The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-06-16

Read by Sam. ID. Harper, of the Raymond
Gazette, Before the Mississippi Press
Association, Mt Aberdeen, June 1, 1881.

Mr.. President, Brethren of the Press Associ-
alton, Ladies and Gentlemen of Aberdeen
The task assigned me at the last meeting
Is one of peculiar pleasure, but | enter up
on its performance with some misgiyiugs
4 glance at the pages Of the Association
history for the past seven years (during
which time | have been a member shows
that at Koscusko in 1915, the requirements
Of Essavi,t were ably performed by one who
has since passed through the dark valley
and shadow oil death, but whose memory
and selfsacrificug deeds will ever be kept
in trust and recoiected, not alone by us, his
brothers, but by every heart that throbs in
unison with the South. | refer to w. J. l..
Holland, who sacrificed his life in the cpl
demic of 1873, rs libation upon the altar
of friendship and duty, dying a death as
glorious as it was noble
In 1873, at Ficksburg, the scholarly Mai.
Geo. =. Herndon read an Essay that re-
vealed in him depth of pure thought
which he had the capacity to express in
words touching and beautiful.
On the sea-coast in 1879 your Essavist
was in the person of Mr.. Geo. w Harper,
of whom Propriety forbids that | say any
thing.
At Yazoo City last year, that well-known
gentleman, Col. Fleet L. Cooper-he who
believes all editors have tho indiatato.l,Is,
Colonel, or General, or by some other high
sounding military ttle-he who believes
that d good hearty shake of the sides is
worth at the least calculation the price Of
six months subscription to his paper-flled
the place ably, aud afforded large and APP
preCiative audience an opportunity of smil-
ing over the practical Benefits of Laugh
ter" paper embracing originality and
common sense, and advancing its author
IL III j -
Twainism.
In glancing at this galaxy of distinguish
ed gentlemen, with whom | am to stand this
evening for a few moments, it would re
quire degree of egotism | do not possess,
lii assuming 10 fully please this Association
and this refined audience.
While | am a very young man, yet, four
teen years Of my life have been devoted to
the art preservative.' / have loved it with
an ardor only equaled by the affection of a
fond husband for his bride, and the passion
has increased in ferv0r until there is nothing
| would not do to advance the interests of
the newspaper fraternity. With this brief
explanation, [ am sure the older members
will not consider it supererrogation in me
to write Of
THE PRACTICAL WORKING OF A COUNTRY
NEWSPAPER OFFICE.
The relationship existing between well
organized community and good newspa-
per, is what the brilliant rainbow is to the
blackened clouds; what the purple dawn is
on the starry night and shining day what
the futed column is 10 tie finished capital
"a sUperadded ornament, an etflorescence
Of beauty and delight, final touch of the
creative hand, giving the charm of exuber-
ant grace to the work that was almost per-
feet before This being the case, and the
IL tod hot pnnlH hay
on uninterruptedly, without the newspaper,
Though it cannot now dispense with it, }
we should consider how to so improve jour
nalism that il may become what it should
be, and what ii was originally intended TO
be-a benefit to mankind, morally, socially
and politically. With this idea as my chief
guide, | take up the subject at the begin
ming, and in a brief manner detail the
practical part of the work, as well as offer
some suggestions as to the character of in
formation to be promulgated without wish
ing to be placed in the category of a peda-
gouge or as one who conceives himself to be
oYer-wise-
In contemplating the establishment of a
newspaper, of course the first step to be Ia
ken is in the selection of a suitable location /;
but it does not naturally follow that be-
cause a town has population, wealth and
afistocracy, it viii support a printing office.
On the contrary, many very small places,
with only eight or ten business houses, but
with country to support it, settled by
thrifty, industrious and Intelligent men,
women and children, who devote their spare
moments IN the long winter evenings, over
the blazing pine-kE0:s upon the hearth
stones to the acquiring of knowledge, and
who read everything that appears in print,
from the "ieader' to the ''three-line notice
of Miss Nancy Jones cAndy-pnlling-who
feel an interest il the editor and his family,
(if he has one,) this is the SORT OF people
and community that supports the Press,
profits by its precepts, and encourages the
proprietor in his efforts. When such a
place as this is found, it only requires the
right sort of management, the right sort of
conduct, and, withal, the right sort of a
paper, TO attract the good will, the patron
age. and the love of those whose support is
wanted, whose influence is indispensable,
and whose Kind words strike deep into the
heart.
Having selected location, the next move
, is the purchase of an outfit, and on the taste
aud judgment displayed, rests in measure
its cost. Find cut the GLASS of work 10 be
done, the kind of paper wanted, then klF
your material with an eye to the usefulness
of each particular font of type each ma
chine, and even each tiny piece of rule. If
a hand-preSs will serve your purpose, buy
II. and wait until time and necessity teach
tasL i is safe to invest larger amount in a
/ larger machine II the selection of type
| srperleHes will save many 5ollals Twenty
five fonts judiciously selected will ansNEr
Infinitely better than twice the number Sc
| Iected al random, besides enabling the prin-
tar 70 accomplish more satisfactory results
IL Is the 80 :tion of many, am sorry to
saw. 10 publish large shssta. believing, no
doubt. there is glory in size. A sqiaiii
si.eat. ,,rinsed clearly and distinctly from Z
reasonably sized body snd display type, Win
short common-senss editorials Rpd YCOd y