The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-06-23
A REPORTERS STORY"
How George Stanton Made a Dis
covery in Newspaper Work.

write for tho Timesl Do you imaQ.
inc you went to college for that? You
can't write"
Have you ever given me the CHANGER
NO But ! know you couldn't !
daresay you've been counting on doing
this, ehs" The younger man bowed.
And have been laying in a stock OF
howinR rhetoric and fine-spun the
Dries, the elder continued. s'HumphI
The Times wouldn't pay in months
time If we fed the public on stuff OF
that sort. What 1t wants is food of an.
other kind"
What's to prevent my providing II
as we'll as the other writer's on the
staff? Is my college education to be a
draw back to me? If it is"
The sentence was left unfinished,
and the elder man silently returned to
his work of glaucing over some copy
spread out on the desk before him.
When he had finished the last page, he
turned to tho first and wrote I'm. &. I"
across the top.
"What does that mean?" George
Stanton inquired.
Those letters stand for must co."
"Then whatever bears them goesT'
His uncle surveyed him with grim
smile lighting his face.
tits apt to-" he said, dryly.
Then anything might write would
be printed, regardless of its merit, If
you SO 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 personalities"
(which you bear. understand. But
surely literary merit cuts some fgureY'
'Um--if the name of the writer who
possesses it is we'll known, it does"
''Not otherwise?"
The elder man shook his head EN-.
phatically. ''I've no use for EN-"
"Why, that makes out the newspaper
of to-day money-making machine of
the lowest order" George Stanton ex-
claimed. Indignantly. 1.-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 distracted
ly at the ceiling. At length he brought
the legs of the chair to the floor with
emphasis.
II still maintain that it isn't fair
that shouldn't be given trial." he
remarked.
II suppose you've go. batch of
manuscripts all ready to fire Mt me. |"
The nephew's face flushed. Il thought
30. Well, don't want 'em. Now see
here, what this paper wants isn't
rhetoric, it isn't eloquence, 1t isn't
philosophy. it isn't literary merit, as
you call tits just life-plain, every
day life. wouldn't publish the most
beautiful fight of fancy that was ever
written-Tve no use for that sort. But
Iifc-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"
''Tien you give me the CHANGER"
Frederick Stanton hesitated. Its
open to you the same as it is to all. :"
he replied, indifferently; you would
be paid for space-work at our regular
rates, providing we accepted it Mind
you, / don't say I'll take what you
write"
..But il it suits,syou'll m g. it?"
IF il SUITS" the other repeated, q
little sarcastically, with q 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"
He threw himself into q chair and gave
a twist to his head in the direction of
the inner door, 1t was slightly ajar,
and he rose and shut it before he re-
sumed. "You see, what you said about
the tragedies of life-and, OF course, l
inferred that you meant the comedies
as well-being right under our noses,
as IL were, set me to thinking. Mean
time, l have found out the true mean
ing of your mystic letters. Whatever
bears them must go in the columns OF
tho next issue, regardless OF time,
space or other consideration They are
SO pote MT as to require no explanation,
no suggestions from the mplders of pub
lie opinion who preside in the editorial
den. Whatever an editor may receive
from a proprietor initiated IN. g. viii
be printed, even IL it be the death-war-
rant of the entire staff"
rs this 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 Inow
understand what exists as o mighty
factor in the management of o news
paper, and want you to put it on the
ton of that" He tossed some sheets OF
closely written paper on the desk in
front of the other
"Humph!'
"If | listcn may gather the very
Material he wausa,' ! said l!stened.
FuFshai ] AatssE myself that I've got