The "The Scribbler's Daughter" Story

Column in the Lancaster Newspaper.

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the column in the newspaper titled: "The Scribbler".  And, today marks the 85th anniversary of the column that has given me so many ideas for stories for my blog.  The first Scribbler column appeared on the editorial page of the Daily Examiner and Express on Saturday, May 24, 1919.  An introductory note on that particular day said: "The Scribbler" is a philosopher and friend and, lacking a biting tongue and tattling habits, should have many friends."  The person who penned that note was probably Oliver James Keller who at the time was the editor of the newspaper and whose father was William H. Keller, chief justice of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Oliver Miller's brother-in-law, Robert E. Miller was the journalist who wrote that first Scribbler column.  One of his opinions he expressed on June 16th of that year was about the condition of the streets in the city of Lancaster, PA.  He told of extra police being assigned to stop the swearing about the condition of the streets.  He surmised that the streets were left in the rather poor condition that they were in to enforce the 5 MPH speed limit.  About a year after Miller began writing "The Scribbler", the Daily Examiner and Express merged with The Daily New Era as the Lancaster New Era.  The first Scribbler column in the New Era talked about "Going to market is a satanic device to plague husbands and please wives.  It causes more fracturing of the second commandment by men and the ninth by women than any other agency the devil has ever invented."  Is it much different today?  In the 1920's Mr. Earl H. Weaverling became "The Scribbler" and included many one-line cracks in his columns.  In 1932 the column was placed on the front page of the newspaper and for the next decade readers were treated to stories about their neighbors.  On November 21, 1941 "The Scribbler" wrote about Mr. James Ross, the former mayor, going to his garage and asking for his car.  He was told it wasn't there and he later found it in front of his house.  During WWII the column was discontinued until its return in 1947 when a trio of writers became "The Scribbler".  One of those writers, Mr Gerald Lestz, happened to be the step-father of a beautiful young friend of mine.  I finally got to meet Mr. Lestz when I showed up at his door to pick up his step-daughter, Sally Dana, to take her to my Senior Prom.  Sally and I met while both choir members at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster.  Loved going to church back then.  He made me feel so much at ease with his pleasant manner and pipe in his mouth, which reminded me so much of my beloved grandpap.  I was told when Sally was expected home ….. and she was back just in time.  Couldn't disappoint "The Scribbler".  In 1951 the column was once again discontinued until six years later when Mr. Lestz resurrected the column and wrote "The Scribbler" until his retirement in 1979.  

Lancaster Newspaper photo of Jack
Brubaker, "The Scribbler."

At that time, the current Scribbler, Mr. Jack Brubaker took over the reigns of the column that so many readers enjoy and look forward to reading.  I so much enjoy Mr. Brubaker's stories about life in Lancaster County.  I have written to him on many occasions while looking for information for a story on this blog.  Once he even published my letter that I had written to him asking about the plaques on the houses in Lancaster city.  My question was answered!  Jack has been writing the column since 1979 and I hope he never stops writing it, at least in my lifetime!  Some time I need to stop at the newspaper office and thank him in person for his service to the community.  The readers in Lancaster count on him for his bi-weekly columns that give a regular commentary on the history and culture of this great town we all call home, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Good job, well done!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Much of the historical information for this blog story was found in "The Scribbler" column recently published in the LPN newspaper.