New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-21
THE MOON IN JOURNALISM

The most remarkable journalistic experiment OF
this or any other century was announced IN HE
TRIBUNE Yesterday. The inmates OF the Insane
Asylum Oh Wards Island ara to begin. about Janu-
airy l. the publication of weekly newspaper called
The Noon. The project is entirely their own, and
they are to furnish all the contributions, set the
typo and print the paper. OF many previous news
paper ventures it has been said that their author
must have been insane, but now for the nrst time
are we to behold thoroughly insane news
paper produced by selfconessel lunatlcs, for they
are to put cut OF their asylum on their title page
and it's name in the date line. In frankness there
fore the new venture will surpass many of Its con-
tefnporaries We have in mind several newspapers
whose Inexpcable conduct for many years would
become suddenly PLAIN if the SIMPLE announcement
were made that their editors insane. BY con-
cealing that fact they show an absence OF candor
which puts them a long way behind their rivals on
Wards Island.
The notification of The Noon is made possible by
the presence OF large number of practical printers
IN the ASYLUM. Statistics show that the largest
number of lunatcs from any one class are printers.
WhythIs is so we do not know, but it may be that
after several years of service the accumulation OF
remorse for typographical errors becomes so great
AS to overthrow tho reason. II the printers were
entity of all the offences Of this kind charged to
printers the cigar-makers furnish the largest num-
Der of insane now on the island. This fact
Is not so difficult of explanation. If a
cigar-maker has conscience 1T is im-
pos,Ibe. to see how his reason could permanently
withstand the strain of rolling Connecticut leaf
INTO cigars and packing them away into boxes
labelled " Pure Havana and bearing the names
of all the best foreign brands. II will be no sur
prise to the seeker after genuine imported cigar
TO hear that insanity is the natural fruiton OF a
large proportion of cigar-makers. Indeed, we are
afraid he will take q grim satisfaction in saying
that it could not well be otherwise.
But TO return to The Moon. The name will strike
every one as sanely appropriate. The moon has for
some reason been associated with lunatics and lovers
both of which classes said to be especially sus-
ceptibe to its gentle influences. Profound scien-
lists who have devoted much time to observing the
phenomenon assure us that when a sedate and
wel-regulated young man subjects himself to a
strong moonlight in q secluded spot with young
woman on his arm he is rresistibly impeled to say
and do things which to the eye of the COOL pract-
cal observer are lit.S less than insane. Upon
n chronic lnnatic the rays of the moon are said TO
have a subduing but at the same time aggravating
effect He is less noisy but a little more "luny."
II is also time-honored tradition that anyone who
sleeps with the moon shining in his face sees his
grandmother In forms thous nd times more awful
than the most ingenious and intricate mince pie has
ever been able to inspire. All these facts sustain
the wisdom Of choosing The Noon as the name for a
crazymen's paper. We have 10 doubt that The Moon
will be very much like other newspapers. aud Will
be good deal more sane than many OF them.