Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-08-21
GBr 9nlp SPY,
FRIDAY, AUGUST I'd. So.
Fraud. On PnbIi,her.


way and another, attempted and practced on
newspaper publishers, and, soon as one is de-
ected and exposed, it seems only to make way
for another and more artful one. One of the
most common modes is the smuggling Of adver-
tsements into papers, under the form of COM
munications, sometimes, disguised under the
pretence Of a different object and sometimes
where the motive of private gain is too obvious
to be concealed, pressed upon the publisher as
something required by a regard to public good!
The ingenuity with which this object is some
times sought, and effected, is quite amusing.
Some years since gentlemen @ suggested to
us, that. having considerable leisure time, he
would like, as a matter of amusement, to pre-
pare a series Of articles scientific subjects,pro-
vided we would publish them. Seeing no rea-
sonable ground of objection to the proposition,
we assenied to it. The first article seemed TO be
very fair compilation and abstrac, of various
articles in recent numbers of the Scientific
american and other periodicals of easy access.
The next number, among other things, contained
an elaborate puff Of the chocolate, prepared CO.
Goa, broma, &c., &C., prepared by certain man
ufscturer in the eastern part of the State setting
forth, that, BY his peculiar imode of preparation,
these articles were deprived of all noxious quail
ties that they were great promoters of health and
longevity, and that they were particularly adapt
ed to the use of invalids and those who we're at
fected with either recent or chrome disease We
demurred little at this dose, but, after consulta
ton, concluded, out Of regard to contributor,
to let the article slide. The next number that
came, was so clearly and unmstakably, series
Of advertisements, in the form Of scientific
Communication, that we could stand it no longer,
and SO the matter was brought to a close.
Sometime afterward. we learned that a claim
was made. upon the manufacturer of the choco-
late, &c, for reasonable consideration for the
benefit done him by the wide circulation given
by our paper to such first rate notice of his
wares. and that it was responded to, by forward.
ing to the writer of the article package
tanning SIS worth of the articles recommended.
Whether a similar claim was made other par
ties and a similar compensation received from
them, we have no means of knowing.
Another form in which these spongeS accom-
plish their objects, is that of newspaper cores
pondence This is carried on to a very consid-
cradle extent. We are frequently receiving from
various parts of the country for, publication, let
tiers purporting to be from travellers in the re-
gion from which they are dated, sometimes from
persOns of whom we know something, and some
times from those Of whom we never heard before.
These generally contain what is intended to an
swer the purpose of an advertisement of some
some ktnd-of city lots in some new place, whose
location and advantages excel those of all other
places-of lands more fertile and more advan-
geousIy situated than any other in the market
Of some new invention by which the necessity of
labor is to be done away-of some new medicine
which is to restore health to the infrm or pre-
serve it to the well--or of some other thing in
which the interests of the writer or of some
friend involved. These of course go quiet
ly into our receptacle of ''things lost earth,'
and are soon forgotten.
At one time we had proposition for regular
correspondence from New York, which was to
give more familiar view of things happening
in that metropolis, than could be gathered from
the papers, without too great an expenditure of
time. The terms were reasonable and we ac-
cepted them. The correspondence went on very
fairly for time. but soon portion of the letters
would be devoted to notices of business charac-
ter, such as the announcement of new publca.
tions soon to be issued by certain publishers,
with such criticisms and comments as would ex-
cite the public curiosity, in reference to them,
and secure an extended sale for them; with oc-
casional notices Of new business arrangements,
&C., Of parties in that city. These we quietly
struck out, and published the remainder of the
letters. When it was ascertained that the por.
tons of the correspondence of the most rital
consequence 10 the writer did not appear, the ar
raDgement was suddenly brought to close.
We fear that there are too many, who do not
consider that the advertising privilege in paper
is the living Of the publisher, as much as the
sIop Of the farmer is to him; that it has cost him
time, labor, and money, and is as much his own
as is the hat he wears or the food that he eats
that to take one from him without compensation
is as unjust and dishonest as to take the other;
that of all things for which money is paid, that
expended in advertising generally makes the
largest proportional returns and that, il it were
not SO, then there would be no temptation to OBJ
tain it by dishonorable means, for that which is
of little value is not worth stealing.