Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-25


bee Valley, but his reputation was country
wide. He never attended school after seven
wears of age. \ modest, pale-faced light
haired Young man, he established his print
ing press here on the banks of the kcnnebcc,
and soon became the leading mind in the
Press of Maine. Attaining high rank As a
statesman. he was most at home and most
useful when in the editorial harness, which
he wore with honor to almost the closing
hours of his busy life. Joseph Griffin, known
to all of you; Peter Edes, him of humble as
pirations; and others Of later years whose
success i'm the field of journalism which they
have found after much long wandering, has
been cqualleJ only in the wonderful tales OF
the Arabian Nights. There are two cases of
this kind in the city where onr present meet
ing is held and the fortunate individuals are
both members of our Association. II Allen
and Vickery were not modcst men ! should
mention their names in this connection.
\ true newspaper man will flourish atd
tattcn in field Shere person who has not
the elements for thr business, would starvc.
graduate from one of our colleges a gentle
man of sufficient culture and requirements to
render him a successful teacher in promi-
ncnt seminary of learning, threw down the
schoolmastcr's ruler and took up the editorial
pen. assuming at the same time the proprie-
torship of a newspaper He was out Of his
sphere. He had got into place where he
didn't belong. He began 10 dclugc his read
ers with elaborate essays, learned disquisi-
tions, and ponderous mathematical problems.
The rcbellious readers hurled back the soft
impeachment by stopping their papers, u
way they have of inquiring. 'What are YOU
giving us?' Then the editor began to spank
his patrons. to turn them over and scold them.
as he used TO the boys who sat on the front
7 .f 81, H.. l.
lowered the flag to half mast by dunning his
subscribers. That is one of the unmistakable
evidences Of death in the family. | know a
man who became bankrupt by spending all
his time and energies in borrowing money
with which to pay his debts. and had no time
or strength left for his legitimate business.
80 this laap's career as an editor was cut
short by Notwithstanding appeals to subscribers
| tq Pay M. Fte anRniEg exhaastcd ,tsrf
when there were no more subscribers to dun.
I'm the Other hand, | knew a youth who at
the aye % tonIteon entered printing office as
an apprcnticc--which In those DAYS meant that
he must sweep floors, milk the proprietor's
cows. and drive them to pasture: saw fire.
wood. put the hens 10 roost. rock the baby.
and perform similar work calculated to de-
.eiop wonderful taste for the Art Prescr-
vative.' But after years or drudpery and
patient toll, the boy energies into full
tiedgcd lourneyman printer. Having in the
meantime reached his majority and chosen a
partner for life, he collects together all his
worldly goods and starts 10 carve out for him
self a home and a fortune in the profound
lpbths Of Maine wilderness, \ village
springs up IN the vcrs doAr-taf,l ot .hf local
paper; the native wealth and resources of the
country are brought to public notice and be-
come widely known through the bus nessikc
practical and interesting editorials of the Will
age newspaper; settlers are attracted and
thriving communities level the forests dot
thr hillsidfs spH valleys with happy homes
and TIL. EDITORS subscription list grows
apacc. At the beginning he hunted up sub.
scribcrs by spotted trees; wherever he heard
the sound of the woodman's axe. to that spot
he would penetrate, and an addition to the
subscription list was the invariablc result
Was bis subscription list numbered with a
na,,,p far in 4rrrafsf Tho editor, on can
va--ing tour, ~orid sop his team oppl,site
that mans potato patch, and dig IA siItf vient
quantity of potatoes to liquidatc the indebted
ness. The prosperity of this man was con-
tinuous and incrcasing his influence and his
dollars multiplied. until at last he became the
owner of houses and lands, a printing Office
Elthnut the appendage of Il mortgage, and a
home VI comfort and even luxury, so well
adorned and so compete, that IT was with
pride this Pioneer printer of the Aroostook
opened his heart and his doors to the editors
of Maine ON their recent eastward pilgrimage
These two cases illustrate, perhaps strong
ls, tho idea am trying to enforce. that
n itural Ability, tac,, readiness and spirit are
necessary to success IN the newspaper pro-
fession, that no polish or experience can
supply the place Of ,ho4e, or make up fur the
deficiency You may establish your schools
of journalism. endow seminaries of learning
and place at their heads the brightest lights
Of the educational world: the Young man
vcnturing upon the untricd pathways of this
hHaAred and honorable protessio ion may have
admiring friends tn h4ttet. and money to
grease tho ways this fact will stand lou
con't make q ~hisfts ont ofd pigs oH"
Assuming that the newspaper man has
found his place. that he has all the requisite
qualifications. and is working chcerfully and
hopefully in the occupation which nature and
himself approves. he has still his pcrplcxities
as weii as his hQHrs of happy enjoyment; his
varied and unique uxperieHou, a.,d to the
consideration of some of these, the remainder
of this paper will be devoted.
\ gentleman has case in court and to
prove point 1t Is necessary to produce the
| copy of an advertisement that he is sure ap-
! pcarcd in your paper several years ago. Your
file alone preserves it. He is sure the adyer-
tiscment appeared in 1864, and Won pore over
the bound volume of that year to accommo-
dalo the applicant. After couple of hours
vain search, the grntlcman discovers, on CON
sulting a MEMORANDUM, that il is le65 he
wants. Another hour of search. and then
from an inquiry made by another gentleman
who enters, he ascertains that he has made
mistake in the Office; 1t is the Bungtown Spy
he wants, and not the Hornby Buglc 4 law
yer's time, uallpr the circumstances. spent in