West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-22
HINTS TO CORRESPONDENTS
SUGGESTIONS That Nay Help the ANA
teur Writer.
WHAT THE ARGUS CONSIDERS NEWS
Most Important Depsrtment OF the
Paper Subscribers Appreciate
the Letters.
WHAT THE ARGUS CONSIDERS NEWS

We believe the popularity OF Tun ARGUS
Is IN great measure due tn the ncwsy
letters sent in each week 10y its corro-
spondents. Many have told us they would
like to write, but lacked the ability. We
offer below few hints that will aid tho
beginner Write plainly, especially proper
names. These hints should hc cut out
and pasted i'm note book.
These suggestions are submitted To our
correspondents with the hope that they
viii carefully perusc them, and that they
will he OF assistance in the preparation of
the news of your locality. IL is our de-
sire to print all the happenings of interest
that occur in this portion Of the country.
Let the people know you are furnishing
news for TnE ARGUS and they will often
give you items which you might otherwise
miss. Get the people interested i'm YOU
AMI the paper 10y giving all the news. IL
VIII please them and make fricndsior YOU
and TuE AnGUs. The following are given
AZ suggestions AZ To what is news for this
paper and how We prefer it prepared:
ACCIDENTS. Who was hurt how when;
is IT likely to prove fatal; present condi-
ton ol person injured II death results
and an inquest held, give the names Of
juror and the verdict in full
BiUrns.-Givc name of parents, place
oi residence, date i'm full of birth, sex of
child, Don't neglect Ia report births
CRoi~.-Report nj intervals the crop
conditions, prospects, yield, or any inter
esting or peculiar conditions.
DEATHS. Give name Of deceased i'm full
date OF birth or age, date of death, place
of residence, cause OF death, date and
place Of burial, officiating minister or
speaker, also society in charge, II any.
Names of children, names of brothers and
sisters. II n child, give parents names.
Give name of surviving husband or wife.
II Appointment person, give a short bog-
raphy. Poetry and culogy are not wanted.
IMPROVEMENTS. This is "A new country
and improvements are always under way.
Keep your eyes open for them. Importa-
tions of good stock, improved methods of
farming or handling stock-all deserve
good mention.
MARRIAGES Give names Of contracting
parties, son and daughter Of whom, resi-
dence, when, where, and 10y whom mar
rled. Report reception, il any, also bridal
tour and where they will reside. Do not
give lists OF presents.
MEETINGS, PICNICs, SoCIAIs, CLUBs.-
Announce proposed meetings of clubs, So
cieties, etc, picnics, entertainments, etc.
Give authentic reports of public meetings
OF unusual character, and of social events.
New TuNGs. Mention new houses. new
barns, new enterprises of any kind, new
machinery installed, especially Of new
kind or II kind not before used in the
community.
ScnooL.-Note the opening and closing
of schools, give the teachers name and
where from, length Of term. Getmonthly
reports from the teacher
NEwcoMERs.-Tcll all about them. Give
names, where from, when did they ar
rive Friends or relatives already here
Where do they live. Buy or rent.
PERsoNAIs.-Personals are important
Cbut not record of visits between per
CONS in the same locality. Tell where the
visitors are from, when they arrived.
whom they are visiting, intended length
OF visit. In noting social gatherings names
Of those present may be sent. Mention
IN your news AZ many names as possible;
slight no one.
Don't write jokes. They may be mis-
understood and make you or the paper
an enemy. The wink OF the smile that
disarms the spoken word is not present
with the written one. Don't play favor
ties. Don't ignore persons because you
are not on friendly terms with them.
Avoid scandals, personal quarrcls, family
differences, and church troubles. Don't
try 10 use this paper to "get even" with
some one. IL may injure you and will
surely injure the paper. The editor or
proprietor would not usc it for that pur-
pose himself
Speak good word for the paper when
ever and wherever possible, and get the
people interested in it.
Remember, no lists Of presents, no de-
scription Of BRIDES dress, no obituary
poetry, no cards Of thanks (unlcss accom-
panied with 30 cents), no resolutions Of
respect tunless accompanied by 81, but
mention that resolutions were passed.
Communication from corrcspondepts
or readers, in regard to any matter Of
public interest; say politics, what 10 do
with the road hog, schools, or what allied
the literary society, IL not Objectionable
in style Of language used, are solicited for
publication over the writer's name. but
will not BE- paid for. This means that we
want anything Of local or general interest.
but no "roasts," and that this paper il
not clearing house for family or neigh.
bOrhOOd quarrels
BE brief in small news; make import
ant items complete; make your boosts -
agricultural articles, and those mentioned
IN the paragraph Immediately preceding
this, as extended as you like, az long as
you are really saying something Say