The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-08-21
COUNTRY CORRESPONDENTS.


spondents, is often a subject Of discus
sion in editorial conventions, says tho
National Journalist. The importance
is always admitted, but the difficulty of
securing and retaining the proper kind
Of correspondents and always getting
satisfactory reports, is also generally
made very prominent
w. C. Elliott, of Pennsylvania, has
tried to meet this difficulty, in a meas
ure, by e circular sent to correspond
ents. The circular contains many prac-
teal and valuable points, which should
receive careful thought, and we there
fore produce it in full, as follows:
OFFICE OF VOLUNTEER. [
RETNoLDsvILLE, PENN. I
To Our Correspondents:
1t is difficult to obtain a good corre-
spondent, and one who will write just
what is wanted and nothing more; there
fore we give below few rules, and If
they are carefully adhered to there will
be no cause for complaint. We are we'll
aware, from experience, nat it is very
annoying to devote time and labor to
an article and then have it thrown out,
but there are some things which should
not be published, and therefore the cor
respondent should be patient. The ed
itor is as anxious to obtain good news as
the writer is to send it, and he will not
throw out an item which he deems of
to having an occasional item culled out,
for it is only what all have to expert
ence who write for newspapers.
Some of the things to write about are
shows, concerts, etc; festivals, fairs
and donations; accidents and destruc-
ton of property by fire or food; deaths;
marriages; mention people, who are at
least comparatively well known in your
community, who are i'll or are leaving
your place for a visit or to stay, and
where they are going, or who are hav-
ing visitors, and the names of the visit
ors, and the places where they are from;
improvements in your community in
the way of new buildings, etc. private
parties, picnics, etc. Accurate accounts
of deaths, i. e., age, full name, where
buried, ETC., can most generally be pro-
cured from the pastor, and marriages in
your neighborhood from the pastors
and justices Of the peace. If the pas
tors, at least, are aware you are CORE
spending for paper, they will no doubt
give all the marriage and death notices,
and also church notices, that they have.
BY conversing with the physicians in
your community before writing, you
can keep we'll posted on accidents and
receive only accurate information. This
has always been our experience.
If you frequently put your neighbOrs'
names in the paper they will take an
interest in your letter and also in the
paper itself; but be careful and spell all
proper names correctly and write them
very plainly, so that the printer cannot
make a mistake, for there is nothing
that will disgust most people more than
to see their names spelled wrong in
print. Write news that will please the
intelligent class of people in your COM
munity, 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 commu-
mites, for they never read paper ex-
cept occasionally, when they may bor-
row it, and besides it would be beneath
the dignity of respectable journal to
recognize such class. An occasional
puff will be appreciated, and would not
be out of place if the person is worthy
of it; and always speak we'll of churches
and rything else that is for the pub
lie good.
The following are some of the things
not to write about: Many correspond
,ents fill up half their letters with ac-
counts of the weather and the condition
of the mud, and repeat old jokes they
of scandals or street fights, or any other
news that would be unfit to bring into
the family, or anything that may lead
to suit for libel, should be left out
BE careful and say nothing that will
tend to make enemies. The correspond
ent should never write letters of which
he or she would be ashamed to have it
publicly known that they are the author.
; We have seen letters published which
contained items like the following: 81.
G. went to see his best girl the other
night, but another fellow was there and
had cut him out. We are onto you. {"
No one but L. G. would know what was
meant, and he would be mad, while
everyone else would be disguised. No
good correspondent will say: eff certain
parties do not improve in their conduct
in the future they will be exposed or
Lots of scandal is being reported" or
-"Gossips are numerous" besides foolish
and pointless jokes. 1t does not seem
as though anyone would write such
trash, but they do and it is published
If our correspondents follow our in
structions, we are sure their letters will
be read, and will be credit to them
selves and the Volunteer. Write only
on one side of the paper. Your name
must accompany every communication.
1t will not be published, but we desire
this rule TO be rigidly adhered to.
Yours respectfully, w. C. ELLIOTT,
Editor Volunteer.
We never know who were our best