River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-05-03
A REPORTERS STORY
How George Stanton Made a 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 I know you couldn't. I
daresay you've been counting on doing
this, eh?- The younger man bowed.
'And have been laying in a stock of
flowing rhetoric and fine-spun the
cries, the elder continued. .'Humph,
The Times wouldn't pay in months
time if we fed the public on stuff of
that sort What it wants Is food of an
other kind.
What's TO prevent my providing II
as well as the other writers on the
staff? Is my college education 20 be
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 had finished the last page. he
turned to the first and wrote IN z"
across the top.
what does that mean?- George
Stanton inquired.
Those letters stand Tor must go
AEA " AthAENEA UEhA- NAAN-At& EtsN1s
His uncle surveyed him with grim
smile lighting his face
Its apt to, he said, dryly.
Then anything / might write would
be printed. regardless of its merit, If
YOU 50 marked it,
Certainly. But you must remem-
Der that an uncle indulgent to faults.
and the proprietor Of this paper-a sue
cessful business enterprise-are two
distinct p,-sonalitics-'
~, hich Won hear understand But
sure literary merit cuts some igureF
Un-if the name of the writer who
pcs. .sses il is vel know. u does"
Not oJherwise?'
The elder man shook MS head en,-
piz-.icl,ly. I've No use for EN-
why, tina makes ont tho newspaper
Of to-day money making machine of
he lowest order" George Stanton eX
c'a-red Indignantly The brains of
thr concern are subservient 10 the
business office
Exactly"
There was pause, during which the
-Ounger man tipped back his chair
against the wall and gazed abs tractcd-
Il al the ceiling At length he brought
tie legs of the chair TO the floor with
emphasis
Il still maintain that il isn't fair
that shouldn't toe given a trial" he
remarked.
Il suppose You've got batch of
manuscripts all ready to fire at me. "
The nephew's face flushed. i thought
So Well. I don't want EN- Now see
l.ere, what this paper wants isn't
rhetoric, il isn't eloqucnce, it isn't
philosophy, il iSr literary merit, as
you call tits just life-piain, every
day life. I wouldn't publish the most
beautiful flight of fancy that was ever
written-Ive no use for that sort. But
life-things near, local, personal-give
me those If you keep your eyes and
ears open, you'll find more tragedy in
one block Of san Francisco than in the
whole of Shakespeare
Then Won give me the chance?'
Frederick stanton hesitated- Its
open to you the same as il is to all,
he replied. Indifferently; you would
be paid for space-wOrk at our regular
rates, providing we accepted it, Mind
YOU, I don't say I'll take what YOU
write.
--But il it suits, you'll m. e. it,
If it suits. the other repeated.
little sarcastically. with a movement
which closed the interview.
a 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.
lie threw himself into a chair and gave
a twist 10 his head in the direction of
the inner door. II was slightly ajar.
aud he rose and shut il before he re-
sumcd You sec, what you said about
the tragedies of life-and. of course.
inferred that you meant the comedies
as well-being right under our noses,
as il were set me TO thinking Mean
time, have found out the true mean
ing of your mystic letters. Whatever
bears them mus 81 in the columns of
the next issue, regardless of time,
space or other consideration They are
so potent As to require 10 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 Will
be- printed even if 1t be the deatn-war-
rant of the entire staff
us this a lecture on the depravity of
the press in general, or my own paper
in particular
Neither. II is to let you know that
have been further enlightened since
we last discussed this subject. ! now
understand what exists as a mighty
factor in the management OF news
paper. and want you To put it on the
top of that" He tossed some sheets of
closely written paper on the desk in
front of the other.
'.Humphr'
IF listen may gather the very
material he wants. ! said. listened.
Eureka fiatter myself that I've got
something spicy and realistic enough
10 suit even yOT''
~ told you that II YOU wrote any
thing fit to set up type for, it would be
judged impartially and paid for at the
regular rates"
1t isn't the pay 50 much" George
stanton replied, eoutemptuously.
Want Ia see yourself in print. sup
Nh.N- NNAAH ANA : ST NfAAaN > tA * Wv
duced" lie took up the sheets before
him and began Ia read them. When he
had finished he turned 10 his nephew
in surprise His eve bcamed with the
delight begotten of Scoops"
well. my boy. that's a corker.' he
said. earthly. Where did you get it,
Listened and heard some old gossips
tell it. as you told me to dc. All
know i. that its the escapade of a
woman high in local social circles.
Just as I've SAIL
'-Escapade well ! should think 81.
aud she saves her reputation 10y having
midnight supper charged To Mrs.
II, who Is not in n position to OBJ
ieet"
of course had to exagge.ate it a
trihe-tcach MP the high lights, you
know"
And darSen the shadows. Well.
that's what We want. and you've hit il
the first ti.nc. Only if we could give
The name of the woman who did it, or
those Of her relatives. 1t would be
stronger. Don't know it, ehe''
No"
''Nc;l, the name Of the woman she
rerSouatetl i puDuerh TOR one St.oon and