The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-01-08

Democracy Will be found true to
itself, ready, pen or sword in
hand, to maintain their princi-
pies, like the Revolutionary
Fathers, with Their lives, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor" "
''The Country Press.
BY JUDGE SILAS H. WRIGHT.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
| am assigned TO a difficult
task; but nevertheless | rush in
and tread the way as fearlessly
as-though it we're an accustomed
! round, and my whole life had
been given up to editing "coun-
try newspaper" And l must say
here, that | have been often sur
prised at the depth of wisdom,
the sagacity, the alibness, the
assurance. the gertrude of indi-
viduals when they come to de
liver themselves upon subjects
which they have only superfici-
ally considered.
There are editors not at all read
in the common and civil law who
will upon the instant give you
an exegesis upon Coke or Justi-
nian and adjust as if by magic
the most eop,plieated rights of
person or of property. There are
lawyers, and plenty of them, too,
we'll read in their profession and
full of practice, whose glory and
delight it is to tell us all about
the Gospels, dwelling with pecu
liar JUNCTION upon the Prophets,
antHt enc would think that there
must be some mystic brother
hood between them, and that the
preachers province was an usur-
patton or altogether superroga-
tory. Physicians are particularly
liable to be masters both of law
and theology, whatever they may
know about cholera and the fe-
vers which rage in the land.
Why shall not l, therefore, who
never edited a paper in my life,
strengthened by every analogy
and backed by every good pre-
cedent, why shall not be able
to tell you just what the country
newspapers are and what they
should be?
I do not think that the country
newspaper is now exactly what
it should be; yet l am free to
affirm and stand ready to. make
the assertion good, that take it
all in all, it is better than the
city daily, and that it is as good |
as its patrons require or relish
It is a vehicle for news, opinion.
suggestion, thought. A vehicle
for such purposes ought to be
presentable, pleasant to the eye
and handy. The vehicle in which
we ride we require to be painted
and vanished and oiled. It's
spindles must not creak-its
springs must not bang and break.
The vehicle for thought ought to
be at least as complete and per-
feet in its appointments. The
paper on which the country
newspaper is printed ought to be
particularly fine. tough and turn
able. The type ought to be large.
clear, clean-cut and beautiful
The most sparkling water in a
dirty tin cup is hardly relished on
a sultry day even in the midst Of
a desert. The finest wire, Monte
Christie. .Lachryma, or piper Held
seek, fail to touch the soul thro'
the medium of cracked china
Ink and paper must be the very
best of the age and market. They
insure permanence and respect.
The paper that falls to pieces in
a single reading can never secure
Ihe attention of the reader. 1t
ought to be able to 90 safely thro'
the whole family, through sever
al families, around all the neigh.
borhood. 1t ought to have the
of a pair of linen trow-
sers. After many years it ought
10 be found laid away like the
wedding coat or the slipper; and
It will be, if its body does not be-
come crippled and dec,epit in
he handling.
Besides he-paper, ink and +
,ype, there is something else
The matter of brains
rifling as it may seem, is alto
sether indispensable. And mere
,rains is not the ingredient which
will make all work together for
rood. A newspaper demands a
particular kind of brains i; not
he lawyers, not the doctors, not
he theologian's. not the machin-
SITS. not the naturalist's, not the (
cientist's, not the poets but
he brain of the editor must be
,igeon-holed with all these.--
Brains work into ink and type !
With wonderful homogenity-Is $
hey seem to BE better fitted for 4,
ach other than shafts for horse, t
r a yoke of oxen, or a bed for
narried people. Brains are to :
newspaper what BARN is to i
'read. 1
There are newspapers that seem
o get along somewhat without !,
rains at least without warm =
rains. They live on cold snacks, o
sort of head cheese. souse and v
cissors. These be brains at Sec a
nd hand and may answer for :
he outside. A counterpart we $
are not so much for, and any 81
ounger may disport himself up 0
n it at pleasure !; but when we f'
ct in for the night we demand "
lean, white sheets. The smell +,
old socks drives US to another r,
ostelry. n
The Country paper ought to be the very :,
est. 1t smacks of home; 1T borders on IL
eekly walks, and life. 1t is like the gar el
IN in which sage and rue and chamomiie II
nd dahIiaS and snow balls and pinks and :
.raniums and ehrySanthemums are II
own. 1t is the chronicle of the county. sc
the course of years it is the authority in a,
arriages, births. deaths. visits, mov1ngS, =.
failures and successes OF all III
nds and character. The country editor g
ho appreciates his calling and cares for 6,
e success of his paper, is ever on the alert .
ON years end 10 years end. If John III
NTH has produced a pumpkin of excep- ii
Dnal size, or found Out an apple OF re- =;
arkable keeping qualities, John likes TO u
I'VE mention made of it; ahd Johns neigh u
,rs like to see the notice in print, JOhns u
lme looks so curious in print, and the pa i,