The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-14

phials were such as he had demanded,
and it was by their means that he after
ward became such celebrated and dis
tinguished man.-German Folk Lore.
THE MODERN NEWSPAPER.
1t Is a Power, and Trains the Literary
Expression of the Time.
The function of the press, as we I'M
derstand it, is to influence the course of
public sentiment, to direct the public
policy, to discern and forsee the logical
conclusion of political doctrines and
tendencies, and in this Republic to in
struct the people in the art of self
government. So conducted a sound
newspaper, following out consistent
principle, exercises valuable and a
lasting power. 1t is not for day, but
for all time, and it's discussions are the
more likely to be effective because their
texts is in passing events, and they
come in chapters published daily and
presented in way to attract the public
consideration. The number of books
read is few in comparison with the num-
Der of newspapers carefully studied:
and as the development of the news
paper goes on the public demand for it
steadily increases. The old essay and
the old pamphlet have gone out of
vogue, and have been succeeded by the
newspaper article, so much more provo
cative of interest One chief reason
why we hear so many complaints of
the decline of the conventional
literature in these days is that the best
informed and most productive minds
are now employing their energies in
newspapers and periodicals. And why
do they do this? 1t is because they can
thus secure more regular and better
material recOmpense, and because they
can WELD wider and a greater influ
ence. They not only get vastly larger
audience, but they also gain the enor-
nous advantage of iteration. Day by
day they can hammer their thoughts
into the minds of the people, so slow tc
receive and welcome new ideas and
give up old prejudices and conceptions
Nor is 1T true that well-edited news
paper exercises little or no influence OF
literature. Much of the best writing
judged by high literary standard, is
prepared at this period for newspapers
There are men now engaged on news
papers who would have been singled
out for wide literary fame a hundred
years ago. We have read newspaper
articles as perfect in literary execution
and as well deserving to rank with ar
tlstlc literature as anything which the
masters of style have produced. Such
articles constitute an example and a
lesson in literary art, and help to clarity
the thoughts of many thousands OF
people. Even the unlearned know and
enjoy good English, and their taste is
improved by it. A well-written news
paper, lucid, logical and vigorous, is the
school in literature which exercises the
largest influence. 1t trains the literary
expression of the time.-N. Y. Sun
Told of a Successful Novel.
know of an instance where singu-
larly good and original plot was found
in story written with grammatical
error in almost every line. The author
was advised that her manuscript con-
tanned the material for good story, but
it would have to be rewritten. She con-
sented, and the manuscript was placed
in the hands of a competent writer.
When the book appeared the author
scarcely recognized her work. The plot
was there, but nothing more. AS the
reader predicted, the story, as rewr1t-
ten, proved a success. To-day it is one
of the best known novels in the literary
world, and the author, whose name APP
pears on the title page, receives all the
credit, while the real author contents
himself with the knowledge that his
bank account is $3.50 larger by the work.
The truth will perhaps never be known;
but often wonder when / see the title
page author receiving the congratula-
tions of her friends at the success OF her
book, if her conscience ever pricks her,