The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-02-25
The New Republican journal.

| 10 THE EDITOR OF The JOuRNAL: w I'LL
reference to the enlargement of your pa
per l have pursued a policy adopted by an
editorial friend OF mine. Some years ago
this gentleman confessed that when GER
tain important events TRANSFERRED he was
inclined to Immediately publish his ideas
concerning them. 1t was after while
discovered that by delaying action for a
few days he was often able to find in the
columns of his contemporaries very SINH
lar thoughts, and frequently clothed in
more expressive language than he could
command. He then boldly appropriated
the articles giving credit for them in some
inconspicuous manner which he claimed
was not noticed by one reader in ten.
This course saves him deal of labor and
gains him credit, with many persons, for
being a more vigorous writer than he
really is: at least, so he contends.
Although six weeks have passed since
you adopted the quarto form, and friends
in the newspaper world and outside have
been generous with congratulatory no.
tees. | have not yet observed the compo-
sition that wholly conveys what l would
say; and SO | shall have to lift my pen aft
ter all.
To the very many expressions of adj
miration for the enterprise, sagacity and
ability exhibited by the Journal conduc-
tor, and his corps of assistants, ! most
heartily subscribe. The incompatible
way in which the local field is cleaned
each week, and the progressive spirit evi
denced in various departments, of your
publication, have been fifty described by
more competent pens than mine. What [
have been waiting for is that some one
should protest just a little that, amid so
many improvements of a grateful nature,
there should be a retrograde movement in
any feature. That step backward has
been taken in conjunction with rapid ad-
vances in other regards, | most emphati-
caly contend. | refer to the loss of emf
nent individuality the Journal has sus-
tanned in its recent metamorphosis.
For some fifteen years l have read Bel
fast's model paper weekly. 1t has ever
had personality that marked it as su-
perior to its colleagues. What / mean is
this: Cast a score OF more of weekly pa
pers from different sections of the country
at random upon a broad table and care
lessly place among them copy of the Re
lofo ~. q
of last month. | invite any one well vers-
ed in newspapers to select the leader in
the combination at a glance, and the crit
les eye would as surely be fixed upon the
stately features of the journal as an old
tar lettering about the wharves would
feast his gaze upon the graceful outlines
of a Bath ship anchored amid fleet of
nondescript crafts.
OF course the ample proportions of a
| folio newspaper must of necessity be cur
tailed on assuming the more capacious
quarto form. The dignity attaching to
mere size all other things being equal is
partially abridged by this process But
it is possible to preserve in a large de-
gree the characteristic individuality while
making the change. That this has not
been successfully accomplished simply
proves that some of the doubts expressed
by contemporaries. that the journal
could not be improved.' had reasonable
foundation in at least one respect. The
cean-cut face and airy grace of the old
Journals first page has to some extent
vanished. That there are many features
which more than compensate for this loss
is not denied. But must gently chde
those responsible for the act upon the sac
ritice of artistic e fleets in the general Sc
lection of headings. From the bold let
tiers which proclaim the paper $ title and
the over modest caption above the head
rules on each page, down to the over
worked ''fullface type serving as edito-
rial and other headlines, there has been a
conspicuous falling from grace. With SO
many dainty products of the typefounder
at easy command, it does seem too bad to
adopt type for dignitied editorials which
| SIaItS us III lllt lace lIOIl every page OF
almost countless ready prints throughout
the land.
If you will permit a little pleasantly up
on SO serious a topic, | will say that it
would appear as if, when the Journal new
suit was ordered no thought was taken to
procure hat to correspond. When the
new garments had been dOnned and the
amplitied paper was about to appear upon
the street, the omission seems to have
been detected. Whereupon there was an
effort made to b ridge the chasm. The old
silk hat was in prime condition. very pre-
sentable indeed; but its size was altogeth-
er out of proportion. In this dilemma Il
new and very black Derby was utilized
and worm for week OF two; but the lack
OF harmony was quite promptly realized.
and fairly becoming plush tile put on in
exchange. But don tlatter yourself. Mr..
Editor, that the somewhat commonplace
hat now in use compares in elegance with
the abandoned article. You have express
ed willingness to 60 further in the march
of progress, and should not be satisfied
until the rather stiff and unbecoming
heading you now use gives way to one
| rlp stn