The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-08-21
Looking For a Boy


torials enough written TO last wecf
or so, and there are not too many
things chasing us for attention. We
Just let our mind roam about hunting
for an ideal boy In this search We
are not notional as to age or looks
Anything In years from Is to e
passes muster and we never inquire
whether he is homely or handsome
This boy we follow after Is not one &c
grow into our heart and home, al.
though we think more or less about
that, but one to grow into this bust
ness, to become real printer. 50
far as our little world hereabouts is
concerned. there is just one such
chance in a generation and it is
waiting right now for this ideal boy.
He will come along some day and We
shall know him at the first glance.
Just to draw him out we may oher
him a job as stenographer, proof
reader. office man or news writer and
he will turn us down fiat We shall
learn from him in the first minute
that he has no idea of coming into this
enterprise to land in a rut. It's
foundation start or nothing for him.
We shall have to give our solemn
promise that he will have the chance
to begin with type setting, the care
and running of presses. He will in
sist on knowing he can learn the limo
type. Not just to set the stuff but to
care for and adjust it. To master
this wonderful machine so that it will
rumble along all day. testifying by a
rhythm as steady and delicate as high
priced watch that no part is neglected
or misunderstood.
Then we shall have to convince him
after he has solved the problems of the
mechanical department, that we Will
teach the other side of journalism. To
sense the news and put 1t in words
He will be real serious about the
whole interview, for he will know thai
1t Is a crisis in his life, the settling Of
what he will make of himself He
will look at us good and hard to make
sure we mean what we say, then pu
on his apron and go to work. W.
shall get solemn, too, in the first few
days of his apprenticeship, for W.
shall know we are on our honor tC
make good to that boy the opportunity
we have set before him to get TO the
inside OF every detail of his chosen
calling.
Right here we ought to call home
this rowing mind of ours but we never
do. Having started this ideal youth
on the road that, from its beginning
was followed by Horace Greeley, Will
liam Lloyd Garrison. Benjamin Frank
lin and other famous men of letters
we cant drop him. The reverie runs
on and on until we bump into another
interview, some uncertain years later
than the first. Here we find our ideal
with an air of impudence, sitting in
our chair and looking at us, across our
own desk. The scamp has our poor
old fountain pen in his hand, and is
surrounded by the indexes and rec
ords we created. almost as part of
our mind 1t is plain he intends to
make use of them although they were
nicked for combination with no brain
but our own. We pause, hat in hand
and coat on arm. while he suggests
we are to keep connection with the
business by writing a column now and
then on subjects he may assign. We
feel little hard toward this youngs-
ter for taking our job. We welcomed
him to the printers calling with q
hearty hand-clasp and the ungracious
fellow uses his elbow as he pushes by
us to really do the stunts in journal
ism we always meant to do
All this is no idle dream, We are
looking for just this boy and we shall
find him. He will get into this bust
ness right. master every department
and boost us out with very little cere-
mony, a few years hence. but we want
him just the same. You may know
this lad reader. He may be of your
own household. Wherever he is, send
him along. II you really pick the
right one he will have cause to be
grateful to you even If in the end he
is seemingly very ungratefdl to us.