Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1858-02-10
hard Times and Country Papers,

@4 D
The Boston Chronicle, in an article on this
subject, well remarks:
IF people only knew the difficulties news
paper publishers have TO contend with, Just
now, they would not want TO be dunned hall
a dozen times for such small amounts as two
or three or four dollars. Labor, paper, and
ink have to be paid for in cash; yet we doubt
very much if there are any establishments
which could be more than self-sustaIning, IT
customers would only pay what they owe,
without taking from one to two years to do 1t
in.
IF the press of the country gradually de"
cIinss both in numbers, ability, and respectas
bility. those who have abused the Ienleney OF
the proprietors 10 the matter OF credits, VIII
be alone to blame for the unfortunate issue.
And that such will be the case we can easily
foresee. The storm in the commercial world
will destroy the weakest, and many OF the
best of our newspapers. Men cannot perform
miracles, and Printers have as yet failed to
discover any easier way OF satisfying the de-
mands of paper dealers and the cravings OF
Industrious workmen with anything but the
pelf. And how they are to get this, when peo-
pie will not pay the Printer, is a mystery, pare
l~icularly as the banks don't accommodate
country newspaper proprieters. Few people
have aay idea of the labors of the editor his trl-
ais and dificulties-at all times, but particu-
Iarly at periods of monetary embarrassnents.
He is compelled, particularly in country offices
to be the general factotum of his establish
ment. Not only has he to write for the behe-
fit Of the public under all cireunstaHces--in
sickness of body and distress Of mind-to be
at one meeting in the day time and another at
night-to leave friends and family at The bid
of every passing circumstance to the publlc
world Of his own locality; not only has he to
do all this, and sacrifice comfort, health, and
domestic pleasures, but he is compelled to
work at the lease" in every spare moment-to
keep his own books--to do all his W COLLECTS
ing; in short, from morning to night, from
week 10 week, and from year to year,, 10 labor
like a slave to provide himself and family with
bread. And II if he makes a bare living after
all, he may be we'll satisfied, for hundreds do
less. And how many are there do more! Work
their establishments as cheapiy as possible
live as frugally and economically as they may
yet few country publishers secure as much
property in a dozen years as an industrious
mechanic will do in half the time. The very
nature of the newspaper business-with its
long credits and small profits, and bad debts
-forbids anything like the accumulation Of
wealth, and we have very little hesitation in
saying that, had our country brethren gener-
tally taken their means and labor,atheir patti
ence and energy. 10 any other market than
the one they have found for them they would
have this day been ten-fold better off, in a
ipecnniary point of view, than they are, or
have been, since they became newspaper pro>
p%rietorsi ,7".
Let the public ponder these fe simple
truths well, and make mp their minds TO ease
the laborious occupation Of the printer, by
paying him what he is honestly entitled to.
If we did not know That the above was
written ia Boston, we would have believed that
the writer had The editor Of This paper in his
eye while piceturing the evils and difficulties
which country newspaper proprietors have to
contend with There never were trner remarks
than the above, of which we are unfortunately
a living proof. -af