THE "DEVIL " ON NEWSPAPERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2522, 8 September 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE "DEVIL " ON NEWSPAPERS.

The following thoughts on newspapers aud their internal economy are contributed by the printer's " devil."—

Newspapers is called vehicles of information.

Reporters is what is called " the stall'" —so many of them being "sticks." They work hard —at refreshment bars.

Proof-readers is men what spoils the punctuation of compositors. They spell a word one way to-day and another way to-morrow. They think they be intelligent persons; compositors think different.

Compositors is men as sets up the types—and sometimes they drinks. Compositors is very steady men when they is sober—which they seldom is when they can help it.

Editors is men what knows everything in the heavens above and the earth beneath. They is writers who doesn't ■write anything whatsoever. They is the biggest men you ever see. Managers is men as takes in the tin and gives patent medicine "adds" tops of columns next to reading matter, 37 columns out of 32.

Proprietors ain't nobody. They ain't ever seen.

Printers' devils is the most important persons in a printin' office. They does the hardest work and gets the least pay. Pressmen is—well, there wouldn't be no newspapers, no circus bills, without pressmen to print 'em. Feeders is men what feeds on the fat of the land.

If I ever start a paper of my own, I'll call it Tha Umbrella. Everybody will take it.

I heard the foreman tell this funny story to one of the " staff" the other day. It must have been funny, 'cause they both laughed. This is the story—" A gentleman was promenading the streets ■with a little boy at his side, when the little fellow cried out—' 0, pa, there goes an editor.' ' Hush, hush,' said the father, ' dou't make sport of the poor manGod only knows what you may come to yet."