Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-12-05
NO UNPLEASANT THINGS PRINTED.
An English Newspaper Called the "Oso
trich" Conducted on Peculiar Lines.

NO UNPLEASANT THINGS PRINTED.
An English Newspaper Called the "oss
trich" Conducted on Peculiar Lines.
One of the queerest publications in
the world is q newspaper called the
Ostrich, printed in Cornwall, Eng.
land. The paper, according to the
New York Sun, is issued and dis
tributed gratuitously throughout
Cornwall twice week. It's object is
unique-to make its readers happy
and healthy. The system of the pub.
Usher is based on the science of sug-
gestiveness, and the Ostrich is so ar
ranged that only the most agreeable
things are suggested. 1t is printed
on delightful pale rose colored paper,
and certain words like happy, good,
peace, success, amiable, health, beau
tiful, etc., are printed in heavy type.
All such words as death, pain, killed,
misfortune, horrible, ETC., are avoided.
In the entire paper, with the excep-
ton OF one column, not a single dis
agreeable word is printed.
The motto of the Ostrich is: "Even
of truth one-half is falsehood." One
column bears the title, "What Would
5. Ii. d. Say to TIP" S. ii. d. stands
for Sir Humphrey Davy, and he is
taken as the model of all human be-
ings, the yarlstick W It'll which every
thing is measured.
Certain kinds of news are printed
with commentary in this column.
For example: Sat banquet at Birm.
ingham Lord Salisbury declared that
the situation of the Armenians was
such that demanded serious consider
alton.
IS. H. D. would say: "The con.
sideration only becomes serious by
Lord Salisbury's calling it so. There
may be less in the matter than one
would expect"
Another column bears the head,
"The Demented of Tomorrow.
Under it all important political news
is commented upon and corrected.
The corrections of the Ostrich are
considered sound.
"How Does This Concern Me?" is
the head of third department, in
which oil the news from foreign coun.
tries is grouped.
Under the head eve Do Not Be-
lieve in It." all accidents, shipwrecks,
earthquakes, murders, famiues, etc.,
are collected. The Ostrich does not
believe in such things, and in print
ing this class of news deprives it of
all shocking features. For instance,
double murder, the result of delirium
tremens, bears the harmless title.
"More Milk" conveying tue idea that
the murderer needed more milk than
brandy. The report that member of
Parliament fell from his horse and
broke his leg is headed SAT Lawn
Tennis" and it begins: SAT lawn ten
mis- it could never have happened that
Sir Robert Harcourt, member of Par
lament for Dunbar, would fall from
his horse" etc. A flood is called
surplus water" famine is referred
to as "a general frugality," in a rail-
way collision twenty persons are
Cancelled" a train is not derailed,
but "glides from the track" and in
the South no yellow fever breaks out,
but ''yellowish" one. A building
burns down and of 400 persons 277
perish. The Ostrich doesn't mention
them, but says, mot less than 1913
were saved.
Very sad news is printed in the
smallest type, SO the experienced
reader is warned. No unpleasant de-
tails are given. After a mere state
ment, the paragraph ends with "Con-
on page 49," There is no
thirteenth page.
The man who has invented this
peculiar newspaper is John Gillis. He
was school teacher, published some
essays, and then became a journalist.
He studied the population of London
and Bristol and gradually formed his
opinion of what sort of newspaper
would be appropriate for their health,
doing it from purely humanitarian
The paper is favorite all along the
eoast. The words printed in heavy
type were popular from the begin
ming. Children learned to read the
words for themselves and
the mothers were reioiced that their
title ones learned first of all to read
Of Joy, Of happiness and beauty.
Two Narrow Buildings.