The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-03-19
Newspaper Rivalry.

twenty-five years since, when the rail-
road and the telegraph, the W mightiest
engines ofmodern civilization, did not yet
exist even in the Imagination, the trans
mission of the Presidents message, so
.aagerly looked for by men of all parties,
was o work requiring far greater expen-
aditure both of time and trouble than at
present. Weeks even elapsed before it
could be said to have made the circuit of
the country. Nevertheless the same spirit
Of emulation as to which should-be the first
to spread its contents before their readers,
existed among the newspapers of that day
as at present.
The little town of Wimbledon boosted
two newspapers, the Wimbledon Patriot
and the Wimbledon Bonner. Circum-
scribed as was the field of their opera
lions, the rivalry between CESAR and
PoMpEY was not carried to a greater pitch
than that.between Mr.. Huegins, of the
Patriot and Mr.. Muggins of the Bonner.
Zach exhibited o commendable spirit OF
enterprise, in being the first to chronicle
any important or ~unimportant items OF
news, relative to the general or personal
interests Of Wimbledon and its inhabitants,
and the forestalling party was sure to re-
mind its less fortunate competitor Of its
superiority in such eases.
For example, the Patriot one week de.
voted half-a-colnmn to a thrilling account
efthe burning of a window-curtain in the
house Of the vidow Stukely, and comment,
ed at length upon the admirable presence
of mind with which the widow succeeded
IN staying the conlagration. The editor
rial closed with the remark: we presume
that our brother Of the Banner, such il
his want of enterprise, is quite unawar,
that such an important incident has trans
pired in our midst, and will gaimhis frs
knowledge of it from our columns
The next week, however, the. Banne,
had its revenge, containing, as it did, tb'
exclusive intelligence ofthe untimely dealt
of DR.. Patterson's cat;that unhappy felin'
having been Ito use the language of TIL
Bdnner) accidentally precipitated dowl
the Doctors well, and thus cut down il
the flower of its existence, leaving a fam
lily of seven kittens to mourn its unhapp,
fate, The Banner concluded: we have
ut great personal trouble, succeeded i
gathering all the details of this melancho
" disaster, determined to keep far in ad
vance, as we always have done hitherto
of our sloao ncighbor, the Patriot
But a more important matter was 500
to form q bone of contention between til
two rival newspapers.
The session of Congress had eommen
ced, and the Presidents message was dal
" expected. The Patriot and the Ban
her were on the qus csve, each determine
to forestall its opponent
At last the Banner received informa
ton that the message had been receive
ia q city some fifteen miles distant; an
the editor, determined on a bold stroke
secured q horse and wagon and posted of
intending to have some five hundred cor
les struck off at the Office of one Of th
city dailies, headed, Wimbledon Bannt
Extra and distribute through the tow
before the Patriot could open its eyes t
see what was going on.
An hour after Mr.. MUGGINs' departur
Mr.. HUGGINs learned the nature of ii
coup a etat by which his rival intended
distance him. And was he to sit patien
" under it? Not HUGGINs.
SAM said he, calling from his ofic'
door to a boy who was playing marble
across the way. come here, / want
speak to yea,
Sam litchsd mp his trowsers and wen
How would .yea Ike to take a ride III
morn;Ag ~ inquired the. editor, mkapelyy.
Fust rate, wasstbe reply