The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-17
AMATEUR ScRIBES IN COUNCIL.
National Convention of Miniature
Journalists at Long Branch.
PREcOCIoUS BOYS AND GIRLS
What the Microscopic News
papers Are Doing.

Is more remarkable or suggestive in its surroundings
and general make up than the second annual Conven-
ton OF the National Amateur Press Association which
took place at tho Ocean Hotel, Long Branch. ycstcr-
day Tho reader only mas TO picture in his minds eye
n hundred and fifty more Of lads. ranging in years
from twelve eighteen full OF youthful enthusiasm,
proud OF positions editors and contributors 10
miniature newspapers ambitious OF distinction, keen
eyed well behaved, parliamentary to painful degree
divided into many factions as one will ind IN the
Lerslatur, ut Albany severely contentious for their
respective rights adopts at rolling and all the fan
tasic arts of the caucus--onc has only to imagine
this aud will have very correct idea OF the young
gentlemen who Tor many months, doubtless, have
been looking forward tho present occasion ms an
epoch in their lives.
MINIATURE PRESS.
Nor arc these little fellows to be laughed at either.
One hundred and twenty-five OF them were in solemn
council representing constituency OF IRON forty TO
nifty thousand readers. that to certain extent they
have already begun, in their own way, to be power
that should command respect True, their various
newspapers are small OF them not big enough 10
around crayon; others about the size OF
an octave page, and a lew capacious enough to
hold three four columns foot In length.
All, hewever modelled after the ''chdren
Of larger growth, " and OF thom is said to have
attained such Importance that 1t Lus been merged INTO
regular newspaper for tho benefit OF the public ut
large Tho of these little journals such
might BIO expected from lads OF the ages specified,
sisting original stories saucy hits the brethren
Of the profession personalities and exclamation points
The Titles selected also characteristic, for in
nancc, the Budget, 7hunderton, Hornet Literary
aspirant Little GEM tho Criique, the Boys Herald
Centennial Western Amateur, Our Free Lance, tho
yphyna, Idle Hours, the Bay State Stylus, the DUKES
Spirit Neosy and Noisy the Echo Pnr-ie,'s Pride and
keystone Some Of these journals have circulation OF
1000 copies, and Published in Batavia claims
$500.
VETERAN
The oldest amateur paper IN the country is said to
be the Omaha Excelsior, edited by the son Of the ex-
Mayor OF that CITY, 1t Is now years OF age. but,
sowing which The editor re is about to
pend. Tho Budget and the Boys Herald also among
The pioneers The average lie OF these mimic journals,
however is only about year, enthusiasm or funds, or
both, beng by that time generally exhausted. As
rule they published monthly, at a cost OF from
fifteen 10 lorty dollars, and the subscription price
ranges from twenty-five to fifty cents per annum.
Advertising Is fairly proportoned to the reading
matter and in one instance the enterpris-
Ing proprietor found himself, at tho end OF
six months, just ffiy-four dollars ahead.
This. however, is exceptional The boys generally
write aud print Tor ..tho fun of the thing" 10 SEQ
thoughts IN type enjoy the passing play upon
the stage; to spend their time in heathfu and in
slructiye and, above ai 10 have ian organ
Tor their set >" Several Of the youngsters write, set
the type und print their PAPERS single handod TWO or
three have their genius at engraving and sicrco
lypLg and all in their conversation show that thcy
have more or less acquired the ec"aque OF the prac
A WIDESPREAD ORGANIZATION.
1t Will be news some oil readers that there are
from fifteen hundred TO TWO thousand of these youth
tuI amateurs scattered through the country, and be-
tween three and four hundred Microscopic papers.
v Boston
Ohio), fifteen twenty weekly, about the same
number semi-montnly and the monthly They
are published N all parts of the United States, aud
Judging rom The blows given and taken they freely
exchange Many of the contributors are Young girls
vino have made n mark among the fraternity and arc
anecionateiy quoted and referred 10. lndced II Is
not curious tact to observe IL scanning the little
journals that the fair IN point OF smoothness and
versatility Of style, poetry ana gush, carry oil the
honors. rho terms on which some OF tho unsophisti
Of names should command the respecua considcra-
ton OF their elder competitors. Here IS a printed
form which was handed to tho reporter OF tho
HERALD
To ALL WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN -
Ny terms 10! prose manuscripts are 81 per goo words
sworth is written never haggie prices III
me the Ms. alter have sent lamps Tor the postage Send
my Wrtng pon, Il sach vor
and OF recprocatng at the earliest possible opportunity.
Issue shoud therefore accompany the orAer the initial
the M. must be in my hands before / commence
ID ~ " least 81 sGSa e.s Sd' Ss
iron, which never depart ii manuscript does not
sale shall iee at liberty to resell the same to other par.
ties A hx DO not hear from an eaSr or publisher to
within thirty days will consider it Tor.
avoid flash advertising in connection with my name or writ
writing please repeat your address in every letter.
an editor or assr s % q Poem an
he Win please enclose iy cents to pay Tor the lrouoe Of
price marked on IT, then 10 is requested to postal
m u To- rcpy IN
THE HABITS OF THE YOUNG JOURNALISTS
''Boys will be boysp the world over and the trip
to Sandy Hook the steamer Empire state, these
miniature journalists proved exception 10 the rule
They evidently felt their responsibility, and walked
around behind their eyeglasses. swinging little
canes and wearing jaunty hats perked on one side
labelled ~ A. r. G.. with air OF gravity that plainly
how portant they regarded the great
ests at sake Several of them who would requIre
aud hier Tor the next three rally halr
dozen hrsute sprouts on their smooth faces,
made the boats barber laugh by promptly de-
handing shave. Notwithstanding these pocuiari tiles
there brave look IN all their eyes, earncstncss
of purpose their acts something that told OF time
industriousy spent, OF honors in store ana OF a
winning game for them In the irroprcs,ibc conflicts
oil life IL NEST be remembered that they have only
recently begun their writers aud publishers,
and that nearly all are employed In other pursuits
that surely bring the bread and butter. one or
tBem--a mere scrap OF humanty-told the reporter,
IN answer TO n leading question. that be was trail
road scalpcf"
WHATS thut2-
"why, buying railroad tickets and selling them
travellers FOR less than travellers buy them
any other mani" and Inc blew form an infant stream
OF cigarette smoke longer tnan himself
September there VIII be exhibition In this city OF
NIL the amateur papers OF me country. and they VIII
DO curiosity worth iooxng at
THE CONVENTION.
The arran2 cmcnis Tor holding this second nationa
convention oi The N. A. y. 3 In charge OF the
New YORK Association when is entitled the Empire
CITY Press Association, and were complete in every
respect The large drawing room oil tho Ocean Hotel
NJ Long Branch was secured, besides other rooms
for and sleeping purposes and the boys had
good care as u they were al home with their mothers
The objects OF the meeting were twooldrst, TO adopt
permanent constitution and secondly, TO elect oil-
for the ensuing year. -Four tickets IN the
field, beaded respectively by Alexander w. Dngwall
OF Wisconsin; j. WInspw snyder OF Virginia
present incumbent; Cottercl Kendall and Richard
3e ner of Iiobokcn The struggle for the supremacy
iivcly one, and trained politicians could
not have shown pulling and fierce
energy than did these self editors. The
campaign had apparently been fought on paper Tor
long time, and party lines were strictly drawn. Mas
Corner IS the author OF plan OF government which