St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-10-11
COUNTRY coRREspoNpEcE.

AeSo 1ePoEtS, tnfOOgn local CORE
spoodents. ID often . subject Of discus
sion in editorial conventions, says the
National Josrnsl;se. The importance
Is always admitted, but the diflculty Of
securing and retaining the proper kind
of correspondents and always gottina
satisfactory reports, IL also generally
made very prominent
W. c. Elliott. Of Pennsylvania, has
tried to meet this diniculty. in . meas.
ure. BY . circular sent to correspond.
snts. The circular contains many prao.
teal and valuable points, which should
receive careful thought, and We there
fore produce it in full, - follows:
ORslce or voLUR1sRa. I
RsVNoIDsvILLR. Psxx. /
10 Our Correspondents:
1t is difficult to obtain . good corre.
spondent, and one who will write just
what Is wanted and nothing more; there
fore We give below . few rules, and IL
they are carefully adhered to there will
be no cause for complaint. We are we'll
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not be published, and therefore the cor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
ttor is az anxious to obtain good news a.
the writer is to send it, and he will not
throw out An item which.h he deems of
public interest. No one should object
to having An occasional item culled out,
for 1t 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 ire or flood; deaths;
marriages; mention people, who srs at
least comparatively well known in your
community, who arc i'll or arc leaving
your place for 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. O., age, full name, where
buried, ETC., can most generally b pro-
cured from the pastor, and marriages in
your neighborhood from the pastors
and justices of the peace. II the pas
tors, 1T 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.
II you frequently put your neighbors'
names in the paper they will take an
interest in your letter and also in tho
paper itsclf; but be careful and spell all
proper names correctly and write them
very plainly. 90 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
for it is they who will support
the paper and who will read what You
write. There is nothing gained in At
to please the drunken and
who are in most all commu-
mites, for they never read paper ex-
cept occasionally, when they may Dor
row it, and besides 1t would be beneath
the dignity Of respectable Journal to
such class. An occasional !
pun will be appreciated, and would not |
be out Of place il the person Is worthy
Of it; and always speak we'll 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 ill up half their letters with &C.
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 unit to bring into
The family, or anything that may lead
10 suit for libel, should be left out.
Be careful and say nothing that will
end to make enemies. The correspond
mt should never write letters Of which
,e or she would be Ashamed to have it
publicly known that they are the author.
We have seen letters published which
items like the following: IL.
J. went to see his best girl the other
h,>A AhA~ Ro11 = |
ID. cut him out We are onto you"
70 one but L. G. would know what was
meant, and Ae would b mad, while
veryone else would Be diagcsted. No
God correspondent will say: "If certain
arties do not improve IN their conduct
q the future they win b exposed" or
Lots of scandal Is being reported" or
Goeips are numerous" besides foolish
nd pointless jokes. It does not seem
; though anyone would write such
rash, but they do. and it is published.
II our correspondents follow our in->
We are sure their letters will
9 read, and will be credit to them
elves and the Vesxster. Write only
a one side Of the paper. Your name I
lust accompany every communication.
t will not b published, but Ne desire
his rule to be rigidly aihered to.
'oura respectfully, w. C. ELLIOTT,
Editor ToIsafeer.
We never know who wers our bess
iends till W Aavo. lost them. The
'ol who has specially parted With hie
'onsy - quickly Aseali1es Nat he, -