The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1916-04-06

the spot where TODD the wobbly-leg-
ged table over which human hands re-
duced flat sheets to carrier size;
Since the two handle ink roller gave
way to battery Of long limbs Of
composition fed from a deep ink well;
Since setting type in the Caxton
way, out Of the dust filled cases, where
the &C" box was so crowded the Sec
ond vowel poured over into the ad-
Joining compartments, went out Of
1 hion for the machine that looks
ike a giant typewriter;
Since water works system, freely
installed, has put the printers towel
that once stood in the corner--a con-
slant reminder Of the burnt-cork ar
fist of minstrels-out the back door
into the ash barrel;
Since electric lights have forever
dimmed the kerosene lamps that
swung over cases and presses;-
Since telephones enabled news-gath-
ering without leg exercise and made
necessary golf games TO reduce the
attendant flesh accumulation;
Since-but why do any more sine
ing; the day Of the Printers Devil is
gone and soon il will be myth unless
we who have so served do not make
for it a stand In the historical fabric
now in weaving.
To-day the cub Of the country print
ing office may wear his Sunday Co
To- Meeting clothes through all week
days and show no signs on subsequent
Sabbaths of contacts with inks and
pastes.
His hands are velvety and white,
free of lye-marks from galley wash
ing, free Of benzine smells arising
from folding papers, free Of blisters
cleaning rollers and ink plates, free Of
cuts from pulling that old hand-press
that bore the name of the Father Of his
Country; his eyes clear Of all signs
of gritty dust from using the hand
bellows on type cases; his shoes dis
closing no worn holes from hiking
a jobber-in very truth a Ward Nc
Alister instead of the dirty over-alled
guy.
But-"Them was the happy days"
to quote the comic section Of the city
daily. This exclamation is straight
from the heart Of one who started in
the job Of Printers Devil with the
first issue of the Lancaster paper that
has continuously come from the press
weekly during the past third of a
century.
He wouldn't give up the memory
Of those years for any succeeding per-
iod in a career that has brought him
into metropolitan life, where there
are burrows in the brow in stead Of
under the feet.
Those were the days when the break
fast bell was the alarm clock; when
the ice had to be broken on the tin
pan of the back porch to get to enough
water to wipe out the streak Of dirt
around wrists and neck left over from
the previous days work; when steen
buttermilk biscuit and good old New
Orleans molasses were not too much
for working kids stomach.
Wading through snow half way to
his head (wonder why the beautiful
never falls to the depth 1t did in the
s0s?) to the office 10 get fire in the
big wood stove started an hour before
the printers got on the job was the
first of the days grind.
II ink, benzine and kerosene bills
We're larger then than output Of print
ing warranted and the Boss kicked
manfully. this Printers Devil never
once confessed to using a paddle of
rich, oily ink or quart or two of
Standard Oil products TO help along
the slow-burning cobs and to this day
the Boss does not suspect.
Then began a days work that was
never done because there We're not
enough hours.
Shaking up the type cases and blow
ing out the grit and dust; refilling
lamps for the coming nights work;
polishing the chimneys; yanking up
two buckets II water from a cistern
in yard near by; reversing the roller
towel, because the underneath side
was somewhat drier of ink stains, not
that it was any cleaner; oiling the
jobber and news press; cutting the
stock for the first job Of dodgers that
day with column rule; shaking up
the "hell-box", running over with
weeks Of "pi" in an effort to get
enough Of the font next needed to
complete the bill-head job of the
butcher who had never dreamed Of go
ing on cash basis.
And then the head printer would
come in-0ld Captain, gray-haired
type-setter for three score years and
ten ((peace to his soul) and who
could set and empty sticks of BREWER
and long primer almost as fast as
the Printers Devil could shine up
galleys to receive them.
He was the office clock-no other
time piece needed-on the job at 1880,
lunch unwrapped at II; overcoat on
for home at a quarter past 5-not a
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