Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-07-05
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

EDITOR TRIBUNE.-The picture | am
painting of the correspondents is so
strikingly true that at least one of the
men on the canvas is getting uneasy
and may not sit quiet throughout the
ordeal. The poor fellow thinks it might
be ease to his mind and possibly relieve
his embarrassment if | would call myself
by some other name. My dear sir, it is
only Imagination, only Imagination, sir
There is nothing in name, nothing in
name, sir. 1t is the truth Of the por-
trait L am painting that people would
rather the correspondents to notice.
Let me go on with the work while the
canvas is spread before me;
As pedestrian travellers, the Hazleton
correspondents have no equals in the
town. Learned to n small degree, these
men are the spoiled children of cheap
applause, and on that account consider
themselves the privileged testers of the
town. Urged on by the few who
patronize their writings, the correspon-
dents have grown senseless to the high
principles that govern the profession
and the epidemic malady Of the mind
seems to be passing from one senti-
mental humbug to another
The lash is often laid on with the ut
most severity, and is rarely, if ever,
justified. But the circle that applauds
and encourages the nipping of the cores
pondents is narrowing. The people are
growing to hate and despise the wonder
full mock respect which we find dang
ling at the end of every criticism in the
Iiazleton papers. These writings are
nothing like the remarks you would hear
in sensible conversation. They are
more on the order of MRS. Caudle."
They are to the taste of the town very
much like that kind of fruit which drops
into the mouth before it is ripe.
1t is common opinion that these gentle
men have mounted above their quarry.
The keen edge of satire is worn off their
ridicule before the shafts sink into their
victims. The correspondents have many
powerful chances to do good and merit
approval. Unless they wish to be look
ed upon with utmost contempt by the
town, their policy must undergo a radi-
cal change. The arrows of malice and
ridicule must be silenced and better
spirit displayed by these men. We are
all getting impatient of the false posi-
tion in which the town is being placed
by these scribes. We are growing weary
of the over-charged descriptions we find
in communications and correspondence
from our town.
Every body feels keenly what l have
tried to make plain in these articles.
Our council and school board and other
town officials are as capable of taking
care of our interests as are the conceited
scribblers who attempt to belittle and
ridicule them. 1t is very hard for an
empty sack to stand upright; equally
hard for an empty and swelling head to
balance straight. These men, we hope,
will take their latitude, as the town has
their measure long ago.
What the correspondents and their
friends try to claim as courage on their
part, the town stamps as an unaccOunt-
able and very large bump of conceit.
| would not give 10 cents u dozen for all
the wisdom these pencil-pushers are able
to grind out. The kinks in their heads
need to be readjusted.
A headlong plunge into meanness and
malice is another of the disgusting
modes they employ to vent their dis
pleasure of prominent citizens, as was
witnessed in Saturdays Plain Speaker.
There is nothing to distinguish such
writings from the meanest of the low
and the lowest of the most offensive. Ii
staggers my belief to find that such cross
grained, vile and contemplate criticism
of respected citizen in public news
paper is permissible. But these mer
have substituted the badge OF meaness
for the honorcd badge of the newspaper
profession in their attempts to bosmirch
the honor of the town and our citizens.
Mark Keltico.
A dance will be held at Mrs. Johi
81, hot n1 II IL. Il