Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-08-29


special deposits upon which they allow inter
est.
How IS THIS last week our entertain
ing Crcagcrstown correspondent breathcd
defiance against our swift courses and now
the report comes to us, that on Saturday last
two representatives of the Mcchanics,own
trotting horse interest succeeded in offering
wager after wager in that place, none of
which were accepted. We are now called
upon to do something deiying and are: it
sounds something like this: that ut any age
from ycarling up, t" trot or run. reprcsen.
ta,ive is here awaiting challenge from
Crcagerstown it is even claimed that one Of
our citizens is open to a challenge tor foot
race Patron" will please arrange to he
stakeholder IN any event that may result it
, is essential that he he courageous man just
and acquitted with the rules.
by the way should his report of Saturdays
events happen to conflict in details, even in
essentials. with the one given above, our
readers will please ascribe it to blnocular
parallax so to speak, viewing Of the same
thing from two different standpOints.
-------~------
Nor FOR GOSSIP ONLY From occasional
intimations OF certain journalists we get the
idea that their conception Of the sphere and
line ofduty ola county newspaper are bound
ed by their opportunity to record occurren-
&c Ia 4 In
which may be slowed away the article last
introduced into the home; a retailer Of cur.
rent local news, solely.
The editor Of a county newspaper that thus
limits his privileges and misconcclves his du.
ty should resign his editorial office, buy him
self a typewriter and become public letter
writer he will in that capacity he equally
convenient and he may make way for one
who has placed higher estimate upon the
office. While some of the best reasoning,
noblest thought, broadcast vision, kcenest per-
cepti III and staunchest courage Of opinion
may be found in American newspapers of
the day. there are those assuming editorial
functions, whose bent Of mind is such that
they should never aspire to do other than
chronicle facts; who should never deal in
abstract argument, draw conclusion or
frame a syllogism. This class interests the
readers, but benefi Is no one: they inform but
the information is that of concrete and &C
complishcd facts: they inform while they
do not educate. The conduct of such a
newspaper becomes business, not an art or
profession and on the same principle that II
merchant meyer offers ham to a Jew, or 9TH
or than red dress to u dutch girl, these
newspapers rely upon the stock IN trade of
Favorable mention" to keep the business on
a firm footing.
Intelligent and impartial criticism having
for its object the destruction of abuses, the
broadening of opinion, the education of So
cictv; the use of pure and elevating style,
cschcwing that alominablc aryot, slang"
writing with as careful regard for the farm
as for the tttct; these are not only the privi-
egcs, but as the wondrous opportunities be-
come more and more apparent, will these
principles become the essential underlying
qualifications of the country editor.
The country editor will supple
mcnt the work of the school teacher, not
destroy it, by tho injecting of false syntax in
to his sentences mlsnomcrs into his scicntif-
&c reports; crudities into his political ccono'
my, slang into his lighter writings and loose
ness into his style.
A record of the most ordinary event may
lie made in words that will defy the analyst
seeking errors, and yet need be neither spark
ling nor profound, viewed as literary pro
duct'on 1t may be, should he, concise, de-
void of verbiage and to the point, yet none
the less accurate, smooth and expressive.
We have before us, weekly, evidences OF
the appreciation Of these principles and by
the side OF them lie others, the contrast be-
tween which has been the occasion OF this
article.