Mexico weekly ledger., 1907-06-20
AN OLD PRINTER
WRITES home
Recalls Many Who Have Passed
Away From the Stick and Case
Joe Acuff, of Springfield, No,
to Dill.

Ny old friend Reuben.
Springfield, Mo, June 10, l9O7.-It
is with feeling OF genuine interest
that when ! get bold OF copy OF the
LEDGER,I / notice at once your familiar
nom de plume. 1t takes me back to
the times when l first began to learn
the prInter-man's trade and brings re-
collections OF the joys and fears felt
as began to think OF graduating"
and casting my lot in ether fields. !
recognize still the strictly original and
peculiar style OF "Dill," and often
think OF the many times he saved my
life" however, not In the way we we're
won't TO save his. | also think OF the
other boys, OF ANDY" how ] used
70 look upon him as sthe greatest first
baseman" In the world, not to men
tion bis superiority as printer. Ire
member too Captain Ffost,now gone 10
his reward, and think Of him with no
small degree OF reverence for the pa
thence be had learning us "kids" how
TO print. BY the way, always give
cap" credit for making printer out
Of me, and often think OF the good cid
man and the many acts OF kindness he
favored us with. And now | see
Frank, too, has laid down his pen for
ever on this earth. Another one OF
the old guard gone, and good one,
too.
But one OF the worst disappoint-
ments / have ever had, l believe, is
in not getting TO vote for Sam b. Cook
for governor. There's man that's
true blue, and / am glad to say that !
live in a country that's solid ''for
him" for anything he wants. And
what has become OF Clarence Staples,
another one Of iem. Oh; yes, and
wick Wack" l remember him as the
greasiest, blackest Niger ever knew.
And as / write ! think Of Clay
Brown, how ! used to think be could
run press how j used TO look for
ward to the time when l, too, could
run one Of those big boys like he did.
Clay was there with the goods sure-a-
plenty, and often think what as
become OF him and David, sure there
was a soul to coDjure with. Only our
David, and he was a partner to be
proud Of II David is still on earth
know be will "save your life" when it
lis In danger,
AS my thoughts go back, l think OF
BASS" how | remember the time
tried to tell him was going 10 leave
l stood in front Of him and sputtered
and stammered until l began TO cry,
and he finally bad 10 tell me what
wanted to tell him. Then remember
how, after be had told me | was going
TO leave, how went over to the de-
pot and still cried at the thought Of
leaving, when BASS come up to me
at the station and "dryed" me up by
telling me l was doing right and
would get along o. K. / remember to
this day, just as well as II 1t was yes
'terday, the awful time had quitting
Bass" and ''Bobr. That makes me
think how awe-stricken l used to
stand In the presence OF the famous
Bob" White, he Of the far-famed big
feet No better soul on the green
earth than he, and the LEDGER, well
that's bis monument.
Now, old friend Dill, | must not
make this letter too long, or your life
might have to be saved so many times
before you get through with it that
you will be completely exhausted.
My only excuse for talking to you this
way is that / like to write to famous
acquaintances, and as the founder OF
oil Cottonwood Springs and its ener-
getlc press agent you seem to have
gained fame in its highest sense.
Your "Driftwood" has the subtle
charm Of floating calmly and clearly
through the brain OF your audience
and fnding Judgement in cells where
1t remains intact, TO the everlasting
credit Of the said One Reuben o. Din.
My fond hope is that / may some
day lind opportunity to visit your re.
sort and drink OF its invigoratIpe
waters and imbibe its rejuvenatine
breezes. Verify, 1t must equal the
Garden OF the Gods, than which no
more fascinating resort exists ON this
earth.
Down here, however, is a grand
country. would take q more bril-.
liant pen, BY far, TO tell you Of lis
wonders and, besides, your life must
be IN danger by this time, 80 | viii
close with
A Fond Howdy-do,
JoE NJ. AcUFF.
IO's 4 Center ST., Springfield, No.
10 The Honorable AL Bennett aalias