Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-01-16
READERS VS.. SUBSCRIBERS.

The persons who Subscribe and pay Tor our pa
per comprise indeed but very small portion of the
community, yet we venture to say that nine out o
every ten reading men in our town and neghbor-
hood, read it either regularly or occasionally. Tc
these non.payipg pdtrons We have few words to
say.
Have you never thought that while you are read
ing the paper al the expense Of others, you are not
acting altogether honorably? Ifyou never have,
just lay down this borrowed paper which you are
reading and reflect little now. You know that il
is an advantage 10 your town and neighborhood
(and of course 10 you,) to have newspaper pub
lished in it. You know this, we say or if you
don't you ought to, and little reflection will ena-
bic you to perceive it. you see or hear anything
in another paper which you think would benefit
yourself, your party, your friends, or your town,
you are anxious that it should appear in the paper
at home; or if any public matter cones up. which
you may deem of importance to the place CT your
SELF you expect to find the paper strongly pushing it
forward; and if he does not, you are perhaps the first
to complain, although you have always been spong-
irg the reading Of some neighbours paper, and have
never given cent to sustain that which you ex-
psct to advance your interests. Now, just think a
lttle-s this right? Printers cannot afford to
"wOrk for nothing and keep themselves" and yet
you are particularly asking them to do it. you
had no paper in your place, you would he the first
to feel The want oft, for you are enjoying the ben
efits resulting frem it, without allowing your pock-
ct to suffer in the least thereby.
You may answer, "Hou needn't talk so saucy
about it, for if you don't publish paper here some
one else will" True, we admit; but that don't
better your conduct iuthe least. The paper is noy
going on, and you are no,o sponging that which
Others more thoughtful, or perhaps more eonUabie,
are paying for.
"But don't like the political cturso of your pa
per-" You may say. No matter for that /; you read
it, whether you like it or not and it is your duty
to support your local paper even if it be not per-
feet mirror, rejecting precisely, your own political
views 1t is worth more than the subscription price,
for the other matter which il contains.
"But can't afford it-l'm tho poor" Are you
sure of that? Just think, now have you not over
and over again, paid more than our subscription
price fr articles Uf much less value TO you than a
newspaper We feel confident that you have, but
II you have not, as sO0n get all To subscribe
who should do so, we Will send you copy for Eo-
thing.
"But am getting city paper, and can't afford
10 take another" We suppose you reason in this
way :-"There's no use in paying for The Apala-
chan. Some of my neighbors take it, and can
borrow it from Them or pick it up in their stores OF
shops, and read it for nothing 1t don't do any harm
TO read it after they have got it SO, Fll SEND for
city paper, and thus get the reading Of two, while
pay for one. It's almost throwing money away
to pay for The Appalachian, fer can read it any
how" This will al do very well for men who
are determined 10 get all they can without regard
TO right-to reap where they have not sown-b but
for honorable men (and We do not wish to say that
you are not such, although the circumstances are
strongly against youl il is certainly very strange
talk, and If you think little on the subject you
will agree with us. We maintain that you should
support paper at home. first, and afterwards take
as many more as you may see proper
We wish you to understand, however, thatwhe
we ask you 10 Support" or Sustain" MS, we do
not ask it as sft of charity, for we consider the
paper worth all that is asked for it, five didn'I
we wouldn't ask you to take it.
We have talked long enough to you, for the pre-
sent, and hope you will reflect upon the subject,
and come to the wise conclusion that you will no
longer be dependent upon others for that which you
should have yourself. DON'T think, now, that we
are limiting at some person; it is yoa we are speak
ing to-yon, who are now reading this paper which
somebody else has paid fo.. If you have family,
pay for thepaper, and let them read it; you have
not, take the paper al once, for you cantt expect
any high minded girl win have you, if she knows
that you are depending upon others to pay for your
reading.
Thus endeth the first lesson.
We have taken rather much space for this sub
ject, but as many of our subscribers are much an
noyed by this class Of readers. we trust they will
not object to our holding "talk" with them Occa-
sionally.-.Apalachian