Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-24
A REPORTERS STORY"
How George Stanton Mado a Dis
covery In Newspaper Work.

inc you went to college for that2 You
can't write"
"llave you ever given me the chance?"
mo. But | know you couldn't !
daresay you've been counting on doing
this, eh?" The younger man bowed.
"And have been laying in n stock of
flowing rhetoric and iine-spun the
cries" the elder continued "llumphl
The Times wouldn't pay in II months
time II we fed the public on stun of
that sort. What II wants is food OF an
other kind"
whats to prevent my providing IL
us well us the other writers on the
staff2 Is my college education to be
draw back to me? II 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 I'm e."
across the top.
what does that mean?' George
Stanton inquired.
Those letters stand for must CO."
Then whatever bears them goes?'
huINtlth WIN fAim
smile lighting his face
ITS apt to" he said, dryly.
"Then anything might write would
be printed, regardless of its merit, IL
you 80 marked it?'
Certainty. But you must rcmcm-
Der that an uncle indulgent to faults,
and the proprietor of this paper-a sue
ccssful business entcrprise-are two
| distinct personalities"
(Which you bear. understand. But
surely literary merit cuts some iigure?'
"Um-if the name of the writer who
possesses it is well known, 1t does"
Not othcrwisc?'
The elder man shook his head cm-
phatically. i've no use for EN-"
"Why, that makes out the newspaper
of to-day money-mal,ing machine of
the lowest order" George Stanton ex-
claimed, Indignantly. THE brains Of
the concern are subservicnt to the
business office"
"EXactly."
There was n pause, during which the
younger man tipped back his chair
against the wall and gazed abstracted-
ly at the ceiling. At length he brought
the legs Of the chair to the floor with
emphasis.
II still maintain that IL isn't fair
that shouldn't be given trial." he
remarked.
IL suppose you've got batch OF
manuscripts all ready Ia fire ut mo"
The ncphcw's face flushed. II thought
30. We'll, don't want en- Now sec
here, what this paper wants isn't
rhetoric, it isn't clcqucncc, 1t isn't
philosophy, it isn't literary merit, us
you call tits just lifc-pluin, every.
day life. wouldn't publish the most
beautiful light OF fancy that was ever
writtcn--l've no use for that sort But
lifc-things near, local, pcrsonal-givc
me those. II you keep your eyes and
cars open, youll lind 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 us it is to all"
he replied, indiffcrently; you would
be paid for spuce-worlS ut our regular
rates, providing we accepted it. Mind
you, don't say III take what you
write"
"But II IL suits, you'll IN. g. it?"
III it suits" the other repeated, q
little sarcastically, with n 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.
IIo threw himself into a chair and gave
a twist to his head In the direction OF
the inner door. II was slightly ajar
and he rose and shut IL before he re
sumed, 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
as It were, set me to thinking. Mean
time, | have found out tho true mean
ing OF your mystic letters. Whatevei
bears them must 90 in the columns o
the next issue, regardless of time
space or other consideration. They ar,
so potent as TO require no explanation
no suggestions from the molders Of pub
lie opinion who preside in the editoria
den. Whatever an editor may receiv
I from proprietor initiated IN. g. wi!
. be printed even II IL be the denth-wnr
rant Of the entire staff. :"
(. as this lecture on the depravity o
the press in general, or my own papc
- IN particularly
IL Neither. 1t Is 10 let you know tina
. have been further enlightened sine
4 we last discussed this subject. no'
y understand what exists as n might
factor in the management of n news
= paper, and want you to put IL on tn
. top Of that" lie tossed some sheets q
& closely written paper on the desk /
: front Of the other.
= "IIumphw
IN listen may gather the yer
material he wants. said. listened
Eurekal latter myself that I've go
something spicy and realistic enoul
! 10 suit even you."
| 81 told you that II you wrote an
y thing 1t to set up type for, It would
judged impartially anu paid for at h
regular rates"
% 1T isn't the pay 80 much" Goor
.s. Stanton replied, contempluously,
~, "Want to sec yourself in print, 81
% pose. Wen, let's see what you've pI
tsi duced" lie took up the sheets bcfo
nh him and began to read them. Whom
In6 had finished lie turned 10 his ncphC
In surprise. His eye bcamed with I
delight beGottan of ''sconDA"