The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-04-04


From the Ann Arbor Courier aes.
When man asserts thai be cares
nothing for newspaper, and yet call,
the proprietor, editor or reporter aside
to tell him an item wherein his name
Is prominent. most any one would call
that man base fabricator. There are
such persons in every place. and they
AFFORD a study to the seeker after curl.
osities, and q problem 10 the under.
standing OF the average person. To
the judge Of human nature they are
transparent. and to the newspaper man
they are bores.
II person should go into a store
and run down an article which the
merchant keeps for sale aud immsdi.
ately purchase IL. he would be consid.
cred knave. II he should run down
farm and then purchase il at its full
price, he would be considered de-
signing fool; and il he should enter's
bank and denounce the officers as swim.
diers and yet deposit money with them,
he would be thought intoxicated. How
then, would such man be looked upon
IL he should, after condemuing, run
ming down and attempting to depreci-
ate thing, beg for that same thing?
When . man says he does not care
for the newspaper the country press
aud yet climbs three story pair OF
stairs to tell an item in which he is
personally interested, how does that
individual appear In the eyes OF the
pepcil-pusher? And how does he APP
pear il the item is 'incorrenctly pub
lishsd, when he rushes into the private
Office OF the editor aud demands the
instant dismissal Of the offender on the
threat OF stopping his paper? He cares
nothing for the country press" and
yet he will climb to the roof OF the
building to have his name put in the
paper-to get q free puff. He cares
nothing for the country press" and
yet il his name incorrectly appears in
that same country paper. he raises. or
attempts to raise q disturbance. He
cares nothing for the country press, "
yet il he makes fourth rate speech at
some school house convention. he
smiles upon the reporter, and remarks
that he will take q couple OF copies OF
the next issue. He cares nothing for
the country press. yet il he purchas-
es q dozen hogs or sheep he drops
around to the offcc, or runs two blocks
to catch the reporter to tell him Of it.
He cares nothing for the country
press. yet il ho engages in the peanut
or any other business, he il sure To in
form the editor.
And then this same class. who caro-
nothing for the country press, "
though constantly begging q notice
from the same. IL asked TO pay for a
lie back on their dignity and say tia,
they care nothing for tho country
press" and many when asked to re-
new their subscription or to subscribe,
reply that they care nothing for the
country press" as they take the
weekly New York Herald. or some 9th.
er "city paper"
And then there is the professional
man who cares nothing for the local
press, aud yet happens around to the
office about the time editor 10 in, to in
form Elm that the suit in which he
made big speech has como of and
tho physician who cares nothing for
the Country press. and answers When
asked TO give his patronage TO the pa
per in the shape OF . business card,
THE country paper don't amount to
much, any way" aud yet watches for
the reporter to pass his Office. and calls
him in to give him "an item, you
know" how he has doctored some
colicky baby or cut a wart of from
some ones face. "a delicate operation.
In which the public are Interested. OF
course he don't care anything for the
country press.
And then again there 10 the small
idea farmer: "Oh, take the so-and-
so. / don't think much Of the country
paper" and yet il he has a squash that
weighs triAs moro than his neighbor's.
or o potato that is little larger than
some his neighbor raised, he comes
into the Office OF tho local or "coun-
try paper" and wants a puff.
III newspaper man wants piece oil
rubber for his note book. the dry goods
man charges him five cents for it; and
il he eats an apple in the grocery store
he pays Q cent for il, and yet these
same men have the cheek. brass. impu-
dence-what name is too severe?-to
ask that a five dollar local notice bs
given them for nothing!
II is an old conplaint-about the
abuse which country papers are subject
to-but because it is an old complaint
il is no reason why il should not he
remedied. The country press" is per
forming O great work in the land.
wsll-corducted country paper has th,
power OF doing an immense amount o.
good. Too many complaints are made
OF the poorness OF the local press, but
generally those who cry the loudest arr
the borrowers. and beggars for free
pufYs.
A local, or country paper. csnuo
il can have the news boiled down. u,
news" 10 not meant everything which
gets into print. The "couutry press
can and does keep the people postes
on the issues Of the day. II instructs
informs and interests the masses Of tia
people. But the province OF the "coun
try press" falls more in the line OF . 10
cal newspaper. To chronicle the do
ings OF the town and county-no mat
ter how trihing, for it is the trihing
which the country people are interoste'
in. The country press is nothing. ant
can be nothing more than the ''coun
try press" but IL has q power which
felt, and il the country editor" exeI
cises his power in the right directio
he can perform q noble work. Th
country editor" and the "countr
parson" ars almost symbolical. Eiths
in their proper sphere can accomplis
wonders.
The country paper is welcomed I
the homes Of the country people, an
when Q person is heard 10 say that the
care nothing for the country press,
he utters a falsehood. and knows b
does.