He Failed.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 77

He Failed.

"I am the man for the place 1' The slight and earnest-looking individual whose face strongly suggested the scholar had entered the office of the great steamship hue, and now, as he spoke, it was plain by his confident bearing that he considered himself already engaged. # . ,» t "I have watched with some interest, lie observed, "tlie course of the daily papers published on your ocean steamships, and I have heard that you have had some difficulty in filling the responsible position of editor. I came to apply for tho job." The agent smiled, point«d to a raised platform a.t one end of the office, and, waving hi 3 hand in tho direction, said: "Ah, my dear sir, I am indeed glad to see you! We welcome each new applicant for tho editorship of our ocean paper with much pleasure, as in time we hope to get a good man for the plaoe. Won't you be seated?" . . ,- j His -uetim, seating himself as indicated, and casually lighting a proffered cigar, continued : . , "What ycu want to conduct your wireless newspaper service is a man who is up to the requirements of modern times. When your passengers, settling dowai to their ocean voyoge, pick up each morning their ocean newspaper, they " He moved uneasily as he spoke, but the a^ent reassured him by a gesture. "It's all right, sir," he said; "that platform you are sitting on is one of tho testa." "As I was saying," continued the applicant; "they want a sheet that not only gives the news, but does so in the sensational manner they have been accustomed to on dry land. When a man has been fed on yellow jcunnal? ap'nore, it isn't right that he should be treated to a bare recital of facts at sea. What's the matter with this seat, anyway?" "That platform," explained the agent, "is so arranged as to reproduce the motion of an ocean steamer." The other man had thrown away his cigar. "Well, <ir," he replied, his fao» now quite pale, "I'll take another seat, if you^ will allow me, and continue my narrative." But the agent pointed to the door. "Soiry, fair," he replied; "but_ you won't do. We're not looking for brains. What we want is an editor with a good all round "■tOOKllh