The Russellville Democrat., 1890-08-21
COUNTRY coRREsPoNDEcE.

The Importance of neighborhood and village reports, through local core spondents, is often subject of discus sion in editorial conventions, says the National Jougmakst 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
 ". c. Elliott, of Pennsylvania, has tried to meet this difficulty, in meas ure, by a circular sent to correspond ents. The circular contains many prac. tical and valuable points, which should receive careful thought, and we there fore produce it in full, as follows: OFFICE or yoTUNTEER, REYNOLDSvILLB, PENN. To Our Correspondents:
 It is difficult to obtain good core spondent, and one who will write just what is wanted and nothing more; there fore we give below a few rules, and if they are carefully adhered to there will be no cause for complaint. We are well aware, from experience, that 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annoying to devote time and labor to an article and then have it thrown out, but there are some things which should not be published, and therefore the cor respondent should be patient The ed itor is as anxious to obtain good news as the writer is to send it, and he will not throw out an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 public interest. No one should object to having an occasional item culled out, for it is only what all have to experi- ence who write for newspapers.
 Some of the things to write about are shows, concerts, etc; festivals, fairs and donations; accidents and destruc- tion of property by fire or flood; deaths; marriages; mention people, who are at least comparatively we'll known in your community, who are i'll or are leaving your place for visit or to stay, and where they are going, or who are hav-
 
 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 corre- 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 well 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 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 a respectable journal to recognize. such a class. An occasional puff will be appreciated, and would not be out of place if the person is worthy of it; and always speak well of churches and everything 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 have read in other papers. All accounts of scandals or street fights, or any other news that would be unfit to bring into the family, or anything that may lead to a 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: 'L. 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.. c. would know what was meant, and he would be mad, while everyone else would be disgusted No good correspondent will say: If certain parties do not improve in their conduct in the future they will be exposed" or s'Lots of scandal is being reported" or ''Gossips are numerous" besides foolish and pointless jokes It 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 poiaHteer. Write only on one side of the paper. Your name must accompany every communication. It will not be published, but we desire this rule to be rigidly adhered to. Yours respectfully, w. (. ELLIOTT,
 Editor VoluHteer.
 
 We never know who were our best friends hll we have lost them. The