78 The Newspaper World, other end of the county. Midway he breaks his journey to report the deliberations of a Board of Guardians — which youthful aspirants to reportorial honors may be told, in the utmost confidence, is the most uninteresting form of public business which mortal reporter is called on to chronicle. Having listened to two hours of tedious con- versation, the Board is "left sitting" by the reporter. In due course he arrives at the scene of the flower-show. Does our reporter leisurely stroll round, with a flower in his button-hole, inspect the beauties of the floral world, and trifle over a light repast in the refreshment tent? Nothing of the sort ; the hon. secretary's tent is his centre of attraction. Installed there, after an amount of manipu- lation to which the mysteries of book-keeping by double- entry are as child's play, he makes out a correct list of prize-winners from sundry official documents, which are the result of the united labors of committee and judges. When he has gleaned some details to be used for " intro- duction," he finds his way back to the office. He discovers that his arrival is being somewhat anxiously awaited by his chief. A politician of importance has unexpectedly come on the scene. Only a junior hand is available. Will he relieve his less-skilled colleague of the responsible duty of reporting the great man ? Of course he will, though his devotion to duty will keep him at work well into the " wee sma* hours." Much more might be written, but enough has surely#been said to show that the report- er's life is not wanting in variety. The work of the reporter, most readers will concede, is arduous as well as varied. Of course the reporter's " day " is not always so fully occupied, but he needs to be ever on the alert, always well-informed on the public affairs of his own locality, and ready at a moment's notice to attend the consecration of a Bishop or the execution of a murderer. But if the work is arduous and the duties not
