The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-01
\ REPORTERS STORY"
How George Stanton Made q Dis
covery in Newspaper Work.

Write for the Times! Do you imag-
inc you went to college for that? You
can't write"
Have you ever given me the chance?''
No, But | know You couldn't /
daressiy you We been counting on doing
TINS, ch?" The younger man bowed
And have been laying in stock of
flowing rhetoric and fine-spun the
orles, the elder continued. ''IIumphi
The Times wouldn't pay in "A months
time If we fed the public on stuff of
that sort. What it wants is food of an
other kind
Whats to prevent my providing it
as well as the other writer's on the
staff? Is my college education to be a
draw back to me? If il is
The sentence was left unfinished,
and the elder man silently returned to
his work of CHANGING over some copy
spread out on the desk before him.
When he hal finished the last page, he
turned tn the first and wrote I'm. q"
across the top.
What does that mean" George
Stanton inquired
Those letters stand for must GO
Then whatever bears them goes?''
Ills uncle surveyed him with a grim
smile lighting his face.
Its apt to-" he sail, drvly.
Then anything l might write would
he printed. regardless of its merit, if
yOu 80 marked iG?''
Certainty. But you must remem-
ber that an uncle inIuigent to faults,
and the proprietor of this paPer-a sue
c,saiul business entcrprisc-are two
distinct personalities"
Which You bear, | understand. But
surely literary merit cuts some fgurc?''
'Jm-if the name of the writer who
possesses it is we'll known, it does
Not oihcrwise?'
The elder man shook his head en-
phaticiIly. I've no use for EN-"
why, that makes out the newspaper
of to-day 4 mouey-malliug machine of
the lowest order" George Stanton ex-
claimed, indignantly. The brains of
the concern are subservient to the
business office
Exactly"
There was pause, during which the
younger man tipped back his chair
against the wall and gazed abstracted-
lv at the ceiling. At length he brought
the legs of the chair to the floor with
emphasis.
Il still maintain that it isn't fair
that shouldn't be given a trial" he
remarked.
II suppose you've got a batch of
manuscripts all ready to fire at me"
The nephews face flushed Il thought
so. Well, | don't want EN- Now see
here, what this paper wants isn't
rhetoric, it isn't eloquence, it isn't
philosophy, it isn't literary merit, as
yuu call tits just lifc-pliiin, every
day life. | wouldn't publish the most
beautiful flight of fancy that was ever
writtcu-i'vc no use for that sort But
Iife-things near, local, personal-give
me those. If you keep your eyes and
cars open, you'll find more tragedy in
one block of san Francisco than in the
whole Of Shakespeare
Then YOU give me the chance?'
Frederick stanton hesitated. Its
open to you the same as it is to all,
he replied, Indifferently; You would
bc paid for space-work at our regular
rates. providing we accepted it Mind
you. | don't say I'll take what you
write"
'-isnt if it suits, you'll m. g it?''
IF it suits" the other repeated, a
little sarcastically, with movement
which closed the interview
\ week later the young man again
presented himself in his uncle's private
Office.
I've followed your advice, Uncle
Fred, and taken life for my subject. ="
He threw himself into "A chair and gave
"A twist to his head in the direction of
th,. inner door. 1t was slightly ajar.
and he rose and shut it before he re-
suIned You see, what you said about
the tragedies of life-and, of course. !
inferred that you meant the comedies
as well-being right under our noses,
a, it were, set me to thinking. Mean
time, | have found out the true mean
ing of your mystic letters. Whatever
bears them H,,St 90 in the columns of
the next issue, regardless of time,
space or other consideration. They are
SO potc mt as to require no explanation,
no suggestions from the molders of pub
/ lie opinion who preside in the editorial
den Whatever an editor may receive
from a proprietor initiated m e. VIII
| Ge printed. even If it be the death-war-
rant Of the entire staff.
lis this a lecture on the depravity of
| the press in general, or my own paper
| in particular?''
Neither. 1t is to let you know that
| | have been further enlightened since
we last discussed this subject | now
understand what exists mighty
! factor in the management of a news
| paper, and want you to put 1T on the
| top OF that" lie tossed some sheets OF
| closely written paper on the desk IN
front of the other.
''IIunph,'
= If | listen | may gather the very
material he wants. | said listened.
I.urcIla! ] flattcr myself that I've got
4 something spicy and realistic enough
To suit even yoC!"
| Il told yon that If you wrote any
thing fl: to set up type for, it would be
judged impartially and paid for at the
regular rates"
lit isn't the pay so much," George
Stanton replied, contemptuously.
Want To see yourself in print, sup
pose Well, let's see what you've pro-