The Opelousas courier., 1882-01-28
How Not to DO It.

The following speech was delivered
by Mr.. Nash, of the Logansport Star
at the Indiana Editorial Convention.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
When your committee assigned ms
the task of telling "Hew not to con
duct a country newspaper" they re,
~cognized the eternal fitness of things
for "Hew to conduct q coantry news
paper" lie prominent among the innu
merable things that I don't know, and
yet ignorance on this point is inexcus-
able, for ne man can be- connected with
a country newspaper two hours and a
half without receiving advice from
many friends of the paper who know
just how to do it.
Our facilities for acquiring knowl-
edge are SO great that every man, wo
man and child-except the publishers
knows how to conduct a country
newspaper, and most of them would be-
at home on a metropolitan journal.
The man who is required to pay for
material, aid and labor, Or furnish copy,
finds it the easiest thing imaginable
to publish a paper and why all the
dolts drift into newspaper offices is a
question that sorely puzzles suffering
humanity.
If man erects a building or his own
ground, buys presses, types, and all
kinds of printing material. writes and
selects his matter, and pays his EN-
ployees, he imagines that he owns a
country newspaper. Nothing can b.
further from the truth. The Office is
owned by a joint stock company com
posed of an indefinite number of stock
understanding from five hundred to
five thousand-each share representing
d dollar and a half or two dollars /; and
every member of the concern imagines
that he owns a controlling interest,
whether his subscription be paid in
greenbacks or advice. But / am di
crossing, simply wandering off among
the wise men who are always ready to
tell you how not to conduct IA newspa-
per.
To publishing a country newspaper,
don't get in toe much news. 1t neces-
sitatss leaving out the dog fights, which
are of greater interest to many of your
readers.
Don't say anything about the po!iti
cal situation, lest you hurt the feelings
of a county officer who gets his letter
heads printed at your establishment.
Don't say IA word in your local col
umns about the merchant or manufac-
turer who has a standing advertise
ment in yaur paper. If he wants to
keep his business before the people let
him pay for it at twenty cents per line.
That's business.
Don't neglect patent medicine adver-
tisements. Fill your paper with them
at half your regular rates give IN
agent liberal commissions for procnr-
ing them, and take your pay in nos
trums. This will encourage ready
made physicians, and fill your paper
with mighty interestin' readin'.'
Don't fail TO give your readers n full
supply of original poetry. 1t will en-
courage home talent aud make your
paper popular with sentimental young
ladies, noted for well ventilated ho-
siery and a charming ignorance of
homework.
Den't be particular about issuing
your paper Do the regular publication
day. Give your readers a chance to
exercise that greatest Of all Christian
virtues, patience.
Don't spend too much time 10 read
ing proof. Let your paper be-like
your life-fnll of errors.
Don't neglect any opportunity to
make yonr paper highly sensational.
If goa have a +" damnable rumor,'' pub
lish it. If it be true, you will gain ere
dit for fearless journalism; if false you
simply blasted some ene's good
name, and committed one of the indis-
.cretioDs of the nineteenth century.
Don't reject an article because it
borders OF the obscene. The roughs
indorse it and give you credit for
wit. In short, publish . paper in the
interest of street-cornsr l~oafers, hotel
and blear-eyed ward politi-
;ians, and yen will win the lasting
gratitude of your successor, the sheriff.
GET V~ACCINATE Dust at present
mall pox appears to be prevalent gem
rally over the country. The news
and medical men are discussing
whether or not vaccination should be
,racticed. Do not wait, however, to
cad the outcome of these discussions,
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