A flood of newspaper memories

To the editor:

The Missourian has been important to me through the years. I was a paper boy during World War II, and I could tell you about some wonderful experiences connected therewith. I can tell you the exact boundaries of my two routes and the names of a number of my subscribers.

A 12-page paper was considered huge. I don't think there were but a few of those huge editions during the war. There was also an extra for D-Day in June 1944.

I was a paper boy for Mr. Jenkins, the circulation manager who initiated the little merchant plan of compensating carriers. I still have a Christmas card that he sent to me and all the other carriers. Mr. Jenkins required us to save $1 a week in addition to paying our paper bill. When any of us quit we would be refunded our savings. As I recall mine came to just about $100 when I left. That was a lot of money.

We could always tell when early summer had arrived because the Naeter brothers would be chauffeured past our home, in their Ford station wagon, on the way to their summer home, Bouldercrest. When they weren't driven past, it was a sure sign that fall was at hand.

My brother, Ernest Ray Masters, was a Missourian employee for 20 or more years. His duties there were a very important part of his life. Jon Rust's article brought a flood of memories -- memories of wonderful times.

FRANK MASTERS, Jefferson City, Mo.