Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-01
Written for the American.
SCRAPS OF HISTORY.
Sayings and Doin In the White Water
Valley Thirty live Years Ago.

at is common, we know, for delinquent
subscribers TO assert that the printer is always
making poor mouth; but really Il would be
difficult for us 10 make PAT one. And all
will accord with us in opinion. when we in
form them that from abe first Of August last,
up TO the 18th Of March inst, we have received
on account Of subscription, but "a bushels OF
wheat, Of corn, 6 OF potatoes, (half of which
are frozen,) Ut lbs. pork, 3 quarters Of beef,
aud one Of veal.
The poverty OF spirit manifested by
many Publishers, was for years, humii-
iation to us. Ii is true, but unjust AK
ION, that the world enyies the rich and
despiscs the poor. Yet, as general rule,
the public has about the same opinion of
a nan that bcJ hasof himself. If an ed
itor or publisher is constantly represent
ing that he iii poor, hungry devil-him-
self in rags aud bis family in want-no
correct business man has any respect or
sympathy for him, and will not patronize
his paper if he can easily avoid it. If the
editor has the energy or spirit Of man,
so wide is the world, and so diversified its
remunerative employments, if publishing
will not pay, the field is before him. An
editor should be too proud in spirit to ap-
peal to the public for support on the score
of charity. The man who possesses such
a spirit, or is supported on that principle,
is totally unfit for the position. If he has
not the talent and enterprise to publish a
paper that can command support for its
merits let him abandon the business, and
seek sphere suited to his talents and
strength.
Too many young printers have been
used to their ruin by little towns too young
and too small to puton long clothes, for
the purpose of increasing the price of cor
ner lots. Often have publishers toiled
out the prime of their lives in poverty,
just to serve some demagogue of large po-
litical aspirations with little talent, but
with far less political or moral honesty.
A good newspaper is mine Of wealth
to country town. 1t developes its re-
sources, calls attention to advantages, and
gives it an air of enterprise. Yet too Of
ten do editors devote their talents and
time in youth, manhood, and ripper years,
in filling the rich Golfers of merchants,
while they have no coats to wear to church,
On dONOAhb Vi null
parents poverty, are not allowed to asso-
ciate with the rich mans children, whose
wealth has been amassed by unpaid news
paper puts.
Some men think they are patronizing
their local newspaper when they take one
copy and pay $3.50 therefor, when the
white paper ON which it is printed costs
81, 80 l wish editors were all able to re-
fuse sue3 paltryaofl patronage, and to
speak is honest words Of the men whose
stingy souls are fattening on the business
nourished and drawn to town by live
country newspaper.
l wish, too, there was n committee of
true men in each town to kick out of its
corporation every editor who is so degra.
ded as to beg and fawn for living on the
score Of charity-asking for peck Of po-
tatoes or basket OF chips for the poor
printer.
If an editor deserves respect, he will
always dress himself neatly, publish a
good paper, and deal honestly with all
men. This he cannot do if he feels that
any one man holds his bread and butter
in his hands. The newspaper publishing
business is really the most respectable Of
all callings in any community. Yet it
can be brought below that Of the night
scavenger, by the editor selling himself,
soul and body, to corner lot, political
demagogue, or mercantile shark. The
editor should feel and act out his true po-
sition--that Of leader in all great enter
prises, an enlightener Of the people, re-
former in morals, and a pattern of true
gentleman. Then if the community will
not appreciate him. as he loves his own
dignity Of soul, and his independence as
a freeman, let him seek other and better
fields of labor before he lowers his stan
dard, degrades his own spirit, or disgraces
his high calling. An Independent jour
neyman is a nobler specimen of man
than dependent publisher whose noble
impulses have all been crushed out, and
whose independence took its everlasting
flight with the fist imperative demand,
"Stop my paper"
But we are wandering into theories,
whom we intended in these ".Scrdps" to
only indulge in the simpler facts. Let us
see how much this Hamilton editor re-
ceived in cash value in seven months
And in order TO do this precisely, and for
other purposes, We insert below the prices
of produce in those days at Lawrenceburg
aud Centerville, IQd. The meagerness of
our data Of those times compes US to wan.
der somewhat to obtain the necessary
items: u bushels wheat at 60 cts, 81 ,65
2 bush. corn, 30 cts; bush. potatoes at
81 cts, 1928; l27 lbs. pork at . cts,
SOL } qrs. of beef, say So and veal,
81 making in all Sl6,S0; being the IN.
come of the Telegraph for seven months.
And yet this editor, (Webster, not Dan
iel } during the Democratic floods Of Jack.
sons popularity, broke into Congress from
the Butler District. To get into Congress,
however, is about all he ever did do, prov
ing conclusively that there is no honor in
an Office unless the occupant has tho tai. |
ents to honor the Office.
80 that estates, degrees, and oVylcEs,
We're purchased BY the merit Of tho wearors."
PRICE OF MARKETING.
The Lawrenccburg Pdiiadinm Of May
LIST, 1929, contains the following notice of
The prices Of marketing at that place and
1t Centervile. And the reader OF this
lay can but smio at the complaints of
Nessrs. Gregg q Culley, editors OF the
Palladium at the prices Of food.
MARKRrrSu Never, perhaps. since old An
hony Wayne oneampel In this vicinity, was
marketing Of almost every description so high
md scarce IN our town Us at present Take