The News of the Day by Deputy.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 49

The News of the Day by Deputy.

One of the most peculiar occupations I noticed in America (writes a contributor, recently returned from Chicago) was that of an old man who earns a living by reading the morning papers. Probably he is the only one who follows this unique calling.

He is a kindly old fellow, bright, welleducated, and has a keen perception. He has a friendly word for everyone ; but news, which he serves out on a strictly business baeis, is not imparted to anyone unless payment is made. He rises at a very early hour in order to get a copy of each of the morning papers as soon as they can be bought. Returning home, he reads

the papers exhaustively ; and, blessed with a retentive memory, by the time business men (too worried to wade through several columns of padding in order to get a little news) have arrived at their offices, the old man has mastered all branches of the news of the day. He is now quite ready to dispense his knowledge to his customers — men who pay him a small weekly subscription to keep themselves well-informed as to some particular line of the world's doings.

Dropping in first on one, then on another, he entertains each subscriber for a few minutes with the news of his choice, and then passes on to the next. One man wishes to hear the latest news relating to politics, another art, others literature. Horse-racing and sport generally form his dole to many, and the markets, crops, &c, are reserved for another class of customers. Not only will he tell the news of the day, but if asked will refresh a subscriber's memory as to past events, some of his feats in this direction having earned for him the title of the " walking encyclopedia."

As an arbitrator or referee when any dispute about past events has arisen he is constantly in request ', and as he charges an extra fee for this branch, he thus makes a considerable addition to his income as a human news agency. He works hard while at it ; but, as all his subscribers^ must be called on and their requirements satisfied before "noon each day, he has plenty of time on his hands. This he devotes to refreshing his own memory, which he does to such purpose that he is looked up to as a man who is able to answer any question relating to matters appearing in the newspapers during the last 10 years, and can give the date of a particular occurrence offhand, as well as the name of the newspaper which contained the fullest report of it.