The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-26
PLAYING Newspaper.

II was such rainy Saturday. and the
boys We're so disappointed, for they felt
as If Saturday always ought to
be pleasant day. Herbert and
Henry and Ned were three bro
theirs who lived I'm the village They
had come out protected by rubber boots,
coats and umbrellas TO where Ben lived,
on a farm, just outside the town. Ben
was their cousin. They all went 10 the
same school and the day before they had
planned 70 have such a good time to-
day, playing on the brook. mp IN the pas
ture. Now that was all spoiled
What was to be done2 Fortunately
there were many things which could be
done, for Ben's mother was Just the incest
kind of mother, who believed that when
II rained on Saturday the boys should
have any reasonable amount Of freedom
I'm the house. So there was the big kitch-
en-, the woodshed. the shed-chamber and
the barn 10 choose from. Which should
It be?
Finally Ben cried. "Oh, I say boys,
Let's play Newspaper"
How" and What's that?" and How
do you do it?'' said the others.
Ben was usually the one who invented
new plays. This was very new. He had
made n visit, during the last vacation,
10 his Uncle Edwin. who was the pub
Usher OF a paper In New York State. and
had brought this idea of a new play home
with him.
Oh. like this" he said. Ct will be the
publisher because 7 learned how 10 do
that down 10 Uncle Edwins. Herbert
shall be the editor. because he knows how
10 sDell better than the rest Of MS. Ned
shall be the reporter. to pick up news
80.
ager We must all write things for the
paper I'm your own departments -
Ben was quite proud OF his knowledge Of
the word" and send them to Herbert to
look over. Then TN get a big sheet OF
paper and copy them all on one sheet"
ooh thstn be even so much FUN" they
all said
So the big table was pulled out into the
middle Of the floor. for the printing-ofice
and stocked with paper, pencils, scissors,
pen and ink and muciiage.
Aunt Hattie was just as nice as she
could be about helping them, and as she
said the editor ought 20 have uuiet den
tho boys didn't quite know what that
meant-to himself. she opened her own
writng-desk i'm the sitting-room. and let
Herbert work there. Henry set up I'm his
Office on the side table I'm the kitchen.
and Ned. not TO be outdone, established
himself IN an armchair I'm the pantry.
with the cake-board laid across the arms
Of the chair FOR desk
There was some discussion az first as
10 what 20 call the paper Ben thought
first of The Republican. because that was
the name Of HIS uncles paper, but Her
bert explained that this was not going 20
De a political paper. and they finally set
+f- 7 4
name.
Zen got n sheet Of foolscap paper and
by the time ne had ruled II. and printed
his heading. material began 90 come I'm
10 him from the editors office
The heading Of the paper was Ike this:
THE INDEPENDENT LEADER
Published az Bowtown. Vermont.
Every rainy Saturday.
Ben. Atkins. Publisher.
Hebert Wells. Editor.
Terms. dollars a year.
Editorials News Items.
Ben wrote very well and quite fast. so
that he was able 10 copy the pieces the
other boys sent I'm. and write some him
self What with thinking what 10 write.
about. asking questions Of Aunt Hattie.
looking up how words were spelled IN the
dictionary, and then writing. the time
passed so fast that before they knew it.
supper-time had come. and the paper was
done.
Here are some things that were In Il:
EditOral.-"That IS the first number OF
the Independent Leader We mean 10
make II a good paper. which folks will
like TO take We mean TO always tell
the truth. which we think some other
papers sometimes don't do.
Herbert who was oder than the othor
boys and read more. also wrote very
interesting account Of some wild people
in South America. who lived I'm little
houses Of skins. and eat raw clans. Ned
contributed a column Of news items which
houqu.