
four he framed a prohibitive price.
For four children the rent of SGD
fiat went up to $50 and at other times
when I confessed to eight I found the
price would average SIS. Finally ]
figured it out that I could have got
about what I wanted on basis of one
child, but diplomacy in that case
would have been suicide. 1 felt con-
fident I could sneak in three or four
extras not specified in the contract,
but seven. of course, was out OF the
question:
when you get a fat, why don't
you hold it down." innocently inquired
the reporter
otype man. They put up the rent on me
and I have got to get out. got along
pretty well with three children, but when
the fourth came I had to gO-S15 raise on
the new contract. the agent announced
I landed another fiat that time with lit
tie diplomacy. but inside of the year No.
; arrived and I had to pack on April 30.
A friend with a political pull got me my
next fiat, but No. was unpopular with
the agent, and we had to move again.
Then I managed to find a two flights back
that an agent had on his hands after May
I, but he doubled the rent when No was
born. Then I bought a house at Erie
street and FOrty-third avenue on the in
staIlment plan, but the real estate man
beat me, and now I'm broke. I hope ]
can find a cottage if I can't get a fiat. Ev-
! cry agent I've seen so far simply has re
fused to talk business as soon as he heard
I had eight children.
why don't you write to President"
20. that beware-Of-rac e-suicide talk is
! all right for presidents and senators and
I folks that can afford to pay any old price
/ for house or fiat to keep the kids in
/ but I'm getting so I can't stand it tc
read the presidents speeches If he's sc
4 interested in big families why doesn't he
! go out and bust theraat agents trust?'
The disconsoIate man turned to his limo
! type and adjusted his copy.
please don't use my name or they'll
/ blacklist me, sure" he was murmuring
once more as he gazed after the reporter