Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-29

or OBSERVATION OF lie 10 weave into story
land the characters and incidents are the slightly
! disguised reflections Of the New Y ork Ledger and
the dime novels. The essayist knew an editor
( who on such occasion had the presence of mind
to read few pages, and then say to the gentle
authoress that her production was too tender and
, affecting for the columns of a rough and tumble
political paper and that she had better send 1t to
Mr.. Bonner, in whose columns the flowers of lit
era,ure bloomed perpetually.
1t is hard to manage the obituary department of
, q country newspaper. When person prominent
10 the community dies, the pen Of the editor is
ever ready to do justice to the memory of the de-
parted. But there bereaved hearts in the
humber walks Of life, and craving for sympathy,
and many such have yearning desire that the
public shall know, as they know, the worth of the
departed and their own great loss. 1t seems cold
and hearless to decline to print their illusions or
TO require them to pay SO much per line. salts
factory solution of this question would be boon
to the craft.
Matrimonial announcements cause but little
trouble. The parties are usually SO wrapped up in
their own supreme bliss, that they care little what
the newspapers say or fail to say Sometimes
there comes to the sanctum dainty box, exhal-
ing the perfumes of Araby the blest, and enclos-
ing slice Of the bridal loaf. The busy editor
snIlf at it, lays it down TIE table, where it gets
mixed with the exchanges, and presently the imp
Of the establishment retres TO his fayollte nook
10 enjoy rich repast.
The advertising department. the great source of
Income, is important The publisher is
responsible TO certain extent for the character
and influence of his advertisements. When he
sends his paper into subscribers family, there is
an implied warranty that it shall not conceal
poison that which will be the vehicle Of evil.
The publication of notices by which men adver-
tise their wives is of needless distress; it is
a relic Of barbarsm which infiicts pain upon a de-
ferceess class, and is almost always instga:ed by
mean revenge. newspaper man once received
a lesson which he long remembered, growing out
Of notice Of the kind. He was sitting idly and
alone in bis Office in the afternoon Of warm sum-
ner day, when a timd and hesitating step
heard upon the stairs. Soon young and decid-
ediy pretty woman entered. and sat down in the
chair which politely rendered. She didn't
seem to respond cheerfullv to the remarks con-
corning the beauty Of the day, but searched her
pocket until a copy Of the latest issue Of that
publishers own paper was produced, with black
mark drawn around an advertisement, Caution
| Whereas, my wife Eliza Ann has left my bed and
board" &c. &C., the poor woman proceeded to mar
rate her troubles. She had been married early in
life 10 the man 10 whom her young heart had gone
out, with rosy anticipations Of happiness aud kind
treatment. Her hopes had been cruelty blasted,
for neglect at first, and actual cruelty afterwards
had driven her to seek elsewhere living for her
self and young children She was struggling as
best she could when this cruel public SANDER was
blazoned forth, and copy sent to her by her
small souled husband. And the poor creature
broke down in flood Of tears. Somebody says
that the way to stop womans tears is to dam
he wondered if his neighbor Mrs. Grundy would
happen in, and what she would say behodng
confused editor and weeping woman. Then
he proceeded to take full revenge on the man who
had caused such scene in his Office. He Gained
the turbulent grief OF his caller, drew from her
the full story Of her wrongs, placed before him q
sheet of paper, took his pen and drew picture Of
the recreant husband, in which he exhausted all
his powers of scorn and contempt. This he pub
lished gratuitousy dismissed the afflicted female
yyit his nd ar m retiar
the snares that beset the editorial path.
The nuisance of "putf." or free blowa" was
next The subject of thought and comment. The
majority OF those who seek free notices from the
newspapers are those who are best able to pay for
these notices. They seem to consider that puff"
like virtue, is its own reward Editors are not so
well situated IN regard 10 profits on business,
the other professions, although it requires special
training and talents for the place. Ii he has the
ability 10 prepare an attractive account of any nov
city 10 be introduced, anything else calling for
the use of his pen, and does it surprisingly WELL
why should he not be proportionaAy paid 1t is
70 be hoped that the lime has about passed when
II has been deemed improper to ask Iay for valu-
able services of the kind.
But the newspaper, outside Of its patrons, has
wider and far more important sphere in its rela-
tons 10 the public-it is the vehicle of early and
accurate intelligence, and a medium of communi-
cation between men of thought and action, and
the great world of intelligence. He showed how
politicians could not afford to despise the power Of
The press. The paper is great corrector of pub
lie wrongs. Evil seeks daI kness aud secrecy, but
when the press flashes its calcium light upon it,
the deformtles stand out for every eye. In pop
ular government; like ours it is death to the wrong
doer in public station. In monarchial govern
ments we hear that such and such press has been
warned. Here it is the press that warns the gov
crnment. There are no better or safer guarantees
of the liberty and rights of the people than the
provisions in federal and state constitutions that
the freedom of the press shall not be abridged
So long rs they remain nviolate there will be
small danger The press is as potent in achieve
ment as in preservation. In the revolution, while
Washington and Lee and Gates and Greene and
Sullivan fought, Franklin and Adams and Jetfer-
son and Hamilton and Paine wrote those fiery ap-
peal that kept the spirit of the people up to the
work. We will not say that the pen was mightier
than the sword-but it was its peer.
| In conclusion he would ask, what shall be the
future of the press Can the wisest mark the
bounds of its influence and usefulness Shall
science enable the tired editor to dispense with the
joint toll of brain and hend in preparing editorials,
and record his thoughts by delicate and subtle
machinery, that shall spare his nerve force and
double his capacity for labor: Will he be trebly
blest in some curious invention that will rapidly
set the unerring type, the accomplishing slave
that never asks an increase of wages or Joins
strike Is there a coming mechanical genius who
shall construct perfect press and evoke from the
hidden forces of Nature, some inexpensive mo-
tor, and chain it to the Wheel Are the stumbl-
ing docks TO be all smoothed away Are the
troubles Of the present to be lost in the triumphs
OF the future If prophet should arise and tell
us that all this would be the advance of another
century, then the conclusion is that were born
hundred years TOO soon.
The essay occupied just one hour in its delivery.
Ii finished and eminently appropriate produc-
ton, fitting into the space designed for it, and re-
tiectng credit upon Mr.. Simpson aquick think
er and ready writer. If there was any dsappoint-
ment it was in the fact that he gave his brothers
of the press gang more solid meat and less Of
crisp pie crust and sweet meats than was expected
though these were seen and keenly appreciated by
his intelligent audience, a quiet vein of humor
running through and Illuminating the whole. The
feast was greatly enjoyed.
On motion OF Mr. Elwell, the thanks Of the
Association were extended to Mr. Simpson for his
admirable address, and copy of the same re-
quested for publication. Mr.. Ioman remarked
that the essayist had gwen rs happy relation of
his own experience.
On motion Of Mr.. Elwell, Messrs. Elwell, EN-
cry and Lspham were appointed committee to
essavist and noet for tho ne eetipey Tbov