Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-06

/
less patience Being compelled to renew
the same process, week after week, pump
ing men to the end of their good nature,
running here and there, thinking of no
place long, but of every place little this
spreading ones self out over two or three
counties, examining every village and, as
far as possible, every neighborhood, every
corporation, every public enterprise, and
multitude of private projects and interests
this feeling that ones own business depends
upon the success with which he represents
the affairs of communities and individuals,
and the constant anxiety he has to do ample
and impartial Justice by all localities and
| satisfy the expectations of several thousand
readers, is a position not to be enyied, and
one which ought to pay better than it does.
| 1t is entertaining recreation for week, but
! tedious enough as n constant occupation.
| Ii is no wonder that the tired editor
should occasionally long for some secluded
! position, where he can transact a private
! business, in which the whole people are not
/ his crticisers and accusers; and where pub
| lie meetings, broken ribs, big eggs and
| town talk are matters Of Indifference to
| him, in business point of view. But 50
| long - he retains the position of country
edito, and would achieve and sustain sue
cess, he must keep his mind vigilant and
cality, expect him to know everything
about them and their interests, whether
they take the trouble to tell him or not
| While they are quite ready to excuse
meager general news on political depart
ment, they are exacting in their demands
for the local items in full. And this leads
to the
KIND AND STYLE OF ITEMS PROPER.
On these points editors differ according to
their views of the dignity and solemnity Of
their position. Those who look down
upon small things ought to be engaged in
bigger business than running country
newspaper. Overlooking the real interests
OF their readers they seem anxious to attain |
to the reputation of publishing, in a coun- |
try village, a revised and corrected edition /
of the Atlantic Monthly. But it Is not 4
every country editor who has the ability to
succeed in that direction and if all were |
to do it, the supply of excellent literature /
would so far exceed the demand that chart /
~ would soon be oyertaxed by appeals to |
feed the starving editors. The nearer they /
descend to earth and represent the every /
day interests of country life, the greater 1
will be their success.
The local sheet should be sort of com
| bination between the newspaper and the |
home letter not rigidly dlgnihed ami re /
served affair, but an easy, friendly, neigh
borly visitor TO the country fire side-a s1rt /
Of first cousin to every family. Let the .
editor imagine he is a thousand miles away
from home, and is subscriber for the local |
paper. Consider the kind OF items he
would most welcome in its columns, the
numerous things hewOuldlike to hearabout .
the localities and the people. and then put
them in the paper lie will thus
make paper invaluable 10 the absent and
in good demand from the folks al home.
Items necessarily excluded from papers of a
broader field. are quite proper in the local
paper. To be sure matters, comparatively /
Insignificant, should not be allowed too
much space. But an editor, with point,
can single mans house or paint his
woodshed in a two line item. and. in an
equal space, can lay big egg-beiore his
readers. The propriety and the profit of
these items appear in the fact that they oc-
casion more Singing and more painting,
and stir up a commendable emulation in the
hennery. All people like approval, and, II .
commenting Improvements, though small,
tends 10 stimulate emulation in the various
pursuits, such items are useful and proper.
\ man who drove pair of cattle TO the
market being asked why he per>i-tently
praised up the poorest OK, replied,
because that fat OK speaks for himself and
uccl- no PRISM. TN TINS NFiutlplt We .
defend the smaller items of the country
press and recommend their consideration
The greater interests need no advocate for
space in the paper. while the lesser ones are
apt to be overlooked, 10 the disadvantage of
the community. and, especially, Of the pa
perS.
The editor object should De o. build zap
and sustain the interests of hi- locality,
but, before he can do this, he must establish
his influence by creating q lively demand
for his paper. This Is done only By adapt
ing it TO the locality. sending it ont every
week, filled with fresh and >prightly items.
not news, wholly, but with numerous
great and small things intimately connect
ed with the people. Especially should the
paper be lively and entertaining, rs well rs
new>y-something 10 be looked forward %
as a feast 10 enjoy make it paper which
the subscriber will take from the office and
read on hi, way home, and not lay hy to q
time when reading and sleeping may DE
blended INTO one act. This cannot be
done by discussions and the mere
announcement of happenings, in an
uniformly prim. pr0Sy. proper style.
Stere0typed property IS well enough in It's
place, but is a poor foundation Tor news
paper circulation or influence. II the pe1-
pie can anticipate every week Just what Is
coming the paper will soon prove tame
thing and fall with dead weight upon the
community. The reader wants an occa-
-ional surprise and once In a while an
opportunity 10 smile. Important items
can be stated in few words. for their con-
sequence Is in the matter itself. Occasion
ly unimportant things may be made very
acceptable If told in a humorous style. and
"a few such items are valuable in every issue.
But. as the average reader Is impatient %
deyour the substance Of his paper in the
briote>t possible time. the rule should be.
plain words and 10 the point. Writing 70
in space should be avoided. Make all items
terse, concise and pithy, giving the reader
the clean kernel without requiring him o.
,ilt it from the chai These >tereotyped
beginnings, " We regret to sly" It Is ex-
ccedingly painful TO observe, " 1t gives us
the highest pleasure to announce are
illustrations of a waste Of space. Take for
instance, the following item
" We very much regret the unfortunate
circumstances which compel us TO take up
the editorial pen for the purpose of making
the exceedingly painful announcement that
the Hon. John Smith has left town"
We do not remember which of our ex-
changes the item was clipped from, and its
origin is immatorial if it illustrates oar
point.
Now. it is a matter of Indifference to the
reader whether the editor regrets the de-
parture OF Mr.. smith or reioices in his ar
rival. and If he has private feelings upon
the subject, it were better to reserve them
for family effect, and fiji up their space with
big pigs and double yolked eggs.
Say what they may, if paper is faithful
to the best interests of society, all readers
enjoy touch of the rough and ready
in style, and if they are taking a
sheet of puritanical stiffness and sun
day reserve, they are apt To annoy
neighbors, who take the other kind, with
applications to exchange papers This
is good proof that something animated.
wide awake and spicy is best relished by
the reader and exerts a quicker, more
effective influence in community.
\ good local paper is hard thing to
make but very easy thing to criticiSe In
reference to character of matter and general
management every editor gets plenty Of
good advice from friends in the different
grades and interests of society: each
adviser speaks from his particular stand
point, and suggests that the paper be made
in the interests of his class. lie does not
see why this Is impracticable because he Is
circumscribed within certain social and
business limits and fails to comprehend the
interests OF other classes. But no person in
the community knows 50 well the tastes and
interests of all grades, their relative impor-
lance a units in the aggregate of society
and especially as his supporters, as the edi-
tor himself He mingIes daily with them
all, and by listening to recitals of their
affairs, learns their several interests. and
how to accommodate his paper to their best
good. He is not Indifferent to advice. bat
receives it kindly and with disposition to
profit by it. But, with an eye to the sue
cess of business, he weighs it carefully.
then considers the interests of all Ella sses,
strikes the general average and makes his
paper for the community. And thus no
one class is fully satisfied but all are toer-
ably well suited.
One word in conclusion. concerning the