The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-07-31
NEWSPAPER PATRONAGE


A contemporary prepares the following
mirror, in which his patrons can "see
themselves reflected
Many long and weary years of expe-
rience in the publishing business have
forced the conviction upon US that
newspaper patronage is a word of many
definitions, and that great majority of
mankind are either ignorant of the cor
rect definition or are dishonest, in a
strict biblical sense of the word News
paper patronage is composed of as many
colors as the rainbow, and is as change
able as chameleon.
One man comes in and subScribes for
the paper pays for it in advance, and
goes home and reads it with proud salts
faction. He hands in his advertise
ment, asks the price, pays for it, and
goes to his place of business and reaps
the advantages thereof
Another man says, "You may put my
name on your BOOKS" and goes off with
out saying a word about pay. Time
passes on, and you want money, and
you ask him to pay what is honestly
due you. He flies into passion, per-
haps pays, perhaps not, and orders his
paper stopped. This is called newspa-
per patronage.
Another man has been a subscriber
long time, but has never paid cent,
and at last becomes tired of you and
wants change. He thinks he wants 3
city paper. He tells the Postmaster be
don't want it, and you'll get paper
marked, refused" But does he call
and pay? Oh, not he wants his money
to pay for his city paper. He will pay
you after while he says. But he never
does enless you sue him. And this, too,
is called newspaper patronage.
Another man brings in fifty-cent adj
vertisement, and wants a two-dollar no.
tice given it, and if you refuse he goes
off mad. And this is called newspaper
patronage.
Another man lives near you-he does
not take the paper-he don't like the
editor-thc paper is too small for him
yet he goes regularly to his neighber's
and reads it and finds fault with it, and
quarrels with the opinions of the editor
Occasionally he sees an article he likes,
and begs or gives half a dime for the
| number This also is called newspaper
patronage.
Another man takes two or three city
papers and cannot afford to take home
paper, but he likes it and comes into the
office and begs one whenever he is in
town. This also is called newspaper
patronage.
Another man likes the paper, he takes
copy for himself and family, and pays
for it, and does all he can to get new
subscriptions-he never grumbles, but
always has cheerful word for the edi-
tor. This is newspaper patronage.
Another man has patent and wants
you to give it a two dollar notice every
week 1t will be of interest to your
readers" he says, but although know
ing it will benefit him most of all, he
does not offer to pay for it. This is
called newspaper patronage.
Another man has taken the paper sew
eral years, but has not paid for it, and
comes in with four dollar advertise
ment, and asks you to insert it for moth
ing because he is an old patron of yours
This is called newspaper patronage.
Another man-''a young man abont
town." no use of his taking paper, he
knows all that is going on. By-and-by
he gets married lind hands in the notice
with ''just send me a dezen copies -
He gets them, and when you mention
pay, looks surprised you surely do
not charge for such things ~ And this
is called newspaper patronage.
Another man (bless you, it does us
good to see such mem comes in and
says, 1.-THE year for which / paid is
about to expire want to pay for an
other. lie does so and retires. This
is newspaper patronage.
Now isn't newspaper patronage a GU
rious thing? And in that great day
when the Gentleman in Black gets his
dues, as he surely will. how many of
the patrons enumerated above will fall
to his share? Now it will be seen that
while certain kinds of patronage are the
very life and existence OF newspaper,
there are other kinds Of patronage that
are more destructive than the deadly
night-shade.
Reader, where 10 you stand"