Middletown transcript., 1915-09-25
Written for the Transcript.
A FORMER EDITOR

The writer was editor of the Middle
town Transcript for three years, from
1885 to 1888, consequently it is just
about twenty-seven years since ne
wrote his valedi ,tory and left Middle
town for other fields of endeavor. On
a recent visit number of things we're
called to mind and he suggested to the
present Editor that he would like to
write another piece for the paper print
ed in Middletown. The Transcript
agreed to use the stuff and the editor,
said we might have page if we needed
it. The present warm weather if moth
ing else, will prevent us filling such a
large order, as whole page, but here
is something.
When the then new publishers landed
in Middletown in 1885 The Transcript
Office was located on Broad street, in
building especially constructed for the
purpose. The building is still there but
It's occupied by Justice # the Peace
A. G. Cox and Town Clerk. The loca-
ton seemed to be out of the way and
the Office was soon after moved into
one of the brick stores owned by Mrs.
Comegys on Main street now occupied
by d. r. Reese's feed store.
The New Era (called by some the
the New Error, was printed in the
corner store of the. block facing the
ec,,,aro nj ,ax,t 70 tho botal Tho Era
was at that time printed ty Freeman &
Weber. One fine day Mr.. Weber left
for more remunerative fields and hap
pier associations, and ever since the
paper has had the same firm name but
only one active partner in the business,
Mr. Freeman. We must hand it to
Brother Freeman. He was always on
the job, and not only got all he could
for his own paper. but did all he could
to prevent the other paper from getting
anything which he could not get him
self. He was a good printer-is yet.
We did nos have time to call on him
last week, but saw him still working as
we passed his office. We shall expect
to see him in the same place doing the
same thing if we make a visit to Mid
detown ten years hence. AS an evil
dence of his resources he is erecting a
new building into which he expects to
move shortly. Nobody seemed to know
how old Brother Freeman is. l do not
believe that he is going to get any
older, and shall expect always to see
him in Middletown whenever l visit
! there.
But have dlgressed. commenced
to speak about The Transcript, and had
moved it around on the Main street.
When Moreau Bros. let W. Mifflin have
it in 1888 it was still in the brick build
ing. We understand that it has had
several other homes and numerous own
ers since that day, but now we find it
again on Main street not far from the
brick store where Moreau Bros. loca-
ted it. l never had the pleasure of
meeting any of the editors subsequent
to Mr.. Mifflin, who stayed on the job
only year, until found Editor Four
acre last week. l was impressed, and
made haste to congratulate Middletown
upon the possession of such handsome
and affabe editor That ne has work.
ed hard is not disclosed by his youthful
and ruddy countenance, but his dome OF
thought, bereft of the curly locks which
adorned it in youth, is eloquent witness
of strenuous days and sleepless night
vigils as he wrestled with the problems
of business and editorial management,
and finally put The Transcript on Man
street. We understand, also, that he
had secured political job, thus show,
ing his versatility. We were never
able to do more than hold down our job
as editor. So, it will be observed, botf
of the editors of the Mddletown papers
are notable. They are both too modes
to write anything like the above abou
themselves. We are hoping that thi!
will get by the Censor and be printed
because it is fine thing for an editor
to get bouquet laid on his table, where
he can enjoy the odor, and not on his
coffin, when ne don't care.
AS we were passing the old transcript
office on Broad street the Cochran Bigg,
} fight for Governor came to mind. Th,
Transcript supported E. R. Cochran, a
that time Cle,k of the Peace, and go
his first real introduction to the ameni
ties of Delaware journalism. recollec
that the Dover Delawarean was at tina
time edited by Salisbury. which on
it was am going to leave to others t.
remember, but think they called hin
Barney" The style of argument wa
something like this: The TRANSCRIPT
would suggest through its editorial col
umns, or through correspondent tina
. Cochran was a good man, or that Bigg
was not fit. etc, and Barney would r.
tort that the editors of The transcript
were 'Sand Spaniards' and anothe
name which we do not now recollect