Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-11-15
THE AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS


Mr.. Warmers essay l. interesting read
ing on account Of its brightness and the
wit oe lis author. He i familiar with
his subject, and offers many valuable Sug-
gestions to the general public and to pub
hshe-s. His idea Of substituting quarto
or octave pages for the ungaInly sheets
now in use. Is both sensible and practical.
Ii would not only furnish a paper that
could be more easily reed and filed away.
as be sugse-ts, but would furnish the
country publisher with solution to one
Of the most di Foul, problems which ne
meets in conducting his business. At
certain seasors Of the year, well e>;Ab-
hshed country Office receives large num-
Der Of al ertisemen,S, which must be
inserted AZ the time p.e>enied, often
crowd.rg the space usually devoted 10
reading matter. such CUCrOacIment i
ALWAYS noted by subscribers, aud very
unfayorable comments follow. II gwen
quantity OF advertisements could be as
Su-ed for every week in the year, the
matter could be easily ABUSED by per-
manent enlargement. Under the present
variable volume OF business, during dull
advertising seasons, the subscribers get
several columns Of extra reading, which
fact many o. them promptly forget when
the advertising columns overflow. The
issuing Of a supplement, on such occasions
is beyond the capacity Of most country
offices II the qusrto or octave form
were adopted, the space devoted 10 read
ing could be kept uniform. while ext.a
pages Of so small a sizc could easily De
added for advertisements, whereas the
addition of a page TO the broadside OF
the prevalent folio l. impracticable.
But Mr.. Warner did no, make this
suggestion for tie benefit of the country
press which would De most benefited by
the change. He does not think much OF
the country paper with its columns OF
local news. which be describes as ''vapld
and proftless, Of Every little interest
except 10 those who already know the
facts. Here Mr. Warner Is lame, and
Horace Greeley, who n be quotes as sd-
yising 1.-The country editor 10 give small
space 10 the general news of the world,
but 10 cultivate assiduously the home
field" showed a De ;er appreciation OF
this department. To an outsider, unac-
ouainted with the locality or with the
person mentioned, the fact that farmer
Brewn has added twenty feet to his barn,
NAV seem ''yapid." But /, was not re-
ported 20 interest an unknown stranger,
Il is local history, and interests every
person in the town or county where the
farmer Is taxed. by showing an increase
of taxable property. 1t informs farmer
Browns neighboIs that BY . Thrift which
thew will do well 70 emulate, he has &C
cumulated so as 10 demand or warrant
enlargement II tells farmer Brown
creditors tina, they may trust him as q
thrifty, prosperous man Perhaps th'
item may catch the eye Of a native, WHIT
has become discouraged by the failure o
crops on the western farm, which ne eul'
tivates so far from the scenes of his earl!
life. Such a one may take new hope b.
the thought that if farmer Browns rock!
acres in Maine have yielded such increase
MS own deep, black soil must ultimatel!
respond to his careful culture; or. bette
still, It may draw the young man back Il
the home-farm where his energy alone i
needed to restore the barren soil, and q
the frugal habits of New England.
The country paper is a magazine o
history, and It's records Of home life, en-
terprise and local doings are more WORT
preserving han most matter which ind
is way into more prominent journals
Historians have already begun 10 consul
the files of country papers which hav'
passed through an existence OF fort.
wears. for facts which can De obtained IL
no other way. TriAing incidents, con
sidered unworthy of place 10 the daily
may grow or lead into important trans
actions whose origin the historian car
only find by consulting old copies o.
some despised country weekly. Tn.
old lady of eighty who spins hundred