The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-10-27
Country Newananara

Under this head in The Century Is .
paper which the reader would know
without looking at the signature is from
the pen Of E w. Howe. It Is full Of
Howeisms from beginning to end
In the commencement the writer al
ludes to tho curious fallacy possessing
most minds that anybody can b .
country editor. He says he has heard
numbers Of men declare they could not
b. . lawyer. doctor or merchant, but be
never yet heard man affirm that he
could not succeed - an editor, particu-
LARRY country editor. Tho best country
papers, however. arc conducted by pro-
fessional printers who have worked their
way. These have no backing" ut all =.
begin. therefore they depend on them
selves. They struggle on nightly in
the effort to get their heads above water
and succeed, and the struggle naturally
brings ont all the latent power that Is in
them and puts them on top. In general,
Mr.. Howe thinks backing" is bad
thing to have.
The poorest country newspaper, poor
est In several ways, is that in the village
Of 400 or 500 inhabitants, where the ed
itor talks about "our wife, and trades
out orders on the stores for both his own
living and that of his help. Such editor
can, however. usually get q living:
Really, good newspaper men are scarce
in the country. says Mr.. Howe. In spite
OF this, however. country editors are
nearly always poor. One point that
strikes the writer is the sameness observ-
able in the appearance and contents Of
country newspapers. this quite apart
from considerations Of patent outsides
and plate matter. They are published
generally in country towns of about
1900 or 1900 inhabitants. These towns
usually have the same number of stores
banks and newspapers usually twol
There is the same number Of members
of each profession and business through
out, and even the population of the coun-
ties is very nearly the same. The circu-
lation Of the paper ranges from 600 to
to / 500.
The curious way in which the .'patent
outside" with all its consequences was
started is mentioned by Mr.. Howe. Dur
ing the war the printers of certain
Wisconsin weekly all enlisted and the
proprietor found it impossible to get out
his paper. In this emergency he sent
and purchased half sheet of news to
fold in with his own half sheet to serve
up to his subscribers Then it occurred
to him that the thing would look much
better printed all on one sheet This led
to his sending for a sheet printed on one
side, his own local matter to go on the
other Then suddenly an idea struck
him, and the development of that idea
led to his making fortune.
The tramp printer Of the old time has
disappeared never to return The coun-
try printer OF the present has ambition
and journalistic talent. and many noted
! publishers. editors and writers are
printers The demand in every news
paper Office is for all-round men. Of, the
country newspaper that is successful
Mr.. Howe has that to say which might
always go without saying and yet which
ought always to be said. the oftener the
better:
4 The best country papers are usually owneC
\ by one man. do not believe partnerships art
desirable in small ventures Of any kind. IL
the best country papers you will find few rail
road advertisements. which mean free passes
for II takes time to use passes. and certain OK
penses are inevitable In travelling that may b.
avoided at home. Whenever you ind asuccess
full country newspaper you win usually and tn,
editor at home and busy. Workings becoming
eminently respectable II h tAose who DO mo-
work who are objects Of Suspicion A Geniui
Il simply an industrious man who tries y
many ways that be finally fnds good one
Wherever you ind failing paper you viii anf
an editor who docs noe attend 70 his businez
There was . tims whsn many pApess wers sup
ported almost entirely b. lsgal Advertisements
but there are few such papers now. Thstr pro
prietors hays sithsr sons V WORK Or ints psli
tcA.