CHAPTER V
UNCLE BEN'S BUSINESS TALK
"Ladies and gentlemen!" said Uncle Ben, bowing politely to each group;"You may not know that I have always had one hobby--something like mynephew here--and that is still, printing. My present position as editorof a magazine does not satisfy my craving for the printer's workshop,but it is as near as I can come to it, so I have bided my time until anopportunity like the present one offers.
"Before I confide to you what the present offer is, I wish to explainsomewhat the working of a magazine plant. I believe it is necessary totell you how much hard work is attached to the business, and some of theenjoyments when the magazine is ready to go out.
"The first thing is to have the right kind of a story, or article. Tofind this it is necessary to read many, many manuscripts. We employ'readers' for this work of selecting what we can use. The manuscriptswe cannot use are returned to the writers. After the first reader passeson a story, another reader goes over it, and if it seems suitable, it ishanded to the editor. The editor decides whether or not to accept it. Ifaccepted, he has to go over it very carefully. Sometimes words arechanged, lines inserted, or whole paragraphs cut out.
"If the story needs illustrating an artist is sent for. If a soft-tonedillustration is desired, the artist makes a 'wash drawing'--meaning ablack and white painting done with brushes, as in a water color. The'wash drawing' is then sent to the engravers and a 'half-tone' platemade for use in the magazine. 'Half-tones' are made of copper sheetswith the picture photographed upon them.
"Sometimes we want an outline to illustrate the story. A pen and inksketch is required for this, and is made about twice as large as it willappear in the magazine. This is reproduced on a zinc plate, and iscalled a 'line cut.'
"Then the story is given to the linotypers. A linotype machine is veryinteresting. It has a key-board almost like a typewriter. When a letteris struck on the board, a piece of brass containing the impression ofthat letter moves into place just like a soldier starting to form aline. When the next letter is struck, the corresponding brass soldierhurries into place beside the first one. This continues until a wholeline has been 'set.' Then the operator touches a lever, the line ofbrass pieces moves to a new position, and molten type-metal is pouredinto the mold which the brass pieces help to form. The lead at oncehardens, and the whole line is ready for printing, in one solid piece.All of this is done very fast--much faster than I can tell you about it.It is hard to believe that a machine can do all these things so quicklyand so accurately.
"When the linotype work is completed the printer places the lines oftype on a 'galley.' Then the type is covered with ink, a piece of paperis laid on, and a heavy roller passed over it. This impression is calledthe 'galley proof.' If the linotyper has made any mistakes in spellingor printing, they have to be corrected.
"After the 'galley proofs' are corrected, the dummy--a blank-page bookjust the size the magazine will be--is made.
"Before us, are all the pictures and reading matter to be used. Theseare arranged and pasted into the dummy in the order in which they are tobe printed. Sometimes a page has a little space left at the bottom, andthis must be filled with a neat ornament or a verse. Sometimes anarticle is too long, and then it must be cut down and made to fit theallotted space.
"Thus, the whole magazine is 'dummied' with pages of cut-up galleyproofs and picture proofs, until it looks more like a child's scrap bookthan a magazine model.
"This dummy goes back to the printer, who picks out the galley-type andmeasures it off to compare with the pages of the dummy. This done, heplaces the type in a form the size of the page, places the numeral ofthe page at the top or bottom, with the name of the magazine at thetop--this is known as the 'running head,' as it runs along the top ofeach page throughout the book.
"The printer next makes a page proof. That is, he makes a proof of eachpage. These pages are sent into the editorial room again, and are goneover carefully and compared with the galley proofs; if everything iscorrect each page is 'O.K'd.' If, however, there are errors, note ismade of it in the margin on the page proof.
"When all the pages are 'O.K'd.' the page forms are 'locked up'together, sixteen, thirty-two or sixty-four, in one big form, andarranged so that when the sheet of paper is printed and folded, thepages will come in the right order."
So Uncle Ben continued his talk about magazine making. He explained theworkings of different kinds of printing presses, how some print directlyfrom the type "made ready" on a flat bed, the paper being fed into thepress in flat sheets, and how some of the big presses print from curvedplates that fit around a big roller, the paper running into the presscontinuously from an immense big roll as wide as the press. He toldabout the wonderful folding and stitching machines, and many otherinteresting things.
During Uncle Ben's talk, everyone had been so interested that not asound was heard. When he concluded, however, the tension relaxed and hisaudience began asking questions.
"This is most instructive, but I can't see where it helps the BobolinkBoys in their organization," said Mr. Talmage, quizzically.
