Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-27
BACK TO THE OLDEN DAYS
A CENSOR PRINTER WRITES OF
EARLY EXPERIENCES
joni T. Metcalf Pays Tribute to Nell
son. Layne and Wise-Talks Shop
in Connection With the Paper
U. S. soLpIER,s HONE.


in Connection With the Paper
U. S. SOLDIERS HOME. -.
WASHINGTON, d. c., DEC. %, 1913.
EDITOR CENSOR: Through friends I
received copies of the CENSOR from !
which learned of the death of several
associates of former days, among them
William Nelson. P. ]. Layne and Dan
Wise. With these three men hadclose
business and social connections, that
after the lapse of many years / look
back to with pleasure, and it was with
sorrow that l learned of their deaths.
In the spring of 1867, after service
of six years in the army, | returned to
my fathers home IN Viroqua, and short
ly thereafter secured a situation Is
printer in the CENSOR office, then con-
Quoted by Priest & Nelson. For about
two years it was my privilege to work
for Mr.. Nelson and in that time found
him perfect gentleman in every re-
spect, and one of the very best men
ever worked for. never was compell-
ed to ask him for cent of my wages.
Every Saturday evening my weeks
earnings were placed under my copy
holder this was his universal practice,
never deviated from with his employees.
The CENSOR was then four-page pa
per, all home print, same head and size
of paper that It is today. The adver-
sisements were very few, and locals
scarce; the msttaY was set solid, except
the editorials. Prior to my commenc-
ing work, Mr.. Nelson had been doing
all the composition. He was a very
rapid and correct composites. HeneaF- +.
ly always ''dumped'' his matter into
the ''foFM" without EeadInD the proof.
and very TeW errors were found in his
yeaaona tion In many respects Mr..
:, nelson was singular man; nQt-nighly-
educated but he had 2 storehouse Of
isreesgut Equal to many college gradu-
\ ates. At times he was very silent, at
other times yery laxative and social;
but for DAYS &C TINA ! haYe stood Pc
side him at the ease, and not worn
was spoken, except perchance some
thing about Office business. At other
times he would enter into an animated
conversation interspersed with quaint
Scottish jokes, of which he had an am-
pie store.
After Mr.. Priest retired from the pa
per, Mr.. Nelson tool entire manage
ment of the editorial work and used less
time in the mechanical department.
will give some of my recoIlections
of the old time printers employed on
the CENSOR First, will mention Bus
by, probably the most celebrated tramp
printer" in the United States, as he
was well known from the Atlantic to
the Pacific coast. One morning as |
was on my way to the office, / found
him sitting on aldoorstep, and surely he
was a sight His clothing was both
ragged end dirty; he wore a crushed
plug hat; dissipation marked every fea-
ture. He obtained employment, and
in short time purchased tailor made
suit of black broadcloth and silk plug
hat. He was by all odds the bestdress-
I, ed man in the village. and for more
than SIX nS,1ths remained perfectly So
Der, something ne had per1sps not doneA
Tor yeAfsl There was reason fOfthis:
he mad become acquainted with youny.
lady east of town, AMI gossip was rife
that they would be married One Sat-
urday he procured livery team % take
a ride, but she refused to GO On his
return when he passed my fathers
house, he called me, saying that his
girl had gone back on him, and thai he
would go back to his old ways. tried
to reason with him, but of no avail.
That evening was at the North Star
hotel, when Busby came in, with flask
of whiskey in his hand, saying, 81 nave
not taken drink for six months, but
now will take big one, !" then swal-
lowed the entire contents and in a few
minutes he staggered and fell to the
floor in drunken stupor. He was un-
der a Doctors care for several days,
and soon left the village. When sober,
he was one of the best printers I ever
knew -veFj rapid and proficient, In
those days prided myself with the
stick and rule" but / wasn't in 1t
when Busby was around.
Another old time printer was Jacob
Tenny. He, too, was most excellent
printer but being very nearsighted, it
was amusing to see him set type, as he
had to hold his face 80 near the case.
Nearly every morning he would have a
eft" as the boys used to call it. He
would come in, take his ''stick," set a
few lines. then dash the type on the
floor, while striding up and down the
office, cursing the type, which was
nearly worthless. certainly the worst
type 1 ever handled. When the storm
was over, he would quietly pick up the
type, distribute il, and then proceed
with his work as if nothing had happen
ed. OF the apprentice boys | will men
ton George Fretwell. Leonard Terhune
and Billy Purdy, each of whom became
good practical printers, as Mr.. Nelson
never turned out any other kind.
p. ]. Layne was one of my best
friends, and he showed me many acts
of kindness, which | appreciate tc this
day. In church and lodge matters we
we're very intimate. have seen that
he retained his lodge membership in
Viroqua to the end, but cannot say so
much for myself, for | am backslider
in the lodge, but still hold firmly to the
church. He surely was good and true
man in every respect.
OF my old friend, Dan Wise, | have
many pleasant memories. He and |
we're boon companions, or in other words
we run together" and many a lark
We had. One of them | will take lib
srty to mention. A mile or so south of
Liberty Pole there resided couple of
young ladies' upon whom we frequently
,ailed. Dan was 'solid" with his girl,
Who became his first wife, but in my
.ase had rival. We always made
'ur trips together. On enc occasion
We took horseback ride, the lady rode
ny horse and rode Dams. After our
eturn we spent portion OK the even
ng With the girls. We went where our
iorses had been tied and found that