The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-12
ssThe Lord Only Knows. -

loaisg graphic statement, but ne was
evidently some one who had ''been
there" himself Moreover. he vas the
editor of country newspaper" as we
are assured by the New York Tribune,
aud If be had written for year he
could not tave stated the case more
clearly, aud With such 8 wealth of
philosophy
The editor has charter from the
State to act as doormas for the com mum
isy. He will get the paper cut some
how. and stand up for the tcwo. aud
whoop it up for you when you ruo for
Office, aud lie about your big footed SOD
wbeu he gets four-dollar aweek job.
and weep over your shrivelled eoui
when it is released from it's grsspiog
body, aod smile at your wife's second
marriage. Don't worry about the
editor. he'll get along The Lord only
knows how-but eomehow."
Tba: covers the case. and covers 1t
all over. The country newspapers 10
this State do more hard and thapkless
service for their respective commnni-
ties than all the ofioeholders and pro-
fessional sharps aod gentlemen of
leisure who we're created for some pur
pose, We suppose They work early
aod late, and ninety per cent OF their
work goes without reward It is
strange thing about the newspaper
business generally that most people do
not regard it as business at all.
Customers go into store and pay for
VIA. they get. They do not ask for
pound of crackers, bunch of cigars.
a box Of caody. bolt of cloth, OF any
of the many thousand things which are
sold. but they ask the price OF the
articles which they think they would
like. and if the articles suit and the
price is about what they can afford to
pay for them. they pay for them in
cash. or ''have it charged" It is not
70 with newspapers If Joba Jones
make great speech, and it is reported
at length BY q man Who is paid for
doing the work. and is printed 10 q
newspaper which has to pay for putting
the story in type, Joaes would like to
GET half dozen copies of the paper for
distribution among bis friends, aod
Jooes geoerally tries to get them for
nothiog.
If the lovely Mrs. Brown Robinson
,as sea aod her par'ors are crowded
With the elite of the laud, and the
society reporter writes charming
account of the delightful social func
sion, Mrs. Brown Robinson would like
to have ten or twenty copies of the
paper to mail to her on, Of town
friends, and she would be shocked if
anything should be said by the young
man at the desk about so common a
tbiog as money 10 exchange for shei,
papers, which she would obtain for the
qualification of her own amiable wish
TO let her friends know bow she figures
10 the great social swim.
Several years ago, as we have been
told, new,1aper printed long story
about the celebration of military
company. 1. filed q great deal Of
space, and COST good deal of money
t. put it 10 shape for the eutertainmeo:
Of the reading public. It would seem
that the newspaper had done its full
share ia writing up the celebration,
bot the next morning, all the same,
request was made for hundred aod
6fty copies of the paper containing the
tory Tor general distribution, and
bundred ADD fifty copies we're worth
according to the prices prevailing at
that time. exactly $3.50 Besides the
expense OF writing up he celebration,
the newspaper was asked and expected
10 contribute 81 so 20 the admiration
futd of the company.
Wbeo men die who have occupied
promlneot place IN the community,
and who bave done good work Cor the
State or Church or Society 10 their day
apd generation. it is the invariable rule
of newspapers to speak we'll of them.
aud to give an account Of their lives.
It would seem that 10 doiog this the
newspaper had discharged its full duty
TO the public aDd to the deceased but
there are societies aod orders and or
CARNATIONS that would also like to
make some public announcement touch
Jog The esteem 10 which the departed
had been held by his associates, and
of bow deeply they wonder at the io-
scrutable decree of Providence which
had removed their frieod aod associate.
and their words OF appreciation and
sympathy and sorrow are strung out
10 tributes Of respect which the oews-
papers are expected to print for notb
ing. We have known persons almost
prostrased by surprise and Indignation
vhan thev have fonr6 tha, the news