Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31

paper and searched it through for the
account Of the great fight Not finding
it, they rushed to the newsstand and
bought other papers. Even the news
boys had not all understood the fact Of
the omission, one of them calling ont:
'.Daily Newsl Full count great prize
fight t Resort. News, sir 2"
A man on the corner of the avenue
close by The News Office bought the pa
per, looked over its front page hurried
ly and then angrily called the boy back.
"Here, boyl What's the matter with
your paperS There is no prizefgh herei
What do you mean by selling old pa
pers7'
"Old papers, nuthin!'' replied the
boy indignantly. That's today's pa
per. What's de matter wild you9'
''But there's no account of any prize
fight herel Lookv'
The man handed back the paper, and
the boy glanced at it hurriedly. Then
he whistled, while bewildering look
crept over his face. Seeing another boy
running by with papers, he called out,
"Say. Sam, femme see your pilel" A
hasty examination revealed the remark
able fact that all the copies of The
News were silent on the prizefght.
"Here; give me another paper, one
with the prizefight accountl' p shouted
the customer. He received it and walk
ed off, while the. two boys remained
comparing notes and lost in wonder at
the event. '.Somp'n slipped a cog in
The Newsy sure, (" said first boy, but
he couldn't tell why and rushed over to
The News office to find out.
There were several other boys at the
delivery room, and they were all ex-
cited and Disguised The amount Of
slangy circumstances hurled at the clerk
back of the long counter would have
driven any one else to despair. He was
used to more OF less Of it all the time
and consequently hardened to it.
Mr.. Norman was just coming down
stairs on his way home, and he paused
as he went by the door of the delivery
room and looked in.
whats the matter here, George?"
he asked the clerk as he noted the un-
usual confusion. ~,
''The boys say they can't sell any
copies of The News tonight because the
prizefght is not IN it, = replied George.
looking curiously at the editor, as so
many,of the employees had done during
the day.
Mr.. Norman hesitated q moment,
then walked into the room and con-
fronted the boys.
How many papers are there here.
boys2 Count them out, and I'll buy
them tonight. =
There was q wild stare and wild
counting of papers on the part of the
boys
"Give them their money, George,
and if any of the other boys come in
with the same complaint buy their un-
sold copies. Is that fairs" he asked the
boys, who were snitten into unusual
silence by the unheard of action on the
part of the editor.
Fair! Well, ! should But will
you keep dis up? Will dis be a CON
tinual performance for de benefit of de
fraternity"
Mr.. Norman smiled slightly, but he
did not think it was necessary to an
swer the question. He walked out of
the Office and went home On the way
he could not avoid that constant query.
"Would Jesus have done it3" 1t was
not SO much with reference to this last
transaction as to the entire motive that
had urged him on since he had made
the promise. The newsbcys We're neces-
sarily sufferers through the action he
had taken. Why should they lose money
by it? They were not to blame He was
rich man and could afford to put a
little brightness into their lives if he
chose to do it. He believed as he went
on his way home that Jesus would have
done either what he did or something
similar in order to be free from any
possible feeling of injustice He was
not deciding these questions for any
one else, but for his own conduct He
was not in a position to dogmatize, and
he felt that he could answer only with
his own Judgment and conscience as to
his Interpretation of Jesus probable
action, The falling off in sales of the
paper he had in q certain measure fore
seen, but he was yet to realize the full
extent of the loss to the paper if such a
policy should be continued.
During the week he was in receipt Of
numerous letters commenting on the
absence from The News of the account
of the prizefght. Two or three of these
letters may be of interest.
Editor of The News:
Dear Sir-l have been deciding for some time to
change my paper. want journal that is up to
the times, progressive and enterprising, supply.
ing the public demand at all points The recent
freak of your paper in refusing to print the ac-
count Of the famous contest Mt the Resort has
decided me finally to change my paper. Please
discontinue it. Very truly yours, -.
Here followed the name of business
man who had been subscriber for
many years.
Edward Norman. Editor Of The Daily News. Ray.
mond:
Dear Ed-What is this sensation you have given
the people Of your burg? Hope you don't intend
to try the reform business through the avenue
Of the press. It's dangerous to experiment much
along that line. Take my advice and stick to
the enterprisng modern methods you have made
80 successful for The News. The public wants