Prev | Current Page 214 | Next

Riis, Jacob A., 1849-1914

"The Making of an American"

The wind did its part.
There is no corner in all New York where it blows as it does around
the Tribune building. As I flew into Spruce Street I brought up
smack against two men coming out of the side door. One of them I
knocked off his feet into a snowdrift. He floundered about in it
and swore dreadfully. By the voice I knew that it was Mr. Shanks.
I stood petrified, mechanically pinning his slouch hat to the ground
with my toe. He got upon his feet at last and came toward me, much
wrought up.
"Who in thunder--" he growled angrily and caught sight of my rueful
face. I was thinking I might as well have left my note on his desk
that morning, for now I was going to be discharged anyhow.
"Is that the way you treat your city editor, Riis?" he asked, while
I handed him his hat.
"It was the wind, sir, and I was running--"
"Running! What is up that set you going at that rate?"
I told him of the meeting I had attended--it was of no account--and
that I was running to catch the edition. He heard me out.
"And do you always run like that when you are out on assignments?"
"When it is late like this, yes.


Pages:
202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226