Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 297, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1913 — NARROW ESCAPE CHANGED HES LIFE [ARTICLE]

NARROW ESCAPE CHANGED HES LIFE

Story of Early Days in Printing Office Published for First Tima —Sounds Natural.

The Monon News publishes the ►appended story, the truth of which we can not vouch. That it occurred, however, just as related by Mr. Mellender, we have no doubt, as incidents of that character were not uncommon in the early, experience of printing office devils in the years of the long ago. Joe Reynolds was one of the livest wires who ever sat on a stool and t>e editor of The Republican, who served an apprenticeship as printer’s devil in the office run by George E. Marshall, recalls many amusing incidents during the time when Joe was learning the trade. He it up with unusual rapidity and became one of the fastest compositors who ever worked at a case in this city. If Joe saw young Mellender’s posterior anatomy so positioned as to invite a swift kick, Joe was apt to administer it, no matter what the provocation, and take his chances in dodging. The story is a good one and is published just as the entertaining editor of The Monon News prints it: “L. H. Mellender, of McOoysburg, was a caller at the News office Monday and favored us with a little story of his boyhood experience as a printer’s devil. It was during the Parson’s regime about 21 years ago when at the age of eleven he entered the News office as an apprentice. A year later, when young Mellender’s father moved to Rensselaer, he found employment in the printing office of Mr. Marshall, then editor of The Republican. Here tie worked zealously for a brief’period, filled with ambition to some day become a full-fledged printer, and perchance be his own boss. But alack! and alas! the event that was to determine his future occupation, came in an unexpected moment as such events usually transpire, and forever separated him from the art preservative. It devolved upon young Mellender to crank the engine and while engaged at this vigorous task, Joe Reynolds, who was also employed in the office and seemed to have a dfislike for the office boy, came up from the rear and planted a kick on the unsuspecting victim that sent him sprawling over the engine. Mellender happened to fall on a monkey wrench, which he grabbed and threw at his retreating assailant. The wrench missed the mark, but went crashing through a window. This brought Mr. Marshall on the scene and Mellender, after a plea of guilty was paid off and discharged. After learning the provocation that caused the boy’s rash act, Joe Reynolds was brought on the carpet and also discharged. Mr- Mellender then became a farmer and is now pleasantly located on one of W. F. Horton’s farms, and apparently has no regret over the incident that induced him to quit being a ‘devil.’ The other bad actor was reinstated and for a number of years was in the printing business at Rensselaer and Delphi. For several years Joe has held a responsible position with the J. W. Butler Piper Co., of Chicago.” (Editor’s Note—Mr. Reynolds left the employ of the Butler Paper Co. some time ago to accept a better position with another paper company. He is an expert judge of paper, a splendid buyer and had no superior as a salesman in the country. He is a splendid example of the developed printer’s devil, and it is interesting to know that both of the young men have emerged from the incident in the printing office that shaped their future lives and have become successful. It was a rescue of Mellender from the dreadful fate of becoming an editor and the disciplining Joe received probably caused him to look twice*'before he kicked after that time.)