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Harte, Bret, 1836-1902

"Mr. Jack Hamlin's Mediation"

"
"Ye never kin tell," said the foreman didactically, "what might happen!
I've known editors to get into a fight jest for a little innercent
bedevilin' o' the opposite party. Sometimes for a misprint. Old man
Pritchard of the 'Argus' oncet had a hole blown through his arm because
his proofreader had called Colonel Starbottle's speech an 'ignominious'
defense, when the old man hed written 'ingenuous' defense."
The editor paused in his proof-reading. He had just come upon the
sentence: "We cannot congratulate Liberty Hill--in its superior
elevation--upon the ignominious silence of the representative of all
Calaveras when this infamous Bill was introduced." He referred to his
copy. Yes! He had certainly written "ignominious,"--that was what his
informants had suggested. But was he sure they were right? He had a
vague recollection, also, that the representative alluded to--Senator
Bradley--had fought two duels, and was a "good" though somewhat
impulsive shot! He might alter the word to "ingenuous" or "ingenious,"
either would be finely sarcastic, but then--there was his foreman, who
would detect it! He would wait until he had finished the entire article.


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