At mention of the name "Bobolink Boys" the Blue Birds looked at eachother, and then at their elders for information.
Uncle Ben saw their wonderment, and laughingly explained the plot. Thegirls were delighted, and had so much to say to one another that itseemed as if no further business could be attended to that day.
Uncle Ben, however, rapped loudly upon the box.
"We have many important things to attend to," he said, "and all arerequested to sit still and listen. I am going back to New York in a fewdays, and in the meantime I should like to help start the boys on theright road to success. Now, what you all want to know is, 'How does mytalk about magazines help the Bobolink Boys?'
"Well, this is the way: For the past half-score of years or more, I havelonged to issue a magazine for young folks that could reach out intoevery plane of life; for the poor children in institutions; for the slumchildren; for rich children, for children in the city and children inthe country--for every one of them!
"I would like to give so much instructive reading matter on its pagesthat the schools will circulate it among the pupils; I would like tohave the pictures of the very best; I would like it to inspire boys andgirls to read better books, and make them ambitious to make the most oftheir chances; I would like it to teach them to make things and dothings for themselves; in fact, I would like to make it the best andfinest magazine ever published! But I haven't had time to experimentwith my hobby and being an old bachelor I am afraid I do not understandchildren well enough to know how to write for them. The plan that I havebeen figuring out seems to fit most beautifully with the Blue Birds' andBobolinks' work."
Uncle Ben hesitated a second, but not a sound was heard. Then hecontinued:
"Mother Talmage asked me last night about how much it would cost to sendcirculars to people who might be interested in the farms next summer. Ipropose that we start a children's magazine and use its pages wheneverthere is an announcement of importance. If you want donations of moneyor help of other kinds, ask for them through the pages of the magazine.
"With the Blue Birds to write articles each month telling other childrenwhat they are doing, or how to make the things they are being taught tomake, and the Bobolink Boys to write the experiences of their daily workand play, and some of the grown-ups to contribute poems and stories, ofcourse it would be necessary to have contributions also from some of ourbest writers, and I know I can get them for you."
The idea of such a stupendous undertaking made the children gasp, butMr. Talmage said, "All you have said is fine, Uncle Ben, but who willset type, buy paper, print, bind and circulate such a magazine?"
"That's just the thing! Don't you see? My very great interest in thisplan will compel me to help in every way and all the time, and the boyswill be kept busy at profitable and interesting work. When all themanuscript is in, and turned over to me I will see that it is set, andthe proofs sent back to t
he children. The Blue Birds will enjoy makingthe dummies, pasting in the pictures, and arranging the pages; and theBobolinks can proceed to print the magazines. If you don't expect to usethis carriage house for anything it may as well be turned into aprint-shop. With all these boys to work, the printing ought to be greatsport and not much trouble to get out a magazine."
The Blue Birds were clapping their hands in excitement while theBobolinks jumped up, and in their eagerness, crowded about Uncle Ben,overwhelming him with so many questions that he was quite overcome.
Then Miss Selina stood up in the road-wagon, and after silencing thenoisy crowd, made an announcement.
"I'll pay for the paper that will be needed for the experiment the firstmonth!"
"Hurrah, hurrah! for Aunt Selina!" shouted Uncle Ben, and the restjoined in with such good will that Aunt Selina sat down and held herhands over her ears.
"I'll pay postage on a sample issue!" called Mrs. Catlin.
Again the joyous young publishers-to-be burst forth into cheers.
"What can I pay for?" laughed Mrs. Talmage.
"You'll soon find that you are paying the heaviest tax of all inoverseeing the publishers," replied Uncle Ben.
"How soon can we start?" demanded the Bobolinks.
"What shall we write?" asked the Blue Birds.
Uncle Ben raised both hands for silence, and as soon as order wasrestored again, he spoke.
"We have just installed new machines in our printing plant in New Yorkand intend selling the old ones to some small job printer who can usesecond-hand machines. Now, I can pick out a small press, stitcher, andother things that you will need, and ship them out here. You haveelectricity here, and a small motor will furnish the power. When you areready to go to press, I will send out an experienced man from our shopto direct the work and see that everything is done properly. Theaddressing and wrapping can be done by all of you. Of course, as far aswe have gone, it all sounds like great sport, but there is another sideto this plan that must be thoroughly agreed upon before we go anyfurther. If you start this undertaking, you will have to keep on withit. At a certain date each month your periodical must be ready formailing. You will have to write and edit, and print, whether the skatingis fine, or the gymnasium is at your disposal, or whether Thanksgivingdinner makes you feel lazy, or a toothache keeps you awake all night.Publishing work is very interesting, most instructive, and profitable,but it is work, work, work, and not all play!"
