BADGE OF OFFICE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIX, 9 May 1896, Page 549

BADGE OF OFFICE.

Sylvanus Cobh, junior, the author of countless tales of romance and adventure, was a printer by trade, and on one occasion especially his printer’s rule served him a good turn. At seventeen years of age he had entered the navy, where his duties were arduous and monoton ous. He was serving on the sloop of-war ' Fairfield,' when it was cruising along the African coast, and one day, desperately tired of his duties, he stood leaning against a gun, his old composing rule in his hand. ‘What’s that?’ asked an abrupt voice, and turning with a start young Cobb saw that the captain was watching him. ‘ It’s a printer’s rule, sir,’ was the reply. ‘ Are you a printer ?’ ‘That’s my profession, sir.’ ‘Do you know anything about proof-reading ? Could you take a manuscript, and punctuate and arrange it. so that a printer would know just how to put it in type ?’ ‘ I could once, sir, and I think I have not forgotten.' ‘ What are you doing now ?’ ‘ I am on duty here, in charge of your cabin, sir, and of the ship’s time.’ ‘Yes, I know. Mr Dodd,’ he called to the officer of the deck, ‘ will you have this man relieved ? As soon as you are at liberty,’ he said, addressing the young man, ‘ report to me in my cabin.’ The youth did so, and was given a mass of notes referring to various voyages and travels in foreign lands, to be sorted and arranged for the printer. This work occupied him during the entire voyage. Thus he had found, thanks to his printer’s rule, the easiest berth on board the ship.