Grass-hands

On newspapers, in addition to the regular staff of compositors, it is almost always necessary to have some extra assistance available in case it is required in getting out the paper. Persons so engaged are technically called “grass-hands,” and take their chance whether they earn little or much, or anything at all, as they are only called upon to do such work as the regular hands are unable to accomplish. During the Parliamentary session, for instance, grass-hands find much employment, as the copy comes in late, and the printer has to divide it, in small fi-agments, among a large number of compositors. Many compositors earn a good income by grassing, and it is a frequent occurrence for a casual gi'ass-hand to take more wages than a regular book-hand; but the period of labour of the former is very precarious, and oftentimes extends into the small hours of the morning, thereby tending to injure his health and interfere with his domestic comfort; whilst the latter, in a general way, knows exactly the hours he is required to work, and has the additional advantage of being able to make arrangements, after these hours, either for pleasure or private business.