Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-04-21


with special adaptation to its locality
as medium of local and general
news, and as pure and elevating
family newspaper, he pushed its sub
scription list to point beyond double
Of its former issues, and pressed for a
high mark in the modern race of coun-
try journalism.
Long before his death his paper had
reached a circulation ofeight thousand
copies per week, covering every coun-
ty and nearly every town in two States,
Vermont and New Hampshire, and
this, in spite of the fact that his sub
scrlption price was So in advance, and
$3.50 if otherwise paid,
His executive ability wasremarkable.
Besides his executive ability and in
tense activity, he had an intuitive per
ception of what the people wanted to
read. He always said, don't publish
an article simply because it is elegant
ly written. You cannot force the
masses to read unless they are inter,
ested in the topics treated, He had
contempt for long and heavy articles
known as ''leaders."
Local newa was his special hobby,
He had his correspondents scattered
all over two States. He always avoid
ed personalities, disputations anG war
fare Every item was brought to the
test, "will the people be interested in
this q
He was a wonderful condensing
machine. A column article passing
under his eye would be boiled down,
in Il hurry, to telegraphic dimensions.
He aimed for accuracy in his items,
accuracy in his proof reading, and ac
curacy in his book excepting and &C
counts.
lie studied carefully every part of
his business. He kept the eyes, the
ears and all the faculties on the alert.
to push along the Jowmal.
He was noted for his plainess Of
speech and pen. His mind sought the
most simple and positive language Of
expression.
He had rare tact in Selling every
passing event that stirred the com
mvnity.
He had Il quick. prompt mind,
capable Of managing the thousand
calls of his profession, leaving very
few details of to day for settlement to-
morrow. On retiring for the night he
usually dropped instantly to sleep,
having entirely dismissed all worry
and care from his mind. Five hours
sleep out of the twenty-tour was all he
allowed himself.
He was a man Of system and good
order.
He was eminently good common
sense man.
He stuck to his Office, he
believed in his mission and his pro,
fession, he had the enthusiasm Of the
Crusaders, the steadiness of the Puri-
tans, and the tenacity of the High
landcrs.
He was ambitious to keep his Office
equipment up to high Standard
''Utility rather than show" was his
motto.
His advice to young printers always
was Don't borrow type or money.
Make your business pay, BE enthusi-
astic. Garry smiling pleasant coun-
tenance. BE prompt with your GUS
toners, creditors, and debtors"
Mr.. Mclndoe was always ready to
lend helping hand wherever it was
needed, in the Office, at
the books, mailing, at composition,
jobbing, press work, anywhere. He
early learned that a man who serves
himself is well served,
He kept his office in apple-pie order
No waste of type allowed, He had
no style in his own private Office, bat
every pigeon hole and drawer, (and
there were multitudes ofthem,) served
some well defined purpose.
He had positive genius for work.
He looked sharply after his help
His journeymen soon learned that if
they wanted sunshine at headquarters
they must do faithful work, that eye
servants were not wanted that Jobs
must be done thoroughly, promptly,
without waste of material, without soil
ing, and with full and careful count.
He did not allow his own or his
office finances to run behind. He
realized what thousand of business
men have found to their sorrow, since