The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-05-17
Newspaper Publishing.


ations experienced by those engaged in
the business. 1t is very easy for peo-
pie to say-"Why don't you quit it, if
it is attended with SO much trouble and
loss :" But it is not quite so easy
thing to do it. 1t is necessary, in order
to start paper in any kind of respect
able shape, to make considerable Of an
outlay of capital. And the cases are
extremely rare where papers, which do
ultimately become good property, are
not pecuniary loss to their proprietors
during the first year or two of their ex-
istenco, and therefore the publishers of
papers frequently continue their efforts,
hoping that delinquent subscribers will
come to sense of their obligations
for this is the class Of persons that gen.
orally kill of the cwspaper-those who
continue to take a paper, and yet never
think of paying for it, more than they
would for the air they breathe. And
this state of affairs is not confined en-
tirely to the secular press, by any
means. 1t is not unfrequently the case
that man is persuaded into starting a
denominational paper, with specious
promises of cooperation and material
aid. But this aiding" business, espc-
cially if it requires money, which is
the lever that keeps the press moving,
soon becomes irksomo and those who |
were so prompt in profering it begin to
withhold the helping hand. But the
poor fellow who has shouldcred the re-
sponsibility cannot so easily withdraw,
for he is in debt, and his subscribers
nre in debt to him, and if he loses sight
of them he loses what they owe him al
together; therefore he is drawn on as
by an ignis fatu,.s, with q hope that his
patrons" will at some time feel it their
duty to pay him what they have SO long
unjustly withheld, until hope deferred
makes his heart Sick shipwrcck ensues,
and he sinks.
These few thoughts have been sug-
gested by the following especial No
tice," which we clip from one of our
exchanges -
"After two years of the most unre-
mitting labor, the undersigned is COM
PEELED to retire from the responsibility
of publishing the -. ln
justice to myself I should have done so
year ago, but desire to relieve a
friend from the onerous and unprofta-
bic duties connected with it, induced me
to continue to the present time, hoping
that subscribers would so pay up that |
should not lose more than my own labor,
at any rate but | am now indebted so
much, in consequence OF the non-pay-
ment of subscriptions, that find it i'm
possible to continue my connection with
the publication Of the paper. Besides
giving my own services for the last two
years, find myself indebted on account
Of the paper, orer sic numbered dollars.
Those whom I owe are in need of the
money, and / must have it in some way.
Those knowing themselves to be in ar
rears may save trouble and expenses by
remittipg Immediately. Bills will be
made out and forwarded as soon as pos
siblc there are great many, however,
who have received their bills more than
once during the past year, but without,
so far as have learned, giving them the
least attention. Many plead that the
times are hard, but it is impossible for
them to be harder with our subscribers
than they are with US, and we have to
pay our debts in some way" [Sigucd]
Alas for poor many were
the pleasant hours which we have spent
together, standing side by side at the
case" or in our coy room after the
tells of the day-(for we were room
mates for years.) Few are tho hearts
that beat With nobler impulses than his,
warm friend, generous almost to fault,
industrious and frugal; we could have
almost shed tears when we read the above
notice albeit, we are somewhat unused
to the melting mood.
When we last saw him his anticipa.
tons we're bright-he was soon to re.
turn to his far western home to assum,
the responsibility--(there is a pleasure
even in responsibility if it will pay")-
of publishing the Western organ OF
wealthy and influential religious denom