The Midland express., 1893-03-03
AN IDEAL NEWSPAPER.
Its Evolution From q Semi
monthly to a Weekly.
VARYING FORT UNE $.
New Home And rlagnificent Fle-
risanical Appliances Described
Struggles And Triumphs.

"A little over two winters ago the
editor Of this paper was student
IN IOydton Institute, member Of
the Academic Department Of the
school and also All instructor In the
Preparatory Department Of the same
Institution. About. the middle Of
December he received letter from
Mr.. Alnbrie Field, former principal
0f the school. who MAS then In New
England engaged IN the ministry,
To the effect that he was coming
south on account Of failing health
and intended bringing i first-elass
4olding Jobbcr with him, and tha
Iif he could count on his assistance
I'm helping set VI paper, etc. The
letter was a.genuine surprise to the
editor as his previous experience
III this line comprised only the opcr-
ltion of one those toy affairs thai
commonly sell for IS and print
.aris. etc. rhe editor replied,
detailing his previous experience
and proffering his services such as
they were.
GETTING IN READINESS.
Nothing more was heard Of the
matter until one day shortly after
the new year, Mr.. Field appeared
In Boydton ~ suddenly asif drop
pen from the clouds, and To the
students and others his unlocked
for approach was almost as surpris-
ing ~ II lie had been q visitant
from those regions. Seeking out the
editoI Mr.. Field explained hts plans.
and made proposition TO him to
canvass for subscriptions, ETC., which
was accepted. Shortly afterwards
the press and type, costing &700, nr-
rived. The press was one of the
magnificent No. Golding Jobbers
self-inking, automatic brayer, duplex
ldistributor. and oil the other Inn
IprOvements which make these press
- the best of their class iii the
country. It was for hand or steam
along with Il was an excellent Job
outfft and type, ETC., suflicient t.
publish q column newspaper. Ar
ONCE was fitted up in the College
building, everything was In readi.
ness for business. 1t was decided
to do job work and publish semi.
monthly newspaper with Mr.. Field
~ editor and publisher, the pres
ent editor being . combination oi
agent, local reporter and general
utility man.
NAMING THE PAPER.
After much brain-cudgelling and
d fruitlcss exploration Of Newspaper
| Directories Ia vain search after
q name not otherwise appropriated
the title, Southern Planet was agreed
upon and April ., 1891 fixed as the
day for the initial number Of The
new publication. Shortly. before ii
publication Mr.. Field remarked t.
| the present editor that the namf
l.Sonthernn sayored too much OF sec
tionalism, and that one ought tt
be selected less objectionable, til,
editor concurred. Mr.. Field suggest
cd Express Of some kind. The,
coupled BOydton on to 1t, but th,
name did not seem clphemiou
enough for them. Then one OF In,
hyphenatcd lionstrosities In com
mon use these days was though
OF, but this was ALSO dismissed
finally the editor suggested mid
land" This was happy though
and It was Mt once adopted rs
was both smooth and flowing ans
also, with reference to the loca tiol
Of the paper, geographically appro
pirate. So the name THE MIDLANI
EXPRESS WAS finally adopted.
THE FIRST NuMBER
The first number was issued Apr
., 1901. 1t was u four column pape
III l6, and started ont with q pal,
subscription Of only 60 subscribers
The venture seemed to take vel
In May, Mr.. Field, who on his re
turn had resumed his duties a. prin
cipal Of the school, proposed i
the present editor to become tn