The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-15
Rights of Newspaper Subscribers.


1t Is decidedly amusing TO become acqualnt
ed with the notions entertained by some men
of the rights which they acquire by becoming
subscribers to a newspaper. A short time
since a very honest though not very well
posted gentleman from the country, called in
70 renew his subscription for the weekly Press,
aud while the bill was being made out he re-
marked, 81 suppose you will give me all the
privileges that belong toa subscriber, will you
not@ We assured him he should not he
made an exception to the general rule.
We soon discovered, however, that he was
expecting what might perhaps call for denial,
and that conflict of interests might be the
result, and to guard against such an occur
renee we remarked, that we were always glad
to accommodate subscribers by sending their
paper promptly, and took especial pains 10
give them the best possible digest of the news
OF the day; and if any OF our subscribers Vi
others were so unfortunate as to lose iriehos,
or made so unspeakably happy as to marry Oh
their daughters to good husbands we snouio
esteem it privilege to make note oil the
fact.
as that all you mean by allowing me my
rights as a subscriber inquired our friend.
To be sure, we replied, with the slight addi-
ton. that when we send you bill we consider
1t is not only your right but your privilege to
liquidate it with as little delay as possible
Our friend began to look blank Evidently
he was expecting more than he had assurance
of receiving, and so we questioned him 10
know what more he expected.
"Why," said he, "I've been told that sub
scriber has right to have any thing printed
in the paper that he may see ut to write. Ny
neighbour" he continued, "says when he wants
any thing printed in his paper he writes it
out, sends it TO the Office, and ii is always in
serted promptly We assured him we should
take especial pleasure in receiving communi-
cations from his pen, and if suited to our col
umns we had no doubt of their prompt publ.
catian. Still we could discover his case was
not met. There was yet something In his
expectations that had not been satisfied. We
soon got it out.
ed II he wanted to advertise his farm. insert a
probate notice, give a minor son his freedom,
or post his wife, perhaps, that being subscri-
Der, he not only had right to the publication
of such notice, but that it would be done free;
that 1t was all included In the $500 paid In
advance for his paper! And when we inform.
ed him that some men who promptly paid for
their papers in advance actually expended
hundreds of dollars for advertising annually
his eyes stuck out with perfect establishment
This little incident serves to show the erro-
neous impression that possesses many minds
in relation to the affairs OF a newspaper Office
and the rights which accrue IN a man as the
result of a two-doilar subscription to weekly
journal. The Providence Journal closes al
article upon this general subject by relating
the following amusing anecdote:
Many Of our readers viii remember our stur.
| dy old friend, the late Gov. Earle, who, in his
| prime, exercised considerable influence in pol
itics. and was always fond of political contro-
versy. Il am going to subscribe to the Journ.
Al" he once said to US, "but first j want dis.
tinct understanding that l am to have my
| rights"
Certainly, Governor, there can be no mis-
take about that"
We'll; what do you call my rights ?"
ITO receive the paper early in the morning
and TO have the bill presented to you with un
varying punctuality."
And TO have printed anything that bring
! 10 you. with my name signed to it?'
! We assured the Governor that it was i'm
| possible to go quite as far as that, and FINAL,
compromised on an understanding that h,
| might grnmble, as much as he chose, at anyth
ing we printed, and that We would take into re
! spectful consideration anything that be nigh
bring to US. Many men entertain very SINH
lar views OF the relation between an editor ant
his readers, although they do not state then
SO bluntly.