Orleans County Monitor

ORGAN OF THE FIGHTING EDITOR
The John Bull newspaper, edited by Theodore Hook, frequently indulged in offensive personalities, in remarking on the conduct and character of public men. A military hero, who would persist in placing himself conspicuously before the world's gaze, received a copious share of what he considered malignant and libelous abuse in the columns of said newspaper.

His soldier's spirit resolved on revenge. An officer and a gentleman could not demean himself by calling on a hireling scribbler for honorable satisfaction. No! he would horsewhip the miscreant in his den, the Bull would be taken by the horn!

Donning his uniform and arming himself with a huge whip, he called at the office of the paper, and scarcely concealing his agitation, inquired for the editor. He was invited by the clerk to take a seat in the room. He complied and was kept waiting by the clerk, who recognized the visitor, ran up stairs and informed the editorial responsibility of his name and evident purport. After an aggravating delay, which served considerably to increase the ill-temper of the officer, the door opened and a coarse, rough-looking man, over six feet in height, with a proportionate breadth of shoulder, and armed with a bludgeon, entered the room.

Walking up to the surprised and angry visitor, he said, in a voice of thunder!
"Are you the chap as wants to see me?"
"You. No. I wish to see the editor of the paper."
"That's me: I'm the werry man."
"There must be some mistake."
"Not a morsel! I'm the hitter of this Bull," said this fellow, bringing the nobbed end of his bludgeon in fearful proximity to the officer's caput.
"You the editor. Impossible!"
"Do you mean to say I'm telling a lie," roared the ruffian, as he again raised his knotty argument.
"Certainly not--by no means," answered the officer, rapidly cooling down, and dropping the whip and his wrath at the same time.
"Werry well, then! What are you wanting wi' me?"
"A mistake my dear sir: all a mistake. I expected to meet another person. I'll call some other day," and the complainant backed to the door, bowing to the drawn stick before him.
"And don't let me catch you coming again without knowing who and what you want. We're always ready here for all sorts of customers--army or naval, civil or military, horse, foot or dragoons,"

The officer retired, resolved to undergo another goring by the Bull before he ventured to encounter the herculean proportions of the fighting editor.

When the clerk informed the occupants of the editorial sanctum of the visit of the irate colonel, neither Hook nor the publishers cared to face the horse-whip. A well known pugilist, the landlord of a tavern in the vicinity, was instantly sent for: a slight preparation fitted him for the part, in which he acquitted himself with complete success.

The story rapidly circulated, and the reputation of the fighting editor of the John Bull prevented further remonstrances from persons who felt themselves aggrieved by the liberty of the press.