Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-09-24
THE OBITUARY OF -ARTmENT.
A Newspaper Preparation For the y
pected and the Unexpected.


pected and the Unexpected.
good newspaper = always ready
for anything. Unlike humanity, it
is even ready for death. Mono of
the inside workings of great daily
is of more interest than tho depart
ment of obituaries, commonly known
as the graveyard, for it is because
of no especial brillianCy or knowl-
edge that newspaper is able to
print three column obituary notice
of u notable mans life within an
hour after his death. No. 1t is the
result of "a minute system of propa-
ration that consumes the entire
time of one or more skilled writers.
Every we'll regulated newspaper has
i'll stock ready for instant use pre-
pared obituary notices of all persons
of eminonce. This is the secret of
much of the enterprise ut which
readers constantly wonder.
Sometimes this department is con-
Quoted III connection with the pa
! per s library. Oftcner it has a room
devoted to itself. Visit with mo for
few minutes, if you please, the
graveyard of one of the Boston
dailies, Tho Herald, for instance
You entor n largo room walled from
floor to ceiling on four sides with
cases of envelopes containing
sketches of tho lives of prominent
persons. You did not know that
there were so many great men in the
world. Probably there are not, for
the sexton will tell you that his
files, carefully and minutoly arrang-
ed III Alphabetical order, contain his
torical matter concerning royalty
and rOguos, preachers and pugilistS
everybody of note, from the great
est reformer to the most daring
horse thief. Most of this material is
so prepared that it can be handed III
instantly to the COmpOSitOr. Be-
tween 30, 600 and 20, coo obituaries
are to be found in this ono Office,
whllo SOmo papers have many moro.
When person Of prominence falls
seriously i'll, the story of his llfo Is
at once set up in type ready TO be-
printed within a few minutes after
death has occurred. Your courteous
guide will grumblc little about the
people that get sick and then do not
die, thus causing him great deal of
extra trouble. He will berate still
more the people that depart this life
without sending duo notice 70 the
press.
Now, there was Boulanger, he
says, who went and shot himself
when in the prime of life. Nobody
ever thought he was going to die.
Butw got him into the next edition
just the same" he adds with
chuckle, while his eyes sparkle.
If you are interested, the decided
" funereal manager of this some
what grewsome business will show
you proof slips of the "obits" dong
words are not in favor in any de-
partment of n nowspaper) that he
has already in type. Hero is Queen
Victoria, seven carefully prepared
columns of her, as our friend would
say, all ready to DO printed at five
minutes notice. Here is promi-
nent Boston merchant who ought
to have died five days ago, but
didn't" Mr.. Sexton explains with
an aggrieved air.
All classes of exchanges and books
arc carefully and regularly examin-
ed that this department may be kept
up to date. Material is gathered
from any and every source. The
data given at a mans wedding are
carefully filed away to serve at his
death, and no thought of incongruity
once enters the journalists mind.
In addition to the clippings and
writings so carefully preserved a
very large number of biographical
works are kept at hand. Therefore
when the news editor receives word
by telegraph or the city editor hears
through one of his agencies of the
death Of notable person the fact il
at once communicated to the obitu
airy editor, who Immediately sends
to the composing room a suitable
| notice.
Taking you into the library, your
conductor will show you row after
row of indexed scrapbooks contain
ing histories and descriptions OF
buildings, boats, towns, organiza
lions, MISUNDERSTANDING that
is at all likely to be of public inter
est at some later time.-Golden Rule