Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-27
The Moon m .Ionrnal,sm.

New York Tribune.
The most remarkable journalistic
experiment of this or any other cen
fury was announced in the Tribune
yesterday. The inmates of the insane
asylum on Wards Island are to begin,
about January |, a weekly newspaper
called The Moon. The project Il en-
tirely their own, and they are to
furnish their own contributions. set
the type and print the paper. OF
many previous newspaper ventures it
has been said that their authors must
have been insane. but now for the
FIRST time are we to behold a thoroughly
Insane newspaper, produced BY self
confessed lunatics, for they are TO put
a cut of their asylum on the title paee.
and its name in tho date line. In
frankness, therefore, the new venture
will surpass many of ito contemporaries.
We have in mind several newspapers
whose inexplicable conduct for MANY
years would become suddenly plain If
the simple announcement was made
that their editors are insane. By
conceal!ag that fact they show an
absence OF candor which puts them a
long way behind their rivalso a Wards
Island.
The publication Of The Moon is
made possible by the presence of a
large number Of practical printers in
the asylum. Statistics show that the
largest number of lunstics from any
one class are printers, Why this is
so we do not know, but it may be that
after several years Of service the accu-
mutation Of remorse for Typographical
errors becomes so great as to over.
throw the reason. If the printers
we're guilty of all the offenses Of this
KIND charged to them, that would
inevitably be the effect. Next to the
printers the cigar makers furnish the
largest number Of insane now on the
island. This fact is not so difficult Of
explanation. liza cigar maker have q
conscience it is impossible to see how
his reason could permanently with.
stand the strait III rolling Connection
Leaf iDto cigars and packing then
away into boxes labelled PURE Ha.
vsna and bearing the names Of al
the best foreign brands. Ii will be M
surprise to the seeker after q genuine
imported cigar to hear that insanity i,
the natural fruition of a large proper.
ton of cigar makers. Indeed. we ar,
afraid he will take a grim satisfaction
in saying that it could not we'll b.
otherwise.
But to return to The Moon. Tn,
name will strike every one as sanel,
appropriate. The moon has for SOM
reason been associated with lunatic
and lovers, both of which classes ar,
said to be especially susceptible TO it
gentle influences Profound scientists
who have devoted much time to Oh
serving the phenomenon, assure Vi
that when a sedate, we'll regulate,
man subjects himself TO a strouI
moonlight, in a secluded spot with
young woman on his arm, he is ire
o'..iniy NOmp SllCu W Say II 40 IllDR
which to the eye of the cool, practica
observer are little less than insane
Upon a chronic lupatic the rays Of III.
moon are said to have a subduing bu
at the same time aggravating effect
He is less noisy but a little NOR
\ "luny. 1t is also a time honore,
tradition that any one who sleeps wit
the moon shining in his face sees hi
grandmother in forms a thousan,
times more awful than the most intri
cate mince pie has ever been able /
inspire. All these facts sustain tn
wisdom Of choosing The Moon as I'll
maine for a craEymans paper. 1t i
not the first time the name of a heay
emily body has been taken as n title 70
a very earthly newspaper. This coun
try is fairly spotted with Stars an,
Suns. some of them sane and other
very insane. We have no doubt tina
The Moon will be very much Xix
other newspapers. and will be a goo,
deal more sane than many Of them.