Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-01-22
By Charles M. Sheldon.

nSClncG sensation Inc presence OF the
report of the prizefght could not have
produced anything equal to the effect
of its omission. Hundreds of men in the
hotels and stores down town as well as
regular subscribers eagerly opened the
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 emission, one of them calling out:
''Daily News Full count great prize
fight t Resort. News, sir?"
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, boy What the matter with
your paper2 There is no prizefght herel
What do you mean by selling old pa
pers?"
''O1d papers, nuthinr' replied the
boy Indignantly. ''That's today's pa
per. What's de matter wild your
''But there's no account of any prize
fight herel Lookl''
The man handed back the paper, and
the boy glanced at it hurriedly. Then
he whistled, while a bewildering look
crept over his face. Seeing another boy
running by with papers, he called out,
f'Say, Sam, femme see your pilep' 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
oh 81, tod
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 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 We're 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 or 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.
"What's the matter here, Gecrge?''
he asked the clerk as he noted the I'M
usual confusion.
'fThe boys say they can't sell any
copies of T 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 moment
then walked into the room and con-
fronted the boys.
Glow many papers are there here,
boys? Count them out. and I'll buy
them tonight.
There was a wild stare and a wild
counting of papers on the part of the
boys.
tGive them their money, George,
and if any of the other boys come in
with the same complaint buy their I'M
sold copies. Is that fair?'' he asked the
boys, who were smitten into unusual
silence by the unheard of action on the
part of the editor.
"Fairl Well, I should But will
you keep dis up? Will dis be con-
ltinual performance for de benefit of de
Fraternity ?"
Mr.. Norman smiled slightly, but he
did not think it was necessary to an
Bwer the question. He walked out Of
the Office and went home. On the way
he could not avoid that constant query,
f'Would Jesus have done it ?" Is was
not so much with reference to this last
transaction as to the entire motive that
bad urged him on since he had made
Fhe promise. The newsbcys were neces-
Barily sufferers through the action he
had taken. Why should they lose money
by it2 They were not to blame. He was
ID rich man and could afford to put a
little brightness into their lives if he
those to do it. He believed as he went
Pn his way home that Jesus would have
lone either what he did or something
imilar in order to be free from any
possible feeling of injustice He was
lot deciding these questions for any
me else, but for his own conduct. He
Fas not in a position to dogmatize, and
He felt that he could answer only with
is own Judgment and conscience as to
lis Interpretation of Jesus probable
Hction. The falling off in sales of the
8sper he had in a certain measure fore
N ben, but he was yet to realize the full
ktent of the loss to the paper if such
plicy should be continued.
During the week he was in receipt of
umerous letters commenting on the
bsence from The News of the account
the prizefght. Two or three of these
tiers may be of interest.
Eitor of The News:
Dear Sir-I have been deciding for some time to
ange my paper / want a journal that is up to
times, progressive and enterprising, supply
the public demand at all points. The recent
eak of your paper in refusing to print the
unt of the famous contest at the Resort has
scided me finally to change my paper. Please
kcontinue it. Very truly yours