Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1916-03-22

full; and here was I, looking not more
than twenty, proposing to come into
the office of the handsome stranger who
sat bending over his desk that he might
not see me blush for the unwomanly
intent.
Mr.. Riddle was esteemed one of the
most elegant and polished gentlemen
in the city, with fine physique and fas-
cinating manners. He was man of
the world. and his prominence had
caused his name to become the target
for many an evil report in the bitter
personal conflicts of political life. I
looked the facts squarely in the face
and thought:
I have been publicly asserting the
right of woman to earn a living as
book-keepers, clerks, sales-women, and
now shall I shrink for fear of dan
ger any one must meet in doing as
advised? This is my Red Sea. It can
be no more terrible than the one which
confronted Israel Duty lies on the
other side, and am going over! Speak
unto the children of Israel that they
go forward" Crimson waves Of scan
dial, the white foam of gossip, shall part
before me and heap themselves up as
walls on either hand"
So rapidly did this reflection pass
through my mind. or so absorbed was
I with it. that there had been no awk-
ward pause when I replied:
Il will get DESK shall be sorry to
be in your way, but there is plenty of
room and I can be quiet"
He seemed greatly relieved, and said
cheerfully:
"Oh yes, there is plenty Of room, can
have my desk moved forward and take
down the shutters, when there will be
plenty of light. Heretofore you have
been Jove laundering from a cloud, but
if you will come down to dwell with
mortals we must make a place for
YOU"
Taking down the shutters meant ex-
posing the whole interior of the room
to view, from very public street; and
after he had exhausted every plea for
time to get ready, he engaged to have
the first copy of the Visiter printed on
the day I had set He objected to my
way of spelling the word, but finding
l had Johnson for authority, would ar
range the heading to suit.
I was in a state Of exaltation all
at dinner, the reaction had set in, and
1 proposed to countermand the order,
when he said emphatically:
"You will do no such thing. The
campaign is coming, you have said you
will start a paper, and now if you do
not, will"
The coming advent was announced,
but 1 had no arrangements for secur-
ing either advertisements or subscribe
ers. Josiah King, now proprietor Of
the Pittsburg Gazette and James H.
McClelland called at the Journal office
and subscribed, and with these two
supporters, the Pittsburg Saturday Wis.,
tier, entered life. The mechanical diff
ficulty Of getting out the first num-
Der proved to be so great that the forms
were not on the press at 3 p. m. By
five the streets were so blocked by a
waiting crowd, that vehicles went
around by other ways, and it was six
o'clock, Jan. 20, l84S, when the first
copy was sold at the counter. I was
in the editorial room all afternoon, cor
recting proof to the last moment, and
when there was nothing more I could
do, was detained by the crowd around
the doors until it was after eleven.
in the sanctum, and Mr.. Riddle stood
by his desk pointing out errors to some
one who should have prevented them,
when had my wraps on ready to start.
Mr.. Fleeson, then a clerk on the Jour-
nal, stepped out, hat in hand, and bow.
ing to the proprietor, said:
"Mr. Riddle, 1t is your privilege to
see Mrs. Swisshelm to her lodgings, but
| <0
commission me-"
Mr.. Fleeson was a small man and
Mr.. Riddle had drawn himself to his
| full height and stood looking down at
him. saying:
Il want it distinctly understood that
Mrs. Swisshelm's relations in this Of
flee are purely those of business If
she requires anything of any man in
1T, she will command him and her or
ders shall be obeyed. She has not or
dered my attendance, but has kept her
servant here all the evening to see her
to her friends house, and this should
be sufficient notice to any gentleman
that she does not want him"
During the ten years we used the
same editorial-room. Mr.. Riddle was
often absent on the days I must be
there. and always secured plenty OF
light by setting away the shutters when
I entered. He generally made it neces.
sary for me to go to his house and
settle accounts, and never found it con.
venient to offer his escort to any place
unless accompanied by his wife.
The Visiter was three years old wher
he turned one day, examined me crit
ically, and exclaimed:
'Why do you wear those hideou.
caps? You seem to have good hair
Mrs. Riddle says she knows you have
and she and some ladies were wonder
ing only yesterday, why you do maxi
yourself such fright"
The offending cap was net scar