The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1902-12-31
FILTH AND BEAUTY.

William Norton Payne in tn"
most "NCclIcnt essay on American
journalism, to be found in Nari-
Gus Views, McClurg's new publl-
cation says. "No words of con-
demnation can be too strong for
the newspapers that subordinate
all other aims TO the aim of en-
larging their circulation and their
advertising patronage, that care
nothing for the truth and only
enough for decency to keep out of
the clutches of the criminal law. >
To all of which / heartily assent.
Now n few days ago / made re-
mark concerning the very vulgar
imitator of Brann who edits the
Isonomy of San Antonio, saying
that he fought abuses in Oyster
Bay and left unmentioned the
things at hand. The previous
week | had Illuminated against
Roosevoldt'S Creed of Toughness.
and the week following wrote up
on Bishop Spalding's views. These
later articles were instrumental
in bringing me congratulatory
letters from Bishop Spalding aud
the author, Bolton Hall. was
elated, but elati animi compri-
mendi stunt. Editor Truly said,
"Confine yourself to local mat
ters," and beheld the beam in
mine own eye.
OF course there is enough to
write about without leaving the
confines of San Angelo. 1t is
surely better that one suggests
that every lawyer and doctor
should blush for the filthy condi-
tion of the stairway leading to
the offices over the Central Drug
Store, than point out the fact
that the Venus of Milo is askew
by seven millimetres Chlvalry
alone will make every man con-
cerned long TO see an improve
ment, for ladies climb that stair.
We should naturally concern our
selves more over the fruitful
sources of disease existing in some
of the back ways and alleys down
town than in the sanitary condi-
ton of Lu2on. We should as soon
allow strychnine to be around
where the playing children could
get 1t, as permit these wcll-sprimgs
of infectious poison to exist. OUR
q tRELEsSNESS OR COWARDICE Is A
HOMICIDE The folly of discursive,
vague and misty words ON this
subject struck me when in the
postoilice last week. There is no
doubt whatever, let political ques-
tons go which way they will, but
what Blanchard is good post
master, He had hanging on the
wall printed notice which read :
DON'T SPIT ON THE FLOOR.
You will observe that it is direct.
There is no mincing of words
Ladies 90 in the postoilicc and it
IS more than unpleasant for them
TO pass over II filthy floor. Oh,
yes. know all about dress re-
form. Let's do one thing at a
time. Vet some hand had pen
cilled beneath the printed notice,
1T would he better to say
Please! - Isn't it incredible?
Say Please do not spread the tu-
bercle bacillus! Please do not
soil the skirts of our mothers and
sisters Please do not aid living
bacteria to get into the tissues of
the body! Please do not help con-
taminate the children with con-
tageous poison! Please do not be
party to unjustifiable homicide!
Yes. Most undoubtedly there
is plenty to concern ourselves
with at home. The day before
Christmas serene pig strolled
leisurely across the main street at
S:8O Il. M. Two days previously
saw Head set his smart little
terrier upon hog i'll front OF
Freeland's. Yet meantime, We
attend to 10 Chamberlain's TRIP
to Africa.
| am not INDUCING in any
spirit of paradox, nor in any feel,
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