Middletown transcript., 1915-10-02
Written for the Transcript
A FORMER EDITOR

There are numerous pleasant men, |
ories connected with the Transcript.
The new editors took over some of
Scott Ways help along with the plant,
and also employed other boys and girls
from time to time. Our first appren-
tice was William F. Metten. He turn
ed out well, whereas we are glad. Will
came to us right from the farm. He
was wide awake, and up and doing all
the time. There wasn't lazy hair in
his head. Middletown didn't hold him
a great while, He went to Whining
ton, got in the employ of the Every
Evening newspaper, became business
manager, and was recently admitted as
part owner of the corporation. l have
not seen him since number of years ago
when he called at my Office in Freehold.
have had other apprentices of later
years who have also made good in
large way, but he was the "irstborn"
in our large apprentice family and cas-
lily hold first place in my affections. He
says the old Transcript with lite young
editors in those days along in the eight
les gave him the right start. thank
him for the compliment but beg to OBJ
serve that he was made of the right
stuff or he would never have come
through in the way he did. His par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Alexander Metten
are living in Middetown l was in
quest of Colonel Joseph Hanson out at
the corn cannery when l met Mr.. Met
ten and was informed that the Colonel
was at his old trick of lying abed late
in the morning, so | missed seeing him.
We also found Mr. Metten at her home
on Main street, where we spent an en-
Joyable half hour talking over old times
and the changes which have occurred in
twenty-seven years.
The surprising thing as you return to
community the size of Middletown is
the number of people who you think
you will see and donot because they
have passed on, and also the number
whom you used to know aud feared you
would not see but who are still there.
There is Aunt Willie Lippincott, who
has kept boarders for fifty or sixty
years, still at the same old stand, still
making pies and cakes, and things, anC
}: taking boarders. Hard work seems tt
h agree with some people, but l have
J. never seen it stated anywhere tia
r., keeping boarders was conducive tt
longevity. am expecting to see he
> ten years from now if l should put of
1t my next visit that long,
e had been to call on Martin B Burri
IS Niddletown's only lawyer, will speal
of Martin in minute), and as | cam
!. out of the office | was thinking o
George Ingram, whether he was aliv
Il or dead, when the same George drov
~ up with mess of garden sass. Georg
lie knew me when he got the right slant o
his glasses. He tried to sell me farr
first crack out of the box, and failin
'9 in that asked me to send him the name
e. of some custmers. We always fel
a. kindly toward George, because he tol
U us once that The Transcript under ou
management was better than whe
" Scott Way had it. He was probabl
lis mistaken in his diagnosis, but it mad
us feel good then, because for some re;
he son we were not getting many compl
a. ments from the citizens of Middetowl
George informed me the other da
" when | met him that he always to
eS the truth when he said we were making
10, better paper. When left him he sa
he was going to "wrte a piece" fl
my paper, and would | print it. | r
served decision, the right of every ed
an tor.
&c Martin BurIis always had a smile Fl
every day and Sunday, and when sa
ot howdy to him in his office, he sa
=. "Why, how do you do Alex Morea
~ you have lost some hair" and he W
Ill smiling all the time. But the yea
er have also sheared Martins poll so tn
le- he is in about the same class as Edit
h.. Fouracre when it comes to a showdov
on hair. 1t was developed during o
"s conversation that Mr.. Burris had al
re- ventured into journalistic fields, a
after l had heard his tale knew W
on he was so bald. Moreover, Mr.. Burr
hair is snow white, (rather an improv
III ment than otherwise) which wou
10 seem to INDICATE that he had had me
of serious time with the balky old Ira
,ur script than has Mr.. Fouracre. l "
FOR wager big red apple, that cart hors
and big ropes could not get Mar
Vi Burris into the newspaper BUSINESS
to a second time.
M Out Broad street there are a numt
wn of new houses. One mansion partly
tic gray stone is particularly noticeable.
,od reply to inquiry one citizen said, 'Tl
is where one of our biggest ducks in
'eu Middletown financial puddle lives"
M belongs to Jess Shepherd, who in d;
is was in Middletown clerked for S.
Reynolds & Co. He was cookbook
young man then. / did not see /
during my last visit. l wonder h
many citizens remember the first
an alarm given on the whistle after
the new electric light system was installt