St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-12

nestle editorials of their respective papers.
-
Samuel Bowles-I mean the great Sam, the
founder of the Springfield (Nlass.) Republi-
can, was devout believer in the use of
simple words and not only used the good old
Saxon words himself. but encouraged all his
subordinate writers 10 adopt the same simple
style. Finally rules were promulgated to
that effect, and the Republican grew in circu-
lation, merit and influence. One OF the i'm
perative rules of his paper was that "com-
mence' should never be used in any shape.
As a consequence such a sentence as "the
season commenced" was never seen in the
Republican. The verb, "begin" was inyari-
ably used in place of "to commence"
80
NJ. T. Stone, the brilliant editor OF the Chi
cago Daily News, has his hobby. He believes
in short, choppy sentences. and heartily dis
likes long-drawn-out sentence with many
explanatory clauses. He also believes in
calling everything by its proper name, and is
not afraid To call public official "a thief' If,
after a reportoral investigation, ii is mani
fest that the public funds are being appro-
priatcd 10 private purposes. His one horror
in the way of words is the verb ITO state,
and as a result that verb never appears in
the columns of tine News. He claims that it
is misused and overused, in fact used TO
death. He maintains that it is incorrect to
write that "a man stated II certain thing"
According to his reasoning "a man said, af-
firmed or asserted a certain thing
-
Charles Dana, the editor of the ideal paper
Of the United States-the New York SUMS
amonomaniac on the subject of brevity. A
L.,
article sends the cold Oh lis down his back
bone and spOils his enjoyment of its literary
merits and beauties. As he told u new re-
porter. his theory was that writer should get
as many ideas in as few words as possible; or,
as he explained it. the writer should imagine
that he was sending a cablegram across the
ocean and was paying for it out OF his own
pocket.
Judge Baker. an early settler of st. Paul,
having located I'm this city in lS49. remarked
the other day that he did not believe in pro-
hibition, although a native of Maine, but was
strongly opposed TO the habit of drinking
among young men. II would" said he ''if 1
were able, prevent the young men from
drinking by exhausting the supply by drink
ing 1t myself"
80
Two st. Paul officials had occasion to visit
Chicago together not many months ago. Dur
ing the journey the conversation drifttd to
childhoOd's days, when one of them remarked
that he never would forget the Lords prayer
as taught him by his mother when he was a
very small boy. His companion looked incred-
ulous, when the first speaker said:
'May be you think don't know it?''
Nothing of the kind" replied his compan-
ion. ANY man in a Christian country ought
TO know that"
"well I'll bet you.the drinks you can't re-
peat it " continued the first speaker.
"I'll take the bet
"Welll go ahead"
'Now ! lay mo down to Sleep" etc., said
the challenged official
you've won the bet" interrupted the first
speaker before the recitation was half COM
pleted. Il didn't think you knew the Lords
prayer" The ONLooKER.