"Oh, we know that, Uncle Ben," said Ned. "And we'll promise to take allof the consequences that go with the game."
The other boys seconded Ned's statement, and the Blue Birds eagerlyagreed to the plan, so Uncle Ben really had no further objections tomake.
"Oh, I can hardly wait to begin my page," cried Ruth.
"I'd rather see the magazine--maybe it will be a home-made lookingthing!" exclaimed Dot Starr.
"It will not! Not with us boys to boss the plant!" bragged Don, hertwin.
"If it is home-made, you'll have to do it all again," commented UncleBen.
"That is where Mrs. Talmage's work comes in," laughed Mr. Talmage.
"It will be a regular magazine, all right!" exclaimed Mrs. Talmageemphatically.
"We boys will see to it that no magazine is mailed that will make folkslaugh at us," guaranteed Ned.
"I'm sure I placed my hobby in the right hands, for you children seem totake a pride in doing things well," commended Uncle Ben.
"And with a nephew stepping right in his uncle's footprints, whyshouldn't things be done right?" laughed Mr. Talmage.
"Say, Uncle Ben, how long must we wait before we can begin?" asked DonStarr.
"Get as busy as you like to-morrow after school," replied Uncle Ben."I'll run into town and attend to having the things shipped here as longas you have agreed to my plans; you boys may start making benches,tables, or whatever will be needed in the plant."
"They'll need a desk, some chairs, a table and a few other things,"suggested Mr. Talmage, looking around. "It might be advisable for themto partition off a corner of this room for an office."
"I have a good roll-top desk in the store-room at home; it has never hadany use since Mr. Catlin passed away. The boys shall have that," offeredMrs. Catlin.
"And I can spare that long table we used to have in the dairy before weinstalled the patent butter machines," added Mrs. Talmage.
"In case I find any other pieces of Mr. Catlin's office furniture I willsend them over with the desk," said Mrs. Catlin.
"About those machines, Ben! How much will they cost the boys?" asked Mr.Talmage.
"I thought of assuming the cost, and any time the publishers give up thework I can easily sell them in the city. The children can pay thefreight charges, which will not be very heavy," replied Uncle Ben.
"Then, there will really be no heavy expense to start with, will there?"asked Mrs. Talmage.
"No, but a tax of application and interest will be necessary," smiledUncle Ben.
"We will agree to pay all of that you want," promised several of theboys.
The Blue Birds did not have much to say about the machines and workshop,but each felt that it was to be their very own magazine, so that theirinterest and pleasure in every new development were keyed to the toppitch.
"Betty, what page do you want to take charge of?" asked Norma, eagerly,as they left the carriage house.
"I think we had better defer discussing that part of the work until wecan all sit down quietly and talk it over," said Mrs. Talmage.
The men and boys remained with Ike to decide what boards and lumberwould be needed for the morrow, so work could begin on their workrooms.
"Let's have a sign for the front over the door," suggested Jinks. "I'llpaint it at home."
"Call it 'Bobolink Boys Publishing Company,'" ventured Meredith.
"Oh, that wouldn't be fair to the Blue Birds if they are going to helpin the work," said Ned.
"Name it 'Blue Bird & Bobolink Company,'" said Uncle Ben.
This last suggestion struck everyone as being just right, but Mr.Talmage made a good amendment.
"Why not have a mysterious combination? Every mortal is interested infinding out a puzzle, or secret. The more elusive a thing is the morethey chase it. Now, get folks guessing over your name and they will notforget you so soon. I just thought of the name of 'B. B. & B. B.Company.'"
"That's great, father, but we haven't thought of a name for themagazine," cried Ned.
"Add a few more 'B's' to the others," laughed Uncle Ben. "We'll name itthe 'B. B. B. B.,' published by the 'B. B. & B. B. Co.'"
"What does 'B. B. B. B.' stand for?" asked Mr. Talmage.
"'Blue Bird Bobolink Bulletin,'" replied Uncle Ben.
"That's mystery enough, I'm sure," laughed Mr. Talmage.
After a few more remarks, the first meeting of the organization whoseinfluence was to be far greater than had been hoped for by Uncle Ben, orthe boys who had started it, was dismissed.
Blue Birds' Winter Nest Page 5
