Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-21

ing ana personal love. 30 IN n Dcautl-
full room, with a picture of Christ
walking by the sea hanging on the
wall, where her bewildered eyes caught
daily something more of its hidden
meaning Loreen lay, tossed she hardly
knew how into this haven, and Nir-
ginia crept nearer the Master than she
had ever been as her heart went out to-
ward this wreck which had thus been
flung torn and beaten at her feet.
Meanwhile the Rectangle waited the
issue Of the election with more than
usual interest, and Gray and his wife
wept over the pitiable creatures who,
after a struggle with surroundings that
daily tempted them too often wearied
of the struggle and like Lorccn, threw
up their arms and went whirling into
the boiling abyss of their previous con-
dition.
The after meeting at the First church
was now regularly established Henry
Maxwell went into the lecture room on
the Sunday succeeding the week of the
primary and was greeted with an en-
thusiasm that made him tremble at first
scence of Jasper Chase, but all the 9th
srs were present, and they seemed
drawn very close together by n bond of
common fellowship that demanded and
enjoyed mutual condolences 1t was the
general feeling that the spirit of Jesus
was a spirit of very open, frank confess
sion of experience. 1t seemed the most
natural thing in the world for Edward
norman to be telling all the rest of the
company about the details of his news
paper.
THE fact is, / have lost a good deal
Of money during the last three weeks
/ cannot tell how much. am losing
great many subscribers every day.
What do the subscribers give as
their reason for dropping the paperY
asked Henry Maxwell. All the rest were
listening eagerly.
There are a good many different
reasons. Some say they want paper
that prints all the news, meaning by
that the crime details, sensations like
prizeights, scandals and horrors of
various kinds Others object to the dis
continuance Of the Sunday edition. |
have lost hundreds of subscribers by
that action, although | have made sat
isfaCtory arrangements with many of
the old subscribers by giving even more
in the extra Saturday edition than they
formerly had in the Sunday issue. Ny
greatest loss has come from falling off
in advertisements and from the attitude
have felt obliged to take ON political
questions. This last action has really
cost me more than any other. The bulk
of my subscribers are intensely par
tisan. / may as well tell You all frank
ly that if continue to pursue the plan
which l honestly believe Jesus would
in the matter Of political issues and
their treatment from nonpartisan and
moral standpoint The News will not be
able to pay its operating expenses nm
less one factor in Raymond can be de
pended on. "
He paused a moment and the room
was very quiet. Virginia seemed spe
cially interested. Her face glowed witt
interest. 1t was like the interest of q
person who had been thinking hard Of
the same thing Norman went on now
to mention.
THAT one factor is the Christian
element in Raymond Say The New.
has lost heavily from the dropping of
of people who do not care for Chris
tan daily and from others who simply
look upon a newspaper as a purveyoi
of all sorts of material to amuse and
interest them, are there enough genu
inc Christian people in Raymond who
will rally to the support of q paper
such as Jesus would probably edit, OF
are the habits of the people so firmly
established in their demands for the
regular type of journalism that they
will not take paper unless it is strip
ped largely of the Christian and mora
purpose? may also say in this fellow
ship gathering that, owing to recen
complications In my business affairs
outside of my paper, l have beer
obliged to lose a large part of my for
tune. / have had to apply the same rul,
Of Jesus probable conduct to certain
transactions with other men who die
not apply it to their conduct, and Thu
result has been the loss of great dea
of money.
GAS / understand the promise w
made, we We're nc to ask any question
Bbout will it :? but all our ac
ZION was to be based on the one ones
ioh, What would Jesus do? Actin,
Dn that rule of conduct, / have beel
obliged to lose nearly all the money
have accumulated in my paper. 1t j
not necessary for me to go into details
There is no question with me now, aft
er the three weeks experience | hav
had, that a great many men would los
vast sums of money under the presen
system of business if this rule of Jesu
were honestly obeyed. | mention m
loss here because | have the fullest fait
in the final success of a daily pape
conducted on the lines ! have recent
laid down, and I had planned to pu
into it my entire fortune in order I
win final success AS it is now, unless
as l said, the Christian people of Ray
mond, the church members and profess
ing disciples, will support the pape
with subscriptions and advertisements,
cannot continue its publication on tn
present basis.
Virginia asked question. She ha
followed Mr.. Norlnan's confession wit
the most intense eagerness.
"Do you mean that a Christian dali