The daily Alaskan., 1921-05-26

ard long liren duster. He was set to work, but his countrifled ap- pearance and etiringla amer promptly started the compcsitors to guying him. Who is Slug Three?" Who's the Dutchman that sst this take?" What blacksmith Rhop was Slug Three raised in?" and similar cutting remarks for "Texas Jacks" edification were freely bandied about.
 The southerner, however, paid no attention to these thrusts. He kept right on sticking type. By and by it became evident that the stranger was far from being the countryman he looked. for he "emptied in" with amazing frequentcy, and his proof showed no errors.
 In the morning it developed that Texas Jack" had outstripped the old guard. He had set string of 11,000 ems, a record never touched, for the time consumed, except by the excep- tional swift" Pocketing his big earnings, the travelling printer gave a farewell salute to the jeerers of the night before. "Good-day, gentle men," he said politely, with a court ly bow and a graceful wave of the sombrero, as he smilingly withdrew.
 The second class of printers were those who took up printing because it was a good trade and regarded as on a higher plane than some others.
 Typical of this class of printers was "Shortalize" Murray. Murray may have been named after the grammarian, but he was merely "Shortalize" to us because he always spoke of "shortalizing" words. The first day he favored the office with his services he broke the silence by looking up from his case and sol emuly inQuiring: How do you shor- talize secretary here?" He was told the office style of abbreviating, but the nickname "Shortalize" was his from that day forth.
 "Shortalize" had worked in nearly every large printing office, except some in the largest cities, in the United States and Canada. He was thrifty. When he reached our office he usually liked to stay for some time. partly because the editor had a dog which helped "ShortaliZe" de- feat the high cost of living. It was in the lean '70s, when prices after the war were so high they almost touched the sky-or present-day rec ords. "Shortalize" used to board himself. When he did his market ing, old Rover, the editors dog, used to accompany him. "Shortalize," " pointing to the animal, would ask for "5 cents worth of meat for the dog
 Rover was a large Newfoundland, with q peculiarly hungry expression. The dealer, after glance at the ami nal, and knowing that his owner was a lone bachelor and boarded at the sorry village hotel" was usually very generous. In those days a nick el would buy enough to last several meals, so "Shortalize" would live high on next to nothing.
 Scotsman Was a Sticker.
 Alexander Cameron, Scotsman, was most lovable, most irritating and most amusing specimen of this type of travelling knight-errant. Aleck had been working in a certain office for some time, when he incur red the wrath of his employer be- cause of breach of discipline.
 Alexander came to work just as if he had not received his discharge.
 No use. Aleck," said his exasper- ated boss. You're discharged. You cant stay another minute"
 Alexander Cameron calmly contin- ued removing his coat and rolling up !, ;- frf
 Did you hear what I said, Aleck?" demanded his wrathy su- perior. You may go. You're dis charged"
 Why, Mir. Lenox," returned Aleck in shocked tone Do ye think I'll be mean enough to leave ye now, with all this work? No, no, MT. Len OK. Ye little know Alexander Cam eron if ye think that. I'll never de- sert ye. MT. Lenox, never! Just count on Aleck every time" He stayed.
 The third and lowest class of print CTS comprised those who simply drifted into the business, or who failed to make good at the trade. From this class came the genuine tramp printer. He is still with us. The quality, never very good, has been steadily deteriorating, and the