The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-24
A BIT OF NEWS.

agine you went to college for that? You
can't write"
Have you ever given me the
chanceT'
mo. But / know ron couldn't. L
dare say you've been counting On doing
this, eh?'' The younger man bowed.
"And have been laying in b stock of
flowing rhetoric and fine spun theories,
the elder continued. 'Humphl The
Times wouldn't pay in . months time
IL we fed the public ON stuff of that sort.
What it wants is food Of another hind. "
Whats to prevent my providing it
az well as the other writer's ON the staff?
10 my college education TO be ) draw.
back to me? II it is'-
The sentence was left unfinished, and
thu elder man silently returned to his
work of CHANGING over some copy spread
ON the desk before him. When he had
finished the last page, he turned to the
frss and wrote I'm. g." across the top.
What does that meanfs' George
Stanton inquired.
Those letters stand for must go. "
Then whatever bears them goes?'
His uncle surveyed, him with o grim
smile lighting his face.
Its apt to, he said dryly.
Then anything ] might write would
be printed, regardless Of It's merit, If
you so marked it?''
Certainly. But you must remember
that an uncle indulgent to faults and
the proprietor of this paper-a successful
business enterprise - r two distinct
personalities
Which you bear. ] understand. But
surely literary merit cuts some fgure?'
"Um-if the name Of the writer who
possesses it is we'll known. it does"
mot otherwise?''
The elder man shook his head en-
phatically. 1--WE no use for 'em."
why, that makes ont the newspaper
of today d money making machine of
the lowest order" George Stanton ex.
claimed indignantly. THE brains Of
the concern are subseryient to the bust
ness Office.
Exactly"
There was o pause, during which the
younger man tipped back his chair
against the wall and gazed abstractedly
at the ceiling. AT length he brought the
legs of the chair to the floor with en-
phasis.
IT still maintain that IL isn't fair
that / shouldn't be given a trial, he
remarked.
"I suppose you've got q batch of
manuscripts all ready to fire at me. =
The nephew's face flushed II thought
80. Well, / don't want 'em. Now, see
here. What this paper wants isn't rhet-
ORIG, il isn't eloquence, it isn't philoso-
phy, it isn't literary merit as you call
it It's just life-plain, everyday life.
/ wouldn't publish the most beautifu.
flight Of fancy that was ever written
I've no use for that sort. But life
things near, local, personal-give mt
those. III ron keep your eyes and cara
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. tits
open TO you the same az it il to all, " he
!, replied indifferently. You would be
paid for space work ait our4regular rates,
providing we accepted 1t. Mind you,
don't say I'll take what you write"
HBut il it suits you'll IN. q. it?'
IF 1t suits = the other repeated a
little sarcastically, with q movement
J which closed the interview.
!, Al week later the young man again
/ presented himself i'm his uncle's private
Office.
eve followed your advice, Uncle
: fired, and taken life for my subject. I
d He threw himself into q chair and gave
!, q twist to his head I'm the direction o.
! the inner door. 1t was slightly aiar, and
ne rose and shut it before he resumed
lyon see, what you said about TIL.
tragedies of life, and of course Iinferret
that Won meant the comedies as well
: being right under orr noses, as i
were, set me TO thinking. Meantime
have found ont the true meaning of yon,
mystic letters Whatever bears then
must 20 in the columns OF the next Ii
+ sue, regardless of time, space or othe
le consideration. They are 30 potent as 4
require no explanation, no suggestion
from the molders Of public opinion VIII
preside ir the editorial den. Whateve
% an editor may receive from a proprieto
q initiated III &. will be printed, even
II be the death warrant Of the entir
staff.
lis this q lecture on the deprayity {
the press In general, or my own pape
ii in particular
III Neither. II lis TO let you know that
q have been further enlightened since v
last. discussed this subject. 7 now nj
derstand what exists as d mighty factt
III the nj engagement Of a newspaper, an
y / want on to put IL IN the fopo Of that.
70 He tossed some sheets of closely write
ss paper on the desk In front Of the othe
"Hulnphr".
"sHI listen ] may gather the vel
material he wants I said. I listenet
Eurekai I fiaiter uyseIf that I've q