The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-06-11

man, whose luxuriant crop Of white
hair seemed twenty years older than
his placid face and bright eyes, step
ped cut Of the elevator and into the
car, which al once rolled noiselessly
away.
THAT is Mr.. Leavengood, the sec
rotary and manager" said my guide.
My guide now suggested that we
go to the composing room, which was
right over the press room. An ele-
vator Immediately lifted US into this
apartment. l had often seen the
Stars one linotype, but here and now
/ found twenty, in a double row, with
long line of steel imposing tables
running between them. At least
forty men were busily at work in this
room. The superintendent of the de-
partment sat at his desk at one end
of the room. He was man of mid
die age, and seemed to be assiduously
trying to mask a cheerful disposition
with a pugnacious expression, as he
chewed on the end of an unlighted
cigar. He was introduced to me as
Mr.. Harris, and a young man, in
charge of the makeup work, who
would have been his duplicate had he
been % years older, was pointed out
to me as Mr.. Harris Jr.
"This gentleman" said my guide,
''has been with the Star p years. He
is stakeholder and has nothing to do
but sit here and look fierce. His son
there was brought up on the paper.
| His parents wanted him to be law
yer, but he fell into an ink barrel
when he was three years old, and in
consequence absolutely refused to be
anything but printer"
Mr.. Harris looked at his watch,
looked at me, asked how long / had
been in the building, and when told,
laconnically inquired, "eats?". 1t
was the first good old slang word I
had heard for quarter of century,
and it cheered me nightly.
replied that I wouldn't mind feed
ing my face, at which Mr.. Harris
smiled like he had also received a
message from the pleasant past. He
led US to the elevator, and we went
up another floor, where we found
large and well appointed restaurant,
at which nearly all the employees of
the paper took their MONDAY meals.
This room had a superintendent in
the person of very good-looking lady
who sat behind large table inside a
railing, watched everything and smil-
ed at everybody. Mr.. Harris called
her Miss Bose and said she had been
with the paper ever since she was a
year old.
SLOW on earth could she begin at
/ tending to business so soon," I in
quired.
"Well, she says she is only thirty,
and she has been on the pay roll
twenty-nine years." said Mr.. Harris.
She didn't look more than thirty,
and 1 at once began to wonder if 1
couldn't obtain a job washing dishes
in her department. 1t was about all
an old geezer could do, and / knew
that $500 wouldn't last long.
We had a substantial lunch and
then went up another story, to the
mailing department. Here a dozen
i bright girls were constantly busy,
entering new names and renewals.
They said the Star never lost a sub
scriber unless he or she died. This
was presided over by-a lovely, white
haired lady, who the bunch addressed
as "Miss Mae"
AS we left this room, messenger
boy met us and asked me to return
to our young lady reporter. I was
glad to see that queen again, and
sorry that nearly all my yarn had
been spun before dinner, so at
o'clock it was finished.
''That is all, and thank you," she
said as she laid the last sheet on the
belt. "And now, Mr.. Scooter, will you
please go to the editorial depart
ment. She chief said he wanted to
see you when had your story"
The chief editorial writer of the
Star dwelt, like priest of Baal, a:
: near the heavens as possible, and had
his office on the 35th floor. The room
was large and elegantly furnished
, The editors desk was a big mahog-
any table, in the center of which was
: vase of American beauty roses from
the famous Sistrunk gardens at Ar
den. The editor sat behind the table
in a swivel chair, his typewriter on 6
swinging stand at his side. There
was none of the wonted disorder OF
, an editorial sanctum in the room
Even the few newspapers in sight
/ were carefully arranged. Maps cover.
| ed the walls and a well-filled book
, case occupied one corner. Another
: was occupied by young lady stem.
7 ographer, as good to look at as the