Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-04-21
Newspaper History.

AuV~SRuT02 SAAOsSAy'
The venerable Editor Of the FRS, Re-
ligious Newspaper in the world, is still
living, and has recently published the fol-
lowing interesting chapter Of periodical
| literature
EDITORIAL LABoRs.-At a meeting
Of editors aud publishers iu Boston, on tue
I'D Of February, was requested by the
President of the meeting, (IIon. Nathan
Hale), as | mad been the Ionges: in the
profession, to give some "reminiscences Of
my experience and observation. did so
and brief sketch Of some Of nv remarks
was given in the Transcrtt,. As there were
some inaccuracies as to dates ia the sketch,
| will here state theu more correctly.
"My father, Nathaniel Willis, began his
publication of the Independent Chronicle in
the same building where Benjamin Frank
lin worked as printer, in CoIrt street,
corner Of Frauklin Avenue, Boston, June,
1916. He continued to conduct that pa
per till 1874, embracing the whole period
of the war for Independence. A 6le Of mis-
papers l now possess. He removed to
Martinsburg, Va, soon after, and in 1890
commenced the publication of the Potomac
Guardian, {when commenced type-sett-
lug, y and which he continued till the year
1900, when be removed to Cnillicothe, Ohio,
where be published the .Sc,oto Gazete, the
first paper in the then North Western Ter
ritory. How long be continued that paper
do not know, bat have preserved few
numbers of both papers. My father died
in Ohio, several years ago. i worked in
my fathers oEice in Virginia until April,
1896, when l returned to Boston, in my
10th year, aud entered as an apprentice in
the Office OF the Independent Chronicle, with
Adams and Rhoades, the successors Of my
father on that paper. A small volume Of
the "Life Of Franklin" gave me the spirit
Of emigration 10 Boston at that time. l
continued to work there until September,
1880, when, in my 23d year, / was invited
to Portland, Maine, and commenced the
E.stern Argus. After publishing tia, pa
per several years, l returned to Boston IN
1872, the trying period If the second Brit
ish war. Here l published books and
pamphlets until January, 1916, when, in
my 36th year, commenced the pub.ica-
ton Of the Boston Recorder, which con-
tinued until January, 1914. In June,
! S27, in my Attn year, commenced The
Hath Com. ,ion: 9 'nduciing both papers
in the same Office seventeen years. The
Companion is Low - yea,s old, and l
am 10
three successive generations, three persons
of the same name should be engaged in
publishing each of them three ne~ papers,
all within the time Of American lndepen-
dence. My father published the IndePen-
dent Chronicle, the Patomac Guardian, aud
the .Sciofo Go=ette-I have published the
E:Istcrm Aryus, the Boston Recorder, and
the Youths Companion-and my son, Ma
thaniel Parker Willis, has published the
Nc,o T,k Mirror, the Corsair, and the
Home journal.
"My long experience as Publisher and
Editor, has convinced me that it is po-
sition Of great responsibility-that 1t is i~-
possible to please everybody-that it is
best to conduct in such a way as to have
a conscience VOID OF otIence towards Gcd
and man that industry, economy, perse-
veranec, and selfrei1nee aro the surest
helpers-that, ike woman's work, it is
never Gone, every hour has its appropriate
work-and that it requires Il strong mind,
in strong body, in order TO live long in
such treadmill work. Editors should be
kind and courteous towards each other.
avoiding personalities and abuse, :r,at each !
other as brethren, and allowing others the !!
same rights which they claim for them
selves. Every publication influences thou
sands Of minds, and tha: influence should
be salutary, for time and eternity.
"The Improvements in printing within
seventy years have been great. The screw
press and the sheep-skin balls are super
seeded by the power press and the roller
but type. setting is still done BY human
hands, and editorials mus, still be copceiv-
ed by human heads May those hands and
heads, now 50 usefully and honoratiy en- t
ployed, be amply remunerated by con-
sciousness of doing good, and well-hiled
purse, before old age incapaei.ates them
ior enjoyment, ano tuc Puoiic ioFSet theif
unwearied servitors-and then, NAV the
crest above be the reward Of all your
toll NATHANIEL WILLIS.
Boston, March, 1854"
So it appears there have been three Ma
thaniel Willis in direct line, each of
which have established three newspapers
n. p. Willis, Richard s. Willis, and Fan
ny Fern" are children Of the venerable
Nathaniel Xill;a.