The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-08

of his voice and the old fashioned elegance OF his
diction Then noticed that he had hne head and
pair of Deep thoughtful eyes, and that his manner
of address was at once dignihed and modest His
story was quickly told. He had worked his way
through some fresh water college and now trying
make living by writing for newspapers At some
time in his life he had learned set type, and so
when 1 told him that reportoria staff was tu ne
offered TO go work in the composing ROOM and that
very night him busily engaged IN sticking
type and conversing in low. tones with the
man beside him
He did not to care much about earning large
sums of money, though he fairly rapid and
skillfu typesetter while he worked, but he showed
propensity engage his fellow compostors IN discus
sons of economic conditions chiefly the relation be-
tween labor and capital And although the revolu-
tionary spirit fostered by these discussions eventually
led to his discharge, bound to say that ScuPper
had been a deep and sincere student OF the many
branches of study which are classed under the
term socialism, and was, moreover, thoroughly con-
scentious in practicing what he preached One night
for example, tramp met him in the street and asked
him for money and Scupper, believing the mans
story to be true, gave him his last dime and walked
home
After leaving our office he obtained employment as
a reporter on one of the minor dailies where he
prised his associates by the high quality of his work
The decacy of his humor the keenness of his wit and
his ready sympathy for suffering and misfortune
made him of the star reporters, yet somehow he
never seemed to money enough to break even,
as the saying is never knew him to be we'll dressed
from head to foot, for if he had whole overcoat
certain hide nnumerabe tatters, and if / saw
him with hat quite that his shoes
going to pieces From time to time he called on
and with stately courtesy borrowed small sums OF
money. every penny of which always scrupu-
lousy returned. Meanwhile his reputation was grow
ing, not merely picturesque and interesting
writer but as anarchist, as his fellow reporters
called him, meaning who talked loud and long
about the crimes OF the rich and the injustice done to
the poor.
Once met him late in the afternoon proudly parad-
ing Market street with costly cigar-a two bit
straight"-in his mouth and a flush on his cheeks
that showed he taking day off. He had been
discharged, he told me, because late the previous
night when reading the proofs of his account of GER
tain local disturbances he had come upon the line.
"It rumored that Jay Gould had been assassi-
mated but fortunately this proved untrue, and had
changed it to read unfortunately" 1t was for this
that he had suffered and he glored in his fall With
all his old time politeness he invited me to take
drink and improved the occasion by urging him to
cease his labors in behalf of the downtrodden and
get to work We still thrashiug out the matter
when jocular fellow scrbe-also off for the day
slapped him the shoulder, saying. "Scupper old
man, know good job you can get that viii pay you
SIS week. with board and lodging, and leave you
plenty of time to yourself"
What is.it?" he demanded eagerly.
"Footman in certain mansion replied the merry
one. All you have to do is to put -four on your
hair and wear red pants and white silk stockings.
answer the bell and get down on your knees when
ever any millionaires come to call"
Scupper's lip curled with scorn at this recital OF
mental duties, and without a word of reply he lett
the saloon with naughty tread and seen no more
until his editor, who had friendly regard for him
and his work, sent word to him to come back to his
old job.
Poor Scupper lived before his time. Living he
preached his creed in composing rooms and saloons.
He died before paror socialism had come into fash
ion, so he left nothing behind him but a number OF
friends who still cherish his memory and respect his