The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-26
29}listcllalreuas geadiug.
Country Papers.

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9Th instant, contains much truth and so
many practical hints concerning country
papers or the provincial press, that it is
worthy of entire reproduction. This,
however, is impracticable, and the only
course now open is to endeavor to give in
as brief space as possible its principal
ideas and suggestions.
The newspapers of the country, in the
article to which reference is made, are
divided into two classcs;-the Metropoll-
tan and the Provincial. The first class
includes only those newspapers which are
published in New York, and the second
all that are published out of that city
Tbisis. of course, an arbitrary division,
for such cities as Chicago, Sacramento,
Cincinnati and Now Orleans arc the me-
tropoli of their several geographical dl-
visions, and the criticisms upon the pro-
vincial press really apply most torclhly to
those publications which are generally
known as country papers.
AS the space at the disposal OF such
papers for original and selected matter IS
very limited, their news must be unsatls-
factory, and incomplete. This, however:
can be best avoided by condensation, and
systematic arrangement. 1t is not suffi-
Gent simply to fiji up tue columns of a
paper, filling up is not needed,-but the
-desidcrQt.l,n is to select all news of general
or local Importance from the large pro-
vincial or metropolitan papers, and then,
by striking out every supcrt1uons word
and expression, so condense it thatit may
be crowded into the paper, while system
attic arrangement will enable the reader
to know where be must look for the diff
ferent classes of news. 1t is not.sufficent
to make up copy enough to fill up the pa
per and omit the rest; in one, shape Or
another, the news should be Inserted
This entails great labor and patience; but
in the end it will certainly tell upon the
readers, and give the paper which carries
the plan out patiently, steady and in
creasing importance.
Of the five thousand papers in the
United States which come under the
head of provincial, about twenty-five hun
dred belong to that class which circulate
only in two or more counties Of their re-
spectivc States These papers should, of
course, give full accounts of all local
events, such as courts, meetings, societies,
crops, internal Improvements, transac-
tions.in real estate, and should, besides,
keep their home readers informed upon
all matters of State interest and impor-
tance. They should provide market
news, and general reading; neither be-
coming too heavy nor sdescending to.the
sentimental sensationalism of the flash
weel1lies or the records of crime of the
police gazettes." Finally, they should
give one ortwo columns of general news,
-notin disconnected scraps, but as CO.
herent narrative without comment.
The great cause of the melancholy con-
dition OF the country press, particularly
that Of the North, is found in tho unfit
ness Of the persons to edit them. Men
who have failed in everything else are
thoug ght able to take charge Of country
paper; and many, too, but make their
newspapers tenders to their ;.job printing
establishments" But it must always be
borne in mind that, under the most ia
vorable circumstances, the country edl-
tor has difficulties to contend with which
would not be dreamed Of by the editors
and managers of city paper. An In
convenient office; an incomplete and
scanty exchange list; a proprietor acting
in turn as editor, reporter, composltor,
distributor, pressman, mailing clerk, and
carrier surely, these will account, as
they do, for most shortcomings. Then
again the office of the editor is Il general
lounging place. He has not one moment
of time TO snare. vet thoughtlcss busy
bodies are continually dropping in to read
exchanges, to see how he is getting on,
and to addle his brain with advice as to
what he should and should not do. llls
paper is expected to contain every scrap
OF intelligence that is interesting to every,
single one of his readers he is required
to be liberal and large minded, while
all with whom he has to deal are close
listed and narrow ; he is forced, indeed, IN
a hundred ways, to give something Tor
nothing. The sum of it all is, that every
subscriber to his paper, particularly If he
has not naid his subscription, thinks that
the cditor's mind, soul and body belong. to
him and that they have u right to dis
pose of or criticise everything !n"O ne
possesses, from his blank paper TO his
icomposition rollers. .,o:.
II is after all, in the matter OF thclr
ADVERTISING patronage that local papers per,
. ~ most surrounded with troubles Inc
local ,v paper receives but little advertising 1
.o. nMJ eprL advertisement charged ono dol
i.,.' Iar ;s s' expccted to be accompanied with a
nnff ~, worth five dollars ; while it is sup
ppnscd pon TO rive the advertiser the constant
r;@ht pIJ to . complain or feel aggricvcd, if
a5Sytb;ng nSnJ unpleasant is said concerning
Ii,y n;9 ' or his affairs. Other advertisements
come from tho lower classes OF advertl-
sinr agents, and in many cases but ton
dollars in cash has been received for an
advertisement charged originally at ten
times th,.at amount.