Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-06-15

ing cnlldren At some period in our iut-
ure, we shall neither Oh us ever create
such sensation again as we did when
that paper went crowding into every
pigeon-hole Of every post-olBce in our
county. While all Pottsville knew and
disapproved, on general principles, OF
the fact that the daughters of Judge
Pike had bought an old and never sue
cessful job-printer's outfit, we had not
lisped Of the coming paper to any ono.
We worked month on that first
number, for we had to learn to set
type, and for that we needed both pa
thence and perseverance. We had an
old-fashioned press. and it required
not only strength, but skill to know
how to jump on the treadle to secure
the bost results.
Our trial number was funny-lOok-
ing thing. One would think we had
expected a clientele OF Cinnamon.
We had placed our columns in the
wrong positions. so that every thing
was wrong side to-"
o, how we worked How cross and
tired and inky we got! We looked, in
side our Office, more like daughters Of
Dahomey than light-haired Vermont
girls. But we persevered and were
found in our sanctum glowing with
pride on the morning after the appear
ance of the Pottsville News by scores
OF callers, all of whom congratulated
us upon our enterprise. some of whom
thought, p'rpps, we might succeed,
and few OF whom subscribed for.the
paper. Then came the tug-of-war.
Subscribers must be got. We had de-
cided to run our paper on economical
principles and do every bit of the
work ourselves. After the stream Of
callers subsidized, we hired horse and
started to canvass our town. We had
already printed our terms, our policy,
and an earnest appeal to the people Of
louisville in particular and those OF
the State and county in general not to
neglect the broad path to literary
culture and intelligence which we had
opened to them and made easy at only
$3.50 per anIShm. regret to say that
many Of them neglected it. that they
shamefully despised it. But we re-
turned the first night with fifty sub
scribers. Every day after that we got
up at five o'clock and worked on
the next issue until eight. Then
we ate hearty breakfast and
went out canvassing, working
late at night in the Office
to make up for our absence. We
walked whenever we could. We went
by train to neighboring towns and
secured the country round about At
the end Of a month we had secured a
subscription list Of Sl7, which exceed
ed my fondest expectations.
We were often refused, often laughed
at, often looked upon as pair of es-
capped lunatics; but were more often
encouraged, cheered, complimented
and patted on the back; and both
friend and foe subscribed, either from
love or curiosity. So our main object
was gained.
Our outside work over we cast about
in our minds to improve the appear
ance and general tone of our paper.
1t had been full OF mistakes, but no
body had appeared to notice them.
Compliments OF all kinds were shower
ed upon us, from Rev. Banboozle
Snoods' fervid "You are doing noble
work, ladies; may the Lord bless your
efforts;n to old Farmer Tomkins' loud
spoken assertion in the post-office,
that Them Pike gals were gittin' up
a Dustin good paper.
We we're our own foreman, COM
position. pressman, printers devil,
editor-in-chief, managing editor, bust
ness agent, reporter, mailing clerk,
private secretary, chore-boy and scrub
woman. AS cold weather advanced we
even added to our list of accomplish
ments, and sawed our own wood. We
had no sawhorse, so Jennie used to
place the stick of wood ON the stairs
and sit on it while / industriously
worked the saw. This exercise is said
to be good for people who lead seden-
tary lives. So is working a Novelty
press.
When local news became scarce we
faithfully chronicled the death of every
pet cat or dog, with appropriate re-
marks. Jennie won the everlasting
love OF our one rich woman by writing
most touching epitaph on her dead
monkey. In the fall we made note
of every pig that was killed, every
"beef crittern that was sacrificed for
the public good. We manufactured
unimportant items about the local dam.
age OF the last storm or the untimely
blossoming of sweet violets in Novem.
Der. II any thing did happen we made
the most of it. II nothing happened
why, we made the most of that also.
We cordially noticed every specimen
of moss work, hand-painting or Gro.
cheted edging, every moustrous egg
overgrown squash and big apple that
we received. We got up question
, and answer department, in which 6cti
tious people asked all sorts of foolish
questions, and we answered with al
the wisdom of the gods and foolish
girls.
Then my ambition grew editorially
l began to give utterance to the mos
positive opinions on all sorts of sub
jects from the village school up to TIT
Presidents Civil-Service policy. 81
long as | confined myself to general