The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-08-28
NEWSPAPER PATRONAGE.

There appear to be many different
ways of understanding the true mean
ing of newspaper patronage as it is call
ed, and as an interested party we give
place to a disquisition on the subject,
by one who "knows whereofhe speaks.n
1t will serve, perhaps, as a mirror in
which certain parties may "see them
selves as others see them"
Many long and weary years of expe-
rienee in the publishing business has
forced the conviction upon us thatn
paper patronage is word of many de-
tinitions, and that great maioriiy y of
mankind are either ignorant of tie cor
rect definition or are dishonest, in a
strict biblical sense OF the word, News
| paper patronage is composed ofas many
| colors as the rainbow, and is as change
able as a chameleon.
One man comes in and subscribcs for
the paper and pays for it in advance,
| and goes home and reads il with the
proud satisfaction that it is his. He
hands in his advertisement, asks the
price, pays for it, and goes to his place
of business, and reaps the advantages
thereof.
Another man says, "you may put my
name on your books, land goes Off with
out saying a word about pay. Time
passes on, and you want money, you
ask him to pay what is honestly due
you. He flies into Il passion, perhaps
pays, perhaps not, and orders his paper
stopped. This is called newspaper pat
ronage.
Another man has been a subscriber
a long time, but has never paid cent,
and at last becomes tired of you and
wants change. He thinks he wants
city paper. lie tells the postmaster he
don't want it, and you'll get paper
marked "refuscd." But does he call
and pay! Oh, no he wants his money
to pay for his city paper. He will pay
you alter awhile, he says. But he never
does unless you sue him. And this, too,
is called newspaper patronage.
Another man brings in a fifty cent
advertisement and wants two dollar
notice given it, and ifyou refuse he goes
off mad. And this is called newspaper
patronage. n fN1 i-Eslt 7it b.
Another man lives near you-he does
not take the paper-he don't like the
edtor-thc paper is too small for him.
yet he goes regularly to Ills neighbor's
and reads it, and finds fault with it, and
quarrels with the opinions of the editor.
Occasionally he sees an article he likes,
and begs or gives half dime for the
number. This is called newspaper pat
ronage. f .d5e, nF
Another man takes two or three city
papers and cannot afford to take home
paper, but he likes it and comes into the
office and bcgs one whenever he is in
town. This alsois called newspaper pat
ronage.
Another man likes the paper, he takes
a copy for himself and family, and pays
for it and does all he can to get new
subscribers-he never grumbles, but al
ways has cheerful word for the editor.
If any little item of interest occurs in
the neighborhood he informs the editor.
This is newspaper patronage. t
Another man has a patent and wants
you to give it a two dollar notice every
week: ri. will be of interest to your
readers" he says; but, although know
ing it will benefit him most of all, he
does not offer to pay for it.. This is
called newspaper patronage.
Another man has taken the paper
several years, but has not paid for it,
and comes in with four or five dollar
advertisement, and asks you to insert it
for nothing because he is tan old patron
of yours. This is called newspaper
patronage. faD Hs
AHulllcT Ilidtl-''a young uldu duOuL
town"-no use ofhis taking paper, he
knows all that is going on. BY and by
he gets married and hands in the notice
with '.just hand me dozen copies. p
He gets them: and when you mention
pay, looks sllrprised-"you surely do
not charge for such things ~ And this is
called newspaper patronage.
I Another man (bless you, it does us
good to see such man) comes in and
says, ''the year for which paid is about
to expire, want to pay for another"
He does SO and retires. This is news
paper patronage. $3.50 ) I,i 8
Now, isn't newspaper patronage a
curious thing? And in that great day
when the Gentleman in Black gets his
dues, as he surely will how many ofthe
patrons enumerated above will fall to
his share Now 1t will be seen that
while certain kinds Of patronage are the
very life and eSisence OF newspaper,
there are other kinds of patronage that
is more destructive than the "deadly
night shade"
Reader! where do you stand?
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