One of them, more
reasonable than the rest--the one who had generally paid the scores
while the others took the tricks--was disposed to listen. The upshot
of it was that I bought the paper for $650, giving notes for the
rest, to be paid when I could. If I could not, they were not much
out. And then, again, I might succeed.
I did; by what effort I hesitate to set down here lest I be not
believed. The _News_ was a big four-page sheet. Literally every
word in it I wrote myself. I was my own editor, reporter, publisher,
and advertising agent. My pen kept two printers busy all the week,
and left me time to canvass for advertisements, attend meetings, and
gather the news. Friday night the local undertaker, who advertised
in the paper and paid in kind, took the forms over to New York,
where the presswork was done. In the early morning hours I shouldered
the edition--it was not very large in those days--and carried it
from Spruce Street down to Fulton Ferry, and then home on a Fifth
Avenue car. I recall with what inward rage I submitted to being
held up by every chance policeman and prodded facetiously in the
ribs with remarks about the "old man's millions," etc.
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