Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-26
AN INTEREST," IEGIDESTITY.
Trial, of New Reporter a, Little Rocl

were every ready to go down to the
sand bar and burn powder for the sake
of impeached honor, there was pub
ished, in Little Rock, o Democratic
newspaper known as the Weekly Inter
rified. 1t was edited by o Colonel
Blunt, man with nerves as strong as
wire and whose pen was as aggressive
as q latter day commercial trust. He
had fought several duels, had been se-
verely wounded, had crippled one man
and killed another.
One day, during rather quiet politi-
cal season, a tall, "gangling" fellow
went to the UeteTrtJied Office and ap-
piled for work.
What can you dop' the Colonel
asked.
Il can do almost anything on a news
paper. l have done a great deal of
work in the east, and / am regarded as
one Of the best local reportess in the
country"
What's your name?"
"John Wilson,"
"Well, Mr.. Wilson, to tell you the
truth, 1 am in need of a local reporter.
There are many opportunities here for
fine writing. Are you what is known
as fine writer-a man who can paint
striking pictures2"
"Yes, sir"
"All right, you may go to work. My
paper has been dropping for some time
on account of the political calm that is
now running the country. I cannot
leave my high perch of political dig
nifty and descend to the street indeed,
1 am q sower of the seeds of ideas
rather than reaper in the harvest-field
of events. You understand me, I sup
pose"
"Yes, sir"
"All right. Now. / want you to go
out and write up everything you see,
that is, everything you can touch with
interest. Make your work thrilling
use glaring metaphors to yourself
an interesting identity, for journalism
is personal in this state
Wilson was really q fine writer, with
an imagination that might have awak-
ened the envy of novelist and with a
fancy that might have challenged the
admiration Of poet. He wrote short
stories and bright sketches, produced
comic rhymes and humorous para
graphs.
The Colonel was delighted. "You
are the man have been hoping would
come along" he said to Wilson. "You
can keep my paper up during the calm,
and l can make it roar during the
storm. We are team, sir, and I know
that subscriptions will soon begin to
pour in"
Weeks passed, and the paper seemed
to grow brighter with each issue, but
no subscriptions.
Wilson" said the Colonel, "you are
doing excellent work, but somehow it
doesn't amount to anything. Your mat
ter is all right, but you have not sue
ceeded in establishing an interesting
identity. Our people are peculiar in
this respect. Just about the time you
came here, little bench-legged, stub
nosed, red-headed fellow took charge of
the Whiggish Horn, published around
the corner. He can't write ten
words of good English, but he has es-
tablished an interesting identity, and
subscriptions are pouring into the Of
fce."'
"How did he manage itP" Wilson
asked, in a rather detected way.
why, he caught the people. Al
though possessing no literary ability,
he knew that something had to be done,
so he went out and whipped fellow"
Whipped fellow!" Wilson ex-
claimed.
"Yes, sir, went out, jumped on man
and whaled him. Then the people be-
gan to talk about him, and as his inter-
esting identity was thus established
they wanted to read his matter, and,
naturally enough, subscribed for his
paper"
Whipped fellow" said Wilson, re-
fectively. @But look here. Colonel,
I don't want to be killed. I don't mind
whipping fellow, but I don't want a
man to shoot me or to challenge me,
for if should refuse the challenge ]
should be disgraced."
There is no danger of a challenge.
Local editors are not challenged. Be-
ing challenged is a distinction that be-
longs to the editor-in-chief AS for
being shot, why you must take your
chances. In fact, there is not much
danger if you handle yourself rightly.
Knock the fellow down, and il he has a
pistol take it away from him. And
then, my dear sir, the subscriptions will
pour in and your fortune will be made.
"I will study about it, Colonel"
Yes, but while you are studying
about it, subscriptions are pouring in
upon our rival sheet. My gracious
alive, if this were not season of politi'
cal calm, I'd show you subscription
list"
Colonel, I will go out and see what
can be DONE"
"Thank you, my brave boy" said the
Colonel, grasping his hand. thank you,
Go out and wool some scalawag and
then come and take dinner with me-"
| Wilson went out and after walking
about, meditating, went into saloon
Pretty soon there was heard q terrific
commotion, and shortly afterward vii
son, limping painfully, came out ant
hastened as best he could to the office
The Colonel was waiting for him.
"Why, my dear fellow, what is tht
matter?' the Colonel exclaimed.
| Wilson sat down. II have had |
seige, said he, IAN awful siege, but
fear that it was the other fellow that es
tablished the interesting identity.