Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30
PULITZER AS REPORTER.
Chapter from the Early Life Of the
New York worlds Editor.

view YORK worries Editor.
william Brown Meicny In American
Magaztne.)
A bitter February night in 1855
saw Joseph Pulitzer crawling out Of
a train In the East At. Louis railroad
yards. penniless. hungry, alone and
friendiess. The hrst Job he secured
was AZ Jefferson barracks. an army
post. taking care Of ia government
mules. The man who has not cared
for ia mules does not know what
work ana trouble are" Mr.. Pulitzer
has said often since those days
During the next two years Joseph
Pulitzer was fireman on a steamer
which piled between st. Louis and
New Orleans; but as soon as he was
able no deserted the river for work
ashore. He was impatient to get
ahead; to work with his head and not
with his hands. He conceived a hor-
ror OF debt during this formative
period and carried to a painful prac-
tice tho rules OF conduct he laid down
for himself In this respect. II ne
could not pay for a thing - he went
along. he did without It, He happen
cd TO reach paymhs,er's window At
place where ne was employed too
late one Saturday evening to receive
his wages. II was the evening when
his week's board and lodging fell due.
and he would not face his la ndlady
without the money which belonged to
her. He walked the streets, sleeping
where he could. until lie Got his wages
Monday morning.
Joseph Pulitzer's Residences ana
Unsuitable desire 10 learn prevented
his staying long at one task lie
would work in ono place only Ions
enough to put ahead Of him sufficient
money to insure n bod and food FOR a.
fortnight or three weeks. Then he
would he of to haunt the public H.
hrary. SO Ions as his money lasted
he was the hrst person there and the
last to leave at night. and there under
the hickering light OF mdnirh, oil
over the fne tvpc Of inrumera BILE
pages. I've set his eyes task which
was destined to assess an awful per-
atty.
BESIDES books Joseph Pulitzer had
one other passion. and chat was chess.
which he had learned an child in
Hungary. The boy found little OPP
portuni,y of INDUCING in the game,
but he enjoyed visiting Il small Ger
man saloon and restaurant, in a rear
room Of which the city's best chess
players used to foreEsther He was
among the spectators Of a hotly-con-
tested game one evening when, car
rio Ia h
getting all the proprieties Of such IN
occasion. he shouted IN the ear OF
the player who had been steadily los
ing GIVE him your knight"
You seem tn know so much more
abcu, this game than do" said the
gentleman. you would better take
my seat"
The boy sat down and won the ap-
parently lost game, then another and
another. The champion Of the cotcrie
Of players was Dr. Emil Pretorius
one Of the editors Of the Westliche
Post. and match was arranged be-
tween him and the boy which took
place the following evening. Young
Pulitzer beat the champion ont OF
hand. Thus he opened the door 10
| friendship which we're 20 mean much
| to him.
The boy obtained q clerkship in the
German immigration society's office
Next he got an appointment as a no.
tary public; later he WAS admitted ia
the bar. Then he was seized with
the itch OF writing. The late Carl
Schurz was associated in the puhlica
tion of the westliche Post and the
German immigration socfety's mana
ger introduced the youth to them and
recommended him. The staYs Of all
the st. Louis papers were small in
1867, but the Post was most notable
in this respect. II Doasted but one
reporter. who also was the city cdi-
tor. Joseph Pulitzer was employed al
n salary Of $40 week to become The
| Posts stan.