The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-03-11
Commentator From Very High Au-
th0rlty

During the winter and spring OF
1919 We were short Of operators in
our job department and had unusual
in getting men 10 complete
the force. One day about noon, there
came an inquiry over the telephone
a printer up in Lynn wanted job
1t was like an unexpected shower
at the end of long summer drought
We could hardly believe the voices
was a reality, or that the man meant
what he said The language was
splendidly chosen, and the brief con
versation evidenced unusual capabiii-
ties, both by tone, voice and manner
of expression. While there was no
boasting about It. the applicant was
very sure to make us understand that
our requirements could not be exact
ing beyond his ability to meet them
What was still more marvellous. the
salary did not seem to be primary
consideration. To make long story
short, we traded then ard thero
Upon our inquiry as 10 when lie
could come we had another SURPRISE
He gave as his opinion that h. would
be abe 10 catch the train ouf Of IVnn
within 81 minutes OF the moment ~
which he was speaking. and land i'm
Skowhegan that night and he actual
ly did.
Clad in neat, but appropriate attire
he was already to go to work at the
proper hour the following morning.
His manner was more like that of
clergyman than a printer Not that
there is anything inconsistent in
printers department or conversation,
in general way, as compared with
that of the clergy, but somehow he
id not look just like real compost
tor or real pressman, but he was,
and we soon discovered that he was
something way out of the ordinary.
After he had been around a week
or two We found that in his coming,
we had added to our pay roll, Prof.
Leslie S. Burnell, Instructor in Print
ing in the English High of Lynn,
Mass, and also of the faculty of the
Sloyd School for training teachers
in Boston. 1t took a great deal of
questioning to bring out the whole
story, but we finally found that he
had had a remarkably broad expert
ence in the printing trades He had
worked for time in the office of the
Bay Shore 0Long island journal,
weekly, also with the Tannersville
On. y. } Times. He had also served
in the office of the Philadelphia No.
American, and held responsible posi-
tons with the General Lithographing
Company of Seattle, Washington. and
the Caslon Press in Toledo. Ohio.
and in job printing establishments in
New York City and Philadelphia.
He was at one time a partner in
high grade printing establishment in
Harrisburg. Pa. where catalog and
tri-chromatic color printing WIS car
ried on, and some very fine work done
for that excellent rural magazine.
Country Life in America.
lie was in Skowhegan simply to
get little added practical experience
during a vacation and We learned the
sad news that when it was over. he
would no longer be with us At the
time of leaving, we inquired whether
he could come again and were flat
tered and pleased to have him say he
would be very glad to do SO during
some school vacation period.
He had some critsicims to our es-
Enlistment and some very kind re-
marks to offer during his stay here
We urged him to embody the latter
In letter to us. and the following
is doubtless his very courteous COM
pliance with that suggestion.
City of Lynn-School Department
ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL
Printing Department
Leslie S. Burnell
Instructor
LINN, Mass, October Is. 1919. !
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Co.
ShoWhogan, Maine
Gentlemen.
rtail very pleasantly the period
worked in The l-R office the past
sunni ~. WAS lead, as YOU know, /
TO gees employment as a printer, be /
Io,ilg thai a trade teacher needs to ,
Keep IN practical touch with the trade |
TO do efficient work in teaching. Il
have tognd Your office the most ag-
grcseiye efficient, and the most up
to-date OF any | have seen. except
those in the large cities and am glad
that | chose it for n try-out period
during vacation.
Nou told me that you rarely or new
err solicited either job printing or
newspaper advertising. Your faith in
advertising is justified in the returns i,
from the limited amount of advertis-
ing You do for your own business.
was surprised at the volume of ad-
vertising carried in your columns, and
the constant arrival Of orders in your
job printing department. Printed
like the movies reaches
the larger number of people.
You had some very original ideas
as to business stationery and circul-
airs, etc and some methods which
| have NOT seen used elsewhere
admire your business policy.
Wishing You every success. and
again EXPIRE sing my pleasure at
having had brief sojourn with you,
remain
Cordially yours.
1,rtpAtIsI