The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-19
Running TWO Papers at Once.

There is little humor in the newspaper bust
ness-just little says the Chicago Mad Here
is truthful story that proves this. great
many years aGo-not long enough ago to be
once upon time, however-a gentleman who
Is now the chief editorial writer upon one of the
great chicago dailles went to Canada to make
a fortune in the oil lands which had recently
been discovered there, and which were reputed
70 be as rich as those of Pennsylvania proved to
be- He did not discover a fortune in the
queens domlnions, but he soon did discover
that he had sunk out of sight all the earthly
possessions he owned. He still was loath to
leave Canada, hoping for a more favorable turn
OF affairs. In the meantime he was practically
a stranded exile.
just at this interesting point the editor of one
or Two rival daihes Of that small town where
he was staying came Co him and wanted to
know whether he was thoroughly posted upon
the United States The editor explained that
the question of an alliance between the two
countries was attracting considerable attention,
ana he wanted a series of editorials written ad
Vocating the project The young speculator
was glad enough to avail himself OF such an op-
portunity TO earn an honest penny wuile wait
ing, Micawber-like, for something to turn up.
He began work forthwith. Moreover as ne
had made an arrangement by which he was to be
paid at space rates, he managed to string out
his editorials to an extent never before known
in that town.
He had scarcely settled down to work in his
new field OF action when he was waited upon by
the manager of the opposition daily. The lat
u
tween the two dailies, and that he was quite
anxious TO outdo his loathsome contemporary,
Now, the other side have taken up the ques-
ton OF annexation, said he, land they are Gre
ating good deal of talk about 1t. don t know
much about the United States myself, and
thought maybe you could helpu out by writing
a Few editorials every day in opposition to the
scheme"
The exile readily agreed to do so. Every day
thereafter he wrote a red-hot annexation edi-
torlal leader for the Btt1te, and an equally force
full anti-annexation lea Ter for the Btn0stGrter.
Inc hRht waXed warm EXAMINATIONS and re-
examinations soon crept into the controversy,
and the whole town was at fever heat All the
editorial work was done by the young Ameri-
can in the privacy of his room at a hotel, the
copy" being sent to the respective offices
every morning by messenger. No one except
two editors knew that the stranger did any
editorial work, and neither of the editors knew
that his bright young protege was also en-
ployed by his hated rival
But there soon came time when the bitter
ness engendered by the editorial warfare in
vaded the realm Of business. Advertising and
subscription rates were cut, and the struggle
became war Of determination. This Affected
the cause of all the trouble-each Of the editors
soon was in arrears for salary, and the impe-
cunlous young penny -a-liner soon found that
ne was carrying on a losing game There no
longer was any money in 1t. Promises were
plenty, but he could not pay his own hotel bills
with them. He visited both publishers in vain
linen he gave up the struggle and decided to go
back home.
The next day the Bu0le published an able
editorial more than column in length. So did
the Bungstdrter. The two editorials we're iden-
teal The papers appeared on the streets
simultaneously. Ten minutes later the editor
or one OF them was seen making Decline for
certain hotel. Just as he reached it he met his
brother editor. Together they rushed into the
lobby and startled the clerk by shouting stimuli
taneously: Where's that young scoundrel2n
The clerk did not need to be told the name of
the particular ''scoundrel" who was so urgently
wanted just then. Hes gone home-back to
New York. " he said. Went down to the depot
few minutes ago"
neck-and-neck race to the depot followed.
Just before they reached it train pulled out.
On the rear Platform stood the editorial depart
ments of both the great moulders of public
opinion-smiling and bowling an everlasting
farewell to Canadian journalism.
Snorting, wheeling, putting and blowing two
hitherto implacable enemies joined hands then
and there ''Simpkins. we've been a pair of
asses" blurted out one. 1--WE have Perkins,
we have" gasped the other. Then they went
uptown together arm in arm.