The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-07-08
STARTING A NEWSPAPER.
BY WILLIAM s. HALLOCK.

By WILLIAM s. HALLOCK.r rs-.
The ubiquity of the printing press is
one of the characteristics of the age. Ev.
cry corporation and compa ny must have
its special organ to advocate its peculidr
advantages; every village must be repre-
sented by an "Advocate.' "Watchman'
or "Torchligbt." What a. few years
ago was confined exclusively to the cities,
is now extended to almost every village
and town in the country The press is
uow on indispe nsible requisite to advance
the character and interest of an locality.
1t is very easy mater for few indi-
viduals, interested in some enterprise, to
convene and do the wind work" towards
establishing an "organ;" but to come up
promptly with the material aid, is wide
ly different. To promise FIVE hundred
f, subscribers, to produce by a mysterious
method Of addition a thousand dollars to
be made BY job work and advertising, is
easier than to hand over $4,000. tn
Now, the good citizens Of Blowtown,
wanted to increase the value Of corner
lots" aud beautiful surbuban reside nces,
determined to establish a weekly news
paper. To N mature this design, iunumer-
able meetings were held at the stores and
such places as were most convenient. At
these meetings, Squire Pussy ymau, Elder
Blowhard, Squire Easy-and-slow, Uncle
Ultraman, and the Messrs. Skinfint, took
the most prominent part The matter
was presented in every possible light
Pussyman thought the enterprise of vital
Importance; one which would do great
good without much sacrifice on their part
Elder Blowhard urged that press be
i'm mediately established though they
should at first be ompelled to make a lit
tie sacrifice, they would realize double the
amount in less than six months, in the
way of rise in property-the name of
their beautiful institution-Cornhill Col
jlege-would be sounded abroad, and
Blowtowu would be known afar off,
Squire Easy-and slow said he was for
the measure. Uncle Ultraman thought
that paper would pay the business men
as they could advertise at small cost
and receive a great benefit; besides, if
they could once ge; the thing" going,
they would shirk all responsibility Oh the
individual embarking in the enterprise,
and he couldn't back out, and if there
was any loss, it would be the publishers
The Messrs. Skinflint said their motto was
"the greatest good at the least cost" and
that they believed press would "do the
thing"
"For press" was the verdict of the
citizens of Blowtown. The next thing
was to find some one to engage in the en-
terprise, who would control the paper and
pnG the town. This was easily accom-
plished. A young printer who was at
tending college at Blowtown. by fattery,
fair promises and misrepresentation, was
seduced from his studies and persuaded
to assume the responsibilities of editor,
publisher and printer Of the prospective
paper, to appear under the euphoneous
title of " The Blolctoaen Sc5entifc HUeStj-
gator" Subscription papers were circu-
lated and signed by men, women aud
boys, so that in short time formida-
BILE list of names were presented. But
then, whats in name :" The 1fUe hun-
dred names were N ade up in about the
style of kansas election returns" a
few individuals subscribed for as many
as ten copies. This was considered by
them great sacrifice.
Our young editor now began to feel
sanguine of success. Such glowing pic
lures were presented to his mind, and
such assurance Of ultimate success, that
he began to look with contempt on other
papers, which were a reality and not u
topiau dream. He was induced to be-
lieve that the "Investigator" would soon
be the first paper of the country-that its
subscription list would 60 up to thousands;
that every body's children would soon
be attending Cornhill College; and that
Of course everybody's parent would take
the paper, to learn how their sons and
daughters progressed; that the Professors
Snizzle would adorn and enrich the col
umns of the now journal with sparkling
pc ms from their classical and gifted
pens. This was bright picture to be
contemplated by an ambitious, enthusias-
tic mind.
The city was Immediately visited, and
the necessary material purchased for Is
suing country newspaper. In due time
the press and fixtures arrived at Bso"toWn
when there was great burrah, and ex-
clamat of "what people We are p
Every one patted the editor on the shoul-
der, and said good fellow !" The anna
teur publisher now set to work in good
earnest with his assistants to ''set up the
matter" for "Vol. l, No. l." Expecta-
ton was now all on the qul cace, and for
two weeks the conversation Of the prin-
ters was mostly in answering the all pre-
vailing question, "Wheu will the first
number of the "IDvestigator' be out T.
After "days of toll aud nights of wa
waking" the long looked for paper ap-
peared 1t was very creditaee sheet
with a flaming Introductory, replete