Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1887 — Thought He Could Hold It. [ARTICLE]

Thought He Could Hold It.

“Say,” said an athletic laboring man, addressing tbe night foreman of | a St. Paul morning paper’s composing i room, “I’d like to get the job.” The ! foreman, a nervous man with golden hair and whiskers, looked at the applicant for the position of “copy- | holder,” a position which requires a I man of average education and intelli- ! gence. The duties consist in “holding | the original manuscript and reading to i the proof-reader, who corrects the j errors in'the proof-dbpy, which is com- ! pared thereby with the original.” A j vacancy had recently occurred, and an | advertisement had been inserted lor a new “copy-holder.” “Have you ever had any experience?” asked the foreman, as he looked at the man, who, : dressed in blue jean overalls, appeared to be ill at ease in tbe composing room. “No,” replied the applicant. “Well, do you know,” continued the foreman, “what is expected Of you?” “No,” replied the laborer, “I jest saw'as how | yer wanted somebody to hold copy; ! now, I don’t know what copy is, but I knew I was pretty darned strong, and can hold it if any man can; I can hold a keg o’ nails right out at,arm’s length, either hand. I don’t know how heavy this copy is, but I guess I can hold it if yer’ll g.ve me a chance.”— Bl. Paul I Globe. I Why is the author the queerest of anima's? Because his tale comes out I of bis head.