The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-06-18
"REMINISCENCES
OF GOOD OLD DAYS
Printer Relates Some Of His Amusing
Experiences as a "DeviI" In the Old
Time Print Saop-And he Sure Was
a Typical "DeTl."
AN EDITORS TROUBLES
By III. S. Med.

printing tTdUc WAS very uiACtOHC y
from what it is at the present time.
There were no linotypes, especially
in the small towns and villages,
during those happy, memorable
days. All type setting was done by
hand. and the paper. in many towns.
was printed on the old Washington
hand press. Such was the case with the
weekly Journal where / was learn
ing to set type and numerous other
things that fall to the lot of the
"devil'' in a printing Office. The
editor and owner, Mr.. Geo. Jones,
paid me the munifcent sum of fifty
cents per week, and | was supposed
to run errands, set and distribute
type, cut and fold papers, and
handle the Armstrong bar on the
press. 1t was thought nothing un-
usual for me to pi column or
more of type, or spill the ink all
over the paper just as we were ready
to go to press. However, want to
state that such accidents on my part
always created an irresistible desire
to leave the printing establishment,
for the time being, in hurried and
very undigniied manner, due to the
near presence of ye EDITORS number
twelves. l never Laused to argue
the why's and wherefores at such
times; l always went outside and
whistled few bars of Johnnie
Get Your Gun" in order that the
editor might have time to cool Off
a little before | made any attempt to
tell him how | come to pi the type
or spill the ink.
He told me on one occasion that
l could make more pi in fifteen
minutes than would be required to
start bakery. but when | asked him
why he didn't start bakery, he
heaved the proof mixer at me and
told me to go to the harness shop
and tell them that l needed some
strap oil.
A Large Editor
The editor was a man of large
proportions, moon-faced and almost
bald-headed, and was encumbered
by an avoirdupois that would have
done credit to any two ordinary
men. On warm summer days he
was lnvsribly employed at hopping
his overheated brow, and cussing ye
devil''. Throughout the long win
ter days he was always planning,
and telling the Office force, which
generally consisted of the foreman,
the devil and the Office cat. how he
intended to own all the newspapers
in the United States as soon as he
had money to buy them. He always
paid his help every Saturday noon
so as to give himself a chance to
borrow it back before six o'clock.
The foreman told me one time that
the editor did that because he was
afraid we would save enough money
to start paper of our own. and he
didn't want to be forced out of busi-
ness.
Then the Spanish war
broke out and the foreman decided
that he could make more money
and win more glory at the front
than he could in the printing bust
ness, so he accordingly resigned his
position. The editor advertised for
another printer but the job remain
ed vacant, and, you may be sure
that ye devil had his hands full.
Finally the editor rolled up his
sleeves, grabbed stick and said he
would set the type himself or bust"
the shop trying; and he came mighty
near wrecking the shop when he
attempted to rest bis 800 odd pounds
on the top of one of our old rickety
three foot stools. l was under the
makeup stone picking up recent
batch of pied type when the catas-
trophe occurred. The first intima-
ton had that anything was amiss
was crash, a howl, and another
crash followed by the sound of
falling type. l arose to my feet and
Immediately burst forth in a roar
of laughter at the sight l beheld.
On the floor in many pieces lay the
remains of the stool; among these,
and buried by type cases, lay the
editor beating tattoo on the floor
with both feet. and yelling alter
nately for the police and fire depart
ment. Noting my laughter he
managed to gain his feet and with
roar. bore down upon me. l saw
the need of speedy action, and in