The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-03-16
NEWSPAPERS.
THE MANY wAYs IN WHICH THEI ARE
PATRONIZED.

There appears to be many differ ent
ways If understanding the true meau'
ing Of newspaper patronage, as it 10
called, and, as an interested party, We
give place to = disquisition on the sub
ject by Que who knows whereof he
speaks. 1t will serve, perhaps, as a
mirror where certain parties may see
themselves az they are seen by Others
Many long and weary years have
forced the conviction upon rs that
newspaper patronage Is word Of many
definitions, and that q great majority
of mankind are either ignorant Of the
correct definition or are dishonest in .
strict biblical sense of tho word
Newspaper patronage 10 composed OF
az many colors az q rainbow, and IL as
changeable as chameleon. One man
comes in and subscribes for paper
and pays for it in advance, and goes
home and reads it with the proud sat
isfaction that it is his. He hands 10
his advertisement, asks the price, pays
for it, and goes to his place of business
and reaps the advantage thereof. An
other man says you may put my name
on your books, and goes off without
saying 8 word about pay. Time pass:
es on, and you want money, and want
him to pay you what 10 honestly due
you. He lies into a passion, perhaps
nays, aud perhaps not, and orders hts
paper stopped. This is called newspa-
per patronage.
Another man brings In fifty cent
advertisement and wants q two dollar
notice given it, and if you refuse, he
goes off mad. Aud this 10 called news
paper patronage.
Another man lives near you-he does
not take tue paper-he don't like the
editor-tl,e paper is too small for hin,
yeti goes regularly to bis neigh
bot and bOrrows it, and quarrels with
the opinions Of the editor. Occasion
ally he sees an article he likes; he begs
or gives half price for tho plumber.
This IL called newspaper patronage.
Another man likes the paper and
takes copy for his family, and pays
for it, and does all he can to get new
subscribers; he never grumbles, but
always has q cheerful word for the ed
itor. II any little item of interest &C.
ours in the neighborhsod, he informs
tho editor. This is newspaper patron:
age. Another man has patent and
| wants you to give it two dollar no
tice every week it will be of Interest
to your readers, no says; but although
knowing it will benefit him most o.
all, he does not offer to pay for it
This Is called newspaper patronage
| Another man has taken the papel
for several years, but has not paid TO
lit, aud comes in with tour or fiv'
dollar advertisement and asks you Il
Insert it for nothing, because he il al
i old patron of yours. This is callet
newspaper patronage.
| Another man-''a young man abou
town"-no use of taking paper, b.
knows alt there is going on. By and b.
he gets married, and hands in a motto
with "jast give q dozen copies." H
gets them, and when you mention pa,
looks surprised-"you surely do no
charge for such thing I" and thi
is also called newspaper patronage
! Now, isn't newspaper patronage
curious thingf And in that great da
when the gentleman In black gets hi
dues, as he surely will, how many 9
the patrons enumerated above wi
fall to l.is sharei Now, it viii be see
tl,at while certain kiDds OF patronag
are tho very life and existence Of
newspaper, there are other kinds .
patronage that are more destruetiv
than the deadly night shade. II FL
change.