Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-07
1.-THE HELL-BoX."

1.-THE HELL-BOX." @
Essay read by j. B. Thompson, of the
LaPlata Home Press, before the meeting
of the Missouri Press Association, held
at Columbia, Missouri, May ~ and %,
1879:
l have long thought that a short trea
tlse upon the practical working of a
country newspaper Office would prove
if not profitable. to the
members of this association. Meeting,
as we do, mainly for social recreation
and pleasure, we feel like leaving the
discussion OF such things at home with
the cares, the strites and the slavish
tolls of our profession, count lt,then.
an innovation to bring such a skeleton
to our feast as this disquisition upon the
commonplace details of our vocation.
Be it so. We are in the midst of an
age that is distinguished for Its practical
biiity. '.Will it pay ?"' is the question
OF the hour. and of the day, and, disguise
1t as we will, there is no pleasure, no in
terest. that 80 absorbs US. that we can
entirely ignore the query. aie 80
My theme-the .'hell-box''-1s as sug-
gestive as it Is comprehensive" Mem.
bers of this association who, like your
humble servant; are practical printers.
will tell you that in printing Office the
hell-box is the receptacle or place pre-
pared TOR storing and saving all broken,
bruised, worn out or useless type or
type metal. 1t represents one of those
little. and, to many Insignificant systems
of economy that are conducive to the
success OF large enterprises, and lndis-
pensible to small business. .-.
Under this commonplace, comprehen-
sive title, l propose to consider the un-
considered tri1es of country newspaper
ed. even under the text of "How to run
a country newspaper" To succeed 1t is
of first Importance to have
A GOOD LOCATION
tor your printing Office. Select your
rooms in the centre of the business pOr-
ton of the town in large we'll lighted. well
ventilated rooms. Heretofore this has
been thought unimportant. Any where,
even dingy front on back alley was
thought sufficient for country printing
Office. If up stairs, it made no difference
if the steps were dark, dirty ard deiap'
ldated; this is proven to have been &
mistake. Provide an editorial room, &
sanctum, even though you do your owl
type setting and press work. If yol
can afford it. carpet your floor, and hang
cheerful pictures on the walls. Fold VI
your exchanges and file them away, ant
sell them to the best advantage.
friend present here to-day, who publish
es six column paper in small coun
try town tells me that he sells one dol
dar's worth of old papers per week. Thi
will carpet your floor IN one year AM
pay your postage beside.
| SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Make the cash in advance system you
law, irrevocable as that CT the Mede
and Persians. Upon the expiration G
Il subscription cut the delinquent o.
without ceremony know we are prom
to indulge in the illusions OF hope. Fo
instance. you are writing off your mail
you come to the name OF Col. Jones; b
Is prominent man In his township.
always a delegate to the conventions
} you desire his influence, and, thinkln
: he will pay you the first time he come
to town, you send on. Col. Jones. take
the paper from his post Office while th
: room is crowded, and some one remark
: to him-'.I see you are taking the coul
r ty paperP" EYES," says the co one
and. in order to impress the crowd vii
his Importance, and convince them th'
he ls veritable wheel horse-'Ye
Il Smith sends it to me; but 1t is not muc
OF account" Now. you see the resu
y OF his influence Others in the crow
:, imagine a vain thing in the belief th
= they are wheel-horses as well as 20
J. Jones, and are mad because you don
: send the paper to them, and nothir
could induce them to subscribe.
i NOW, LET US TAKE ANOTHER VIEW.
Had you cut Jones off as you shou
have done, he would have called on yc
t. with the query, What did you stop N
II paper for ?" "Well, Colonel, that is OF
o rule we treat al alike" Put me dow
Tor another year, then; here's yo
Il money. l can't do without your paper
1t The colonel calls at the post-office f
oi his mail a crowd is present, and son
e one says, Il see,you take the coun
paper P" Eyes. and wouldn't {
without it tor five time its cost 1t is
e good little paper-gives all the coun
N news, and every man ought to su
4 SCRIBE" The result is. you have c.
- Jones' money and half dozen ado
Z, tlonal paid-up subscribers. The colon
ID has his money invested in the enterpris
"a and he wants it to succeed. A long l
of i,non-paying subscribers has be
likened unto hotel full of non-payil
ID boarders-the more patronage it hast
le worse 1t Is off.
h. CLUBS.
OF Avoid the clubbing system, exec
a with metropolitan papers and mag
u zines, where you get full price for yo
- paper, or so disguise the TACT OF redu
ton that your patrons iail to discover
ID In these lonesome latter days" =,
es have to depend more largely than hel
:, tofore upon subscriptions for our su
u" port. The club system once beg,
TO means reduction of price to al 81
he scribers within two years from its col
f. mencement. For instance: The pri
w of your paper is 81 so per annum.
d" clubs OF ten, 81 25. and in clubs OF
~ 81. When the year expires only Fl
x renew, and they will refuse to do SO I
n less you furnish them the paper at
90 same rate as the year before. Th
% reasonably conclude that if you col
er afford to send the paper last year for
e; you can afford to send it this year
er the same. Rather than lose them, y
90 take the 81 and send on. Their neie
bors are asked to subscribe, but th
o. cannot be induced to pay 81 80. and
III IS really unjust to demand it. 1t Y
to have a list OF 600. your loss in a Il
or years will be $500 per annum, VIII
-. would be handsome net profit to I
VI most of us.
be Never insist on any one subscribi
he tor your paper. 1t should talk TOR its.
es Fill its columns with news matter
local interest and make its visits to eve
;" household a necessity. Then 1t W
e. command support.
be
J.. Bo prompt in issuing your paper
~ time. Never let it miss a mail if p
be sible. Your subscribers are expecti
ts the paper on a certain day, and ii th
nd fail to receive it their disappointment
-. serious. Its regular reception to th,
GO is like hearty meal, and by long ha
n, becomes almost what we cali s-co
H. nature.
re CLEAR PRINT