The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-25
HIS TRIALS AND JOYS IN VIRGINIA
AT CHRIS rMAS.
Though Hard Working Man, Tic IL y
Born Humorist and rhllosopher--scme
Specimens of His Timely Hints and
ADhorfs,ne

man IN the world mas os many talents an
a. many trials As the country editor; n
man is in greater demand or more useft
70 the community. And az Christmas tim
no man is more frequently in less advant'
gecus position for feeling cheerful than
he.
He is the cock-ofthc-walk Of his neigh
borhood-the local encyclopedia. reference
book, index. and dictionary combined
| County politicians court his favor, travel
/ iug statesmen greet him efusiyely. and ~
public gathering religious. political. or -
cisl, Is complete without his presence
I When he spends two or three day
week preparing his edition, his ofhc
j. the rendezvous for every gentlemen O
/ leisure who amuscs himself studying th
collection OF law reports. agricultu
raj ldnd-books and congressional re
cords. kicking about the files AMI
exchanges. whiting the desk 81
table, or Offering valuable suggestions ans
pointers about tic running of a newspaper
Good naturcd. long suffering, and patient
the editor. who has 10 know a little abOu
everything who not only cuils the vicinil,
news. but clips exchanges. writes cdit0
rails. and frequently. with the aid of boy
sets mp an the type and works tie press
submits % nearly every Kind Of imposition
But as the country merchant brings I'm hi.
display al. Of holiday novelties. as his visi
tors tell him Of gifts Of game. poultry, ol
preserves sent to distant friends. he inyol.
unfairly thinks at the small balance in hi
eXchequcr. due % the failure Of many 10 re-
member that their subscriptions are due.
Newspapers are not air plants. though
some are more valuable than orchids Then
chief income is derived from advertise.
meuts. and 10 make such investments pro-
iitablc the paper must contain All the news
TO attract readers who will subscribe. II
subscribers fail to pay. nCws cannot lie
bought, and advertisement, fail away. and
there D., shortage an christmas.
llumor. native and rampant. comes 10 the
editors relief. and scattered among his
locals appear such bits rs the following,
which have been selected from Virginia eX-
changes;
Mr. Perry J. Brown. one Of our most ex-
tensiye and successful truckers, has our
thanks for basket of fine large sweet pOta-
toes grown ~ Brick House furm, in New
Kent county,"
"lhe editors return their w0rmeSt thanks
% Our enterprlsing t0wn-man and mrr-
chant. Mr.. y. b. billiard. for q present Of a
fine iit Christmas turkey
His Honor. Mayor NoWell. Is evidently
a believer in large vegetables. lie sent us
recently beet weighing eight pounds. II
was a ponderOus specimen
"Messrs. MYerlcy & Andrews. wholesale
and retail liqnor dealers. anticipating the
needs az iho printer as Christmas draws
near. have already sent as a supply OF fine
liquid reireshment. In this issue they have
card tO the country friends
~ blessing about Christmas times \
nice fat turkey
Who will bring as a nice fat turkey for
Christmas Don't an speak at once, but
bring it right along now"
I'VE will just say. by way az a gentle re-
minder. that the iatted turkey of whi'h we
spoke SO ieeiingly and lovingly aboutdn eur
last issue. has not, as yet. up to this writing
L.ij j. W., put in am appearance. Does
amy OF our good subscribers believe he Will
En-
A good Tat turkey. barrel Of irish po-
iltoei, or nice pair 90 young geese. or
even a barrel OF Cherrysioue oysters
either one Or all would bc very acceptable
90 Us a5 Christina, present"
To say Che least these are mild hints ana
not necessarily connected with sub-crip-
toms. When he touches upon taat subject
Che editor mikes little cOuceaiment. Hear
that. Hear him:
"Niil somebody suggest something 90 De
done with the man who viii nnt p1tr0nlIe
his home paper. lynching is out Of the
quest Jon. aud the fellow is -o smail-5Ouied
ihe f0ol-killor or the White Caps VII have
nothing 10 do with him.
I'VE are pleased 20 see a subscriber come
iu with hearty Alnd-slake and "a smile ON
Bis face. We know bee wants 30 please u.s..
Dat al. when We ,re then. lodging Us; they
feel badly and we feel worse
"Iha editor hopes o. Sec many Of bis
Augusta friends in stanton on Monday
next. court day. II will Dee "a good time 10
remember him with subscriptions"
There &, free hiiching yard IN rear Of
the Office for the u-e ~ our friends. IL IN
open at ali times. aud all are welcome"
20 get down 10 h1rl-phn. however. the
editor finally suggests the method Of pay
ing Dues il money is not handy. II Is sur
lri,ing tO those who have not inye-tl-
gated the subject. how scarce small
change and fractional currency are in some
parts OF the commonwealth. Many cross
roads store engages ln barter almost exclu-
sigciy, though here eggs seem 10 be the
most accept Ole currency. Three eggs
worth Of tobacco "a dozen eggs worth Of
linen are not -,rlnge sound, 70 the
country merchant, who receives ia =
Jew days Ao many eggs thif he turn,
them into cash by sending. Immense crate,
of them CD cpmmi5siOn merchant. f0r sale.
SO iu tae newspaper, 0ii''. a- Gee text re-
feai-. white corn will for dues. But the
great medium OF exchange Is apparently
wood. Eyery body nearly ia the country can
get mold "a 10 u The shape OF logs or hoop
poles. No home in N.rginia's rural dis
lricts IL genuine without huge log sput-
ierlng AMI blazing in the ho5pitablc fire.
place on thri-tsls. and besides the editor
can literally see bis subscriptions p.iine mp
about his office. ~ may be- "a little difficult
for him ID keep IN his head The quotations
of cord wood, and % resolve 1.-TWO cords
worth u your paper into silver values.
But be- doesn't mind this 80 long as he gets
that wood.
This eioguence is bonn suggestive and
fOrcible, and drives right % the point. Lis
ten tO him again.
We had Just rs well put oBr limbs into
one leg o. our panileons, take the other leg,
roll il into bunch aud try b walk, ae 70
try and impress 10 upon our subscribers
that wc need money AID wood. BRING the
wood along, friends. we won't need il whea
10 Is warm enough for "a. mosquitoes 10 hold
cainiyalsr
There WAS a large Attendance here on
court-day. and we didn't get money enough
10 pay for 70 wool fire. This thiar IL done
with now. We would indulge you longer II
we could, bat we fad II takes money 10 keep
~ going, 30 those who owe rs may look but
for VS."
"Our wO0d-plyiug subscribers viii please
attend % the request we have made % fur
nish NJ wood ut once, while the weather il
favorable"
"lhe woot-house VIII still hold a few
more load, Of good dry wood. II delivered Al
once on payment Of dues 10 this Office"
When thoughtful person brings the logA
without being asked, the editor fairly bab-
bles over with peace and good viii. aud
writes something Ike tais.
MIR. j. i. Cleek Diough. us two good
loads Of wood few days ago to pay the
fDl himself and his sister, in
ielae-,ee. Mr.. Geek SAYS a new barrier
arrived al his house "Wednesday eyeitIg,
and his name is John ~ tie Is glad ~
re- Nr. Geek, more glad TO know OF the
new hoarder, and most glad TO have that
wood.
Brothers. We salute YOU. Nay yOl havo
onOagA wood % make y0Hr Preside cheerful,
% lay by for next winter, when il may not
be 20 warm, and 10 boom your circulation
80 that you will 1e able 20 continue to cor
tribute. As you have done. towards the wei.
fare and advancement Of this grand old
Commonwealth. Merry Christmas and