Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-08-21
COUNTRY coaREsPoNoeCE.

&ponaehtA = often Subls--t of Discus
sion in editorial conventions. says tho
NafaSsai JsaFaalast, The importanco
h always admitted. but the dIiiculty 20
securing and retaining shc proper kind
of correspondents and always getting
satisfactory reports. Is also generally
made very prominent
w. q. Elliott. Of rennsyIvanla. has
tried a. meet this lifrculsy. in uicas-
arv. BY a circular sent ~ corrcspon,l-
eut4 The circular contains many prar-
trial and valuable points. which shoald
rscetve careful thought. and we there
tore pr,siure IL in fall. a. follows.
OxvteK oT VoGrSrsNR
hErSoApsytILH. Prr~.
To cur Corrr-pondeatss
T u i difficult ~ obtain a gao.t .orrv-
I sp"nslsnt. and une who sill writ. Just
Shaf Is wanted and nothing unrs: there
F tpr'' we give below few rules anil II
they ar- carefully adhered 10 there will
b. M cause nor complaint We arr we'll
aware. trpm experience, that IL Il VERY
an article and then have il thrown oat.
but there ARE some things which should
not be published. and therefor. che cur
respondent should BE- patient The cd
itor u as anxious to obtain good news ~
the writer Is % send II. and he will not
I throw out an item which he deems Of
I public interest. No on. should object
"a having an occasional item cull..,I ous.
/ Tor IL j. only what all have ~ expert
ence who write for newspapers.
I Some Of the things 10 write about are
shows. concerts, ctr: festivals. fairs
anil donations: accidents and dsstru,.-
tion of property by irr or Hood. deaths;
marriages. mention people. who are at
least comparatively well known in your
community. who arc ill ar are leaving
/ your place for a visit or to stay, and
where they arr going, or who arr hav-
I ing visitors, and the names % the visit
/ ors, and the places where they ara from.
/ improvements In your community in
[ the way Of new buildings. etc; private
/ parties. picnics, etc. Accurate accounts
/ " deaths. l. e., age, full name. where
[ buried, etc. can most generally be pro-
cured from the pastor. and marriages in
/ your neighborhood from the pastar%
J and Justices of the pesre. ~ the pas
4 tors. at least. ara aware you are rorr,.-
/ spending for a paper, they viii mo- doubt
I give all the marriage and death noti,'es.
and also church notices. that they have.
/ By eouversing with the physicians in
/ your community before writing. you
sans keep we'll posted ON accidents and
receive only accurate information. This
has always been our experiences.
10 you frequently put your neighbors'
names in the paper they will take an
interest In your letter and also in the
paper itself but hc careful and spell all
proper names correctly and write them
very plainly, so that the printer cannot
make mistake, for there is nothing
that will disgust most people more than
to see their names spelled wrong in
/ prtBs- Write news that will please the
I intel ligent class OF people in your com
+ mHnity, for it is they who will support
/ the paper and who will read what you
/ write. There is nothing gained In at
tempting to please the drunken and
worthless, who are in most all comma-
mites, Tor they never read a paper ex-
/ cept occasionally. when they may bor-
row it, and besides 10 would be beneath
the dignity Of respectable journal to
/ recugnizr such n class. An occasional
/ puff will be- appreciated. and would not
be ont OF place il the person Is worthy
/ % it; and always speak we'll Of churches
and everything else that is for the pub
| liz good.
/ The following are some ot the things
not to write about: Many correspond
| euts I'LL up half their letters with az
| counts Of the weather and the condition
/ of the mud. and repeat old Jokes they
have read in other papers All accounts
of scandals or street fights. or any other
news that would be unfit "a bring into
the family. or anything that may Lead
"a suit tor libel. should he left cut
lie careful and say nothing that will
/ tend - maze enemies. The correspond
/ snt should never write letters of which
/ he or she would be- ashamed "a have IL
/ publicly known that they are the author.
i We have seen letters published which
/ contained items like the following. 4.
/ q. went - see his best girl the other
I night. but another fellow was there and
/ had cut him out. We are onto you -
/ No one bat L. e. would know what xas
meant. and he woald be mad. while
everyons else would be- disgusted- NJ
/ guod correspondents will say: If certain
/ parties do not improve In their conduct
in the future they will be exposed or
Lots % scandal Is being reported. or
| 'Gassips arr numerous besides foolish
/ and Pointless jokes- Il does not seem
as though anyone would write such
trash, but they 10. and IL Is published
| n cur corrcspoudents follow our in
/ structions. ar sure their letters will
be- read. and will be a credit 20 them
/ selves and the Volunteer. Write only
on one side Of the paper. Your name
| must accompany every communication.
/ IL will not be published. but we desire
this rule 70 BE- rigidly athered to.
Yours respectfully, w. c. ELLIOTT.
/ Editor Volunteer.
/ We never know who were our best
friends till We have lost thar, Tha