'TYPES" OF EVERY DAY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1, 26 September 1907, Page 14

'TYPES" OF EVERY DAY.

. OUR CALLERS. • To disentangle tho typical from any class of peoplo is difficult. Many aro called, are chosen. •You must watch and study, for tlio typical necessarily mako but a small percentago of tho mass. But tho peoplo who "want to see ono editor" aro all types. They aro all definito: all different and distinctive. • Many oall, and all aro chosen. ' ..

An old man climbs up the stairs and wanders about tho passages. Editors are mysteries to him, and ho is a little scared and a good deal shy as .he Bees tho busy peoplo trotting along and coming in and out of rooms. He timidly knocks at tlio door marked "Sub-Editor;" and asks for tho Editor. "Next room," says tho Sub, and scores out a page from tho copy he is mutilating and, in tho opinion of its reporter author, making quite unfit for publication. Ho finds tho (Editor at last, removes his hat, advances, and pulls out a letter, salaaming all the'way. "I've just written you a letter—" ho begins. Naturally—they all have; so tho Editor thinks. ' "Will I read it?" ho,timidly asks. "Just' leavo. it, please."' "Thank you, thank' ybiij" and sidles to-the door. ■ .'"Good.oyening," he smiles ill a scared way, and 'disappears. . ..

Somotimes tho.callor is a man with agony written on his face. His son has been up before'tho police court, and has been fined for damaging a shako and "tearing mo uniform." He wishes tho namo to bo supressed; be describes tho grief of his family, his ow nmis.ery; he pleads, for relief from the disgrace., Tho' case* is a hard one, but tho paper has its duty to do. -"Call again, and I'shall havo made inquiries," and tho poor creature departs, and returns later'at-the appointed timo. Assured that the name will not appear—it was a trivial case —ho weeps * and goes away with gratitude and "God —bless —you's." Perhaps it is a woman whoso husband has' got into some trouble. Sho calls briskly, ■ states her case, fumbles for her purse and pro'ducos half-a-crown. "Half-a-orowni, isn't it," she asks. [Assured that it is £100,000,. she looks stunned. "I was told you could get it kep' out for 'arf-a-crown." Tho offender himself, occasionally calls, and pleads desperately for 6ilenco. So sure is ho that, the ■ paper." will' help him 'that.-.hbjOffers. a:.Tvay out..ofiitho delemma 'by fcuggositing: that'-liis namo-.': be misspelt:. Obviously-' a stratagem;not ayailablo for'a' man who spells his' namo "J-o-n-e-s.". •'. v :•

The ifato porson who calls on one- ' American Editor a-gun-,is-hap-pily not yet : developed J'hero. >J; An angry man calls- occasionally. ~, Ho is,aj to,nSpirafc&:aod lief ..wants to know, "who- wrbto it." "A , cold staro is kept for * this class of nan,'. Ho. wants to seo tlib Editor; what? he can't seo^liivEditor? but lie will I: Sho-iy;, : liim-,.tho._ Editor ! u He'll bring an' action 'for. rag of-.'a' paper! -.-Ho will■ Withdraw his , advertisement!' -.-He-rwill seo a director! ■ Buts.'the. nerves' of the office are delicate,* and ho do-part-s in-. an. aureole . of. sunsotrhued.., languagb..

. A familiar figure.is the. person-who oent in a manuscript-six-inonths ! .- : : ago. He haunts-; tho; offico: in 7' anxiqn3v'ih r quiry whether,'tho-'articlo. is accepted. Ho' makes--friends with the printer's devil; in a vagrip and wistful way-he feels -that that may, miraculously give, him tho entree-to "littery work." 1 Occasionally, in a' weak moment, the 'Editor accepts an article from a bore, and thereby hangs a; millstone round his neck.,; Night' aftor- night , the bore' arrives,, butts' itvto' somebody's room,, Bits"' .articles. - "I .know you aro- a ..busy man—" / "I . am," snaps .the weary journalist, -and writes furiously. • "Well, I won't interrupt you,"; and he drivels importunately; until' ho. is practically pushed out. ,

At rare intervals there is a tremendous row o nthe stairs, and an' excited person dashes in, out of breath, but full, of news. Ho has seen a fire across tho way—the fire to which two reporters were sent an hour before, and the noise of which has disturbed everybody in the offico. "Fire in - r —'s, thought you'd like to know," he gasps proudly. "Thanks, we know." ■ He stares, hurt and incredulous, and drifts away. Ho jviH never again try to do a newspaper c good turn.

Many .people call- to see the back files of the paper—it is tho joy of tho staff of this journal that they are Spared tlio worry of these visitors. "P'raps you can tell me," says the seeker after knowledge, as, ho combs his hair nervously with, his fingers. Ho wants to know tho date on which tho shop of Bill Smith was burned down. Ho thinks it was •April, 1857, or 1867, or maybo it was gome timo in 1853. Ho hunts laboriously through, musty files, and returns two hours later to say "Thank you." "Find it?" "No," he says, a little shamefacedly, "but," and ho brightens, "funny thing, I found mo birth notice.", That is really what bo camo for. Unscruplous ruffians out tho files.

Ladies show up best amongst tho callers. They give you the impression that they aro afraid it is not quito respectable to enter tho offices of the literary staff, and you accordingly make unusual efforts to dispel their fear by unheard-of politeness and sweetness. Generally tho lady knows what sho wants, and does her business quickly. If she has a poem, sho is small, dark, and shy, ready to run at the twinklo of an eyebrow. Sho drops her poem ontho desk, and flees, with relief stamped on every featuro.

Of bores thero aro billions of kinds, of cranks quito as many. Of the men with griovances against public nuisances—"crying shames" is tlie usual phrase—nobody has tried to compute the number. The old journalist occasionally drops in. 1 "I was on the old 'Southerly Duster' in 1831, aye, it was a Ion;; . timet ayn, you weren't born, man." lie is a survival from t!i<> days "iv'ien, v.-tj (ii i'tv are , things really

-loatlor • and : "tho latest--Sows by tho sailing vessel ' Maria Margaret Sloggins —and-he-dikes-to look up "the boys," and give them bints, and correct their mistakes. At the opposito polo to tho "lias-boon" is tho "would-be," the barber v.'ho is tired of lathering chins and anxious to lather politicians in scathing leaders.

Barbers? Yes, and bakers, and fried;;flslritßOp;.Vftt)d,;Wait,|jrSi and foreigners'; for "the'call"""co'mes to all inannor of bosoms. If tho applicant is a young "man —and many of them aro bright and pleasant young fellows —tho Editor says "Don't." In all sincerity bo advises him to do anythiug but sell himself to a pen, and this occasion is fit for issuing the advice again.

Tho typo .who calls with cigars and fruit and kind words, and presents for the staff, has only one featuro of interest. Ho does not exist.