Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-03-20
Friday, March 20. 1903.
TO OUR PATRONS.

III OUR AIKONS.
The SPECTATOR appears today IN
new dress. Times are dull a panic Is
on, the gold standard has worked des-
truction financially, such destruction
we hope and pray as may never come
again to the American people. Still
the SPECTATOR lives, moves, and has
its being. 1t seems not altogether
overwhelmed by panics, but like Others
its dinner pail is not too full. The pres
ent owner got it in the midst OF the
panic of 1898, and notwithstanding the
times and conditions generally, saved
both it and the indicator, another
meritorious, but.declining newspaper,
from oblivion. Its new dress is not
with it, sign of opulence, nor does it
speak boastfully of it. 1t needed new
clothes, yet might have gone on for
many moons in the garb it has been
wearing, and still would have presented
an appearance worthy of admission in
to any circle of society, or any field
where newspapers are read. But in
its present better fitting, more clearly.
and neater garments, it hopes to be even
more welcome than before. Since 1921,
over 81 years ago, it has gone out almost
every week to reading public as intel
ligent, as select, as critical, ahd as eX-
acting as any to be found, and yet dur
ing that time it must have met the de-
mands upon it, or it would not be liv-
ing today. Only one interruption was
ever visited upon it in all that time.
War brought upon it an army in
1864, not in sympathy with 1.-The tenets
of the SPECTATOR, nor its preach
ments. These broke its presses anC
scattered its type in the streets. NJ
sooner had this army passed, however
than order began to be brought out o.
this chaos, and soon again homes were
made happy by its familiar and vel
coined appearance. As the years go by
it is to be hoped that it may grow ever
TO be more and more part of this com
munity, and necessity among oul
people. The weekly paper to the farm
er is a veritable boon, when it assemblies
and places before him at the end of each
week the happenings in the Nation
the State, and especially of his county
He is too busy to CLEAN from the col
umns of Daily the important hap
penings. A well edited weekly pape
does this for him, and that almos
without cost. For TWO CENTS per weel
the SPECTATOR is laid upon his table
and when he takes it up he finds it 81
printed that it is pleasure to read it
He finds it not only neat in type anC
general make up, clean in reading mat
ter and full or news, bnt he also finds
it printed upon such paper as possibly
no other newspaper uses in this part Of
the country. 1t is not cheap stuff thai
blurs when the ink strikes it, anG
breaks when folded. 1t is these things
which cause its patrons to preserve its
files, and enjoy its coming, it is these
things which make it valuable as al
recorder of facts. The increasing con
tidence in the SPECTATOR and its posi-
ton on the issues of the approaching
national campaign have ingratiated it
in public esteem. 1t has never faltered
or swerved from Democracy, and will
be found supporting William ]. Bryan
this year as it has done whenever he
has been nominated heretofore. We
trust our readers may enjoy it more
than they have ever done.