The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-02
RUNNING A NEWSPAPER.
(Springfield ReDOrter.

! Our experience, though limited,
leads us to remark that this running
a country newspaper is a peculiar
business. There is a delightful ex-
pectancy about it that can be found
in nothing else. If we publish truth
in the abstract we are charged with
hitting somebody from under cover,
even though we have not thought of
that particular somebody for month
and If we fail to publish it in the con-
crete we are charged with cowardice
or lack of enterprise, even when it's
publication about one or two of our
most vociferous critics would lose us
the privileges of the mail service;
and If we presume to express an
opinion about anything relating to
politics or to public improvement
or enterprise, then we are likely to
be charged with some sordid or nefa-
rious motive, and if we refrain from
so doing then everybody agrees that
our dome of thought is but the
lingplace of an ignorance so dense
that nothing can penetrate it; and so
| it is that whatever course we pursue
is likely to lead to embarrassment and
criticism. But We do not complain on
this account for we must of neces-
sity publish our own views unin-
fluenced by anybody.
And also when twenty-five or thirty
persons happen to bring in matter for
given issue we are aware that each
of them will probably be mad if his
particular contribution is not publish
ed at the head of the first column on
the first page and inasmuch as we go
to press Thursday evening, those who
hand us items of news or advertising
Friday morning, are often offended
with us If we fail to publish the same
in that issue. And still we do not
complain for we want the items and
the advertising.
Then it divers persons about the
same time order job work for which
they have delayed until the last mo-
ment to bring us the copy, sometimes
imperfect, we are charged with being
slack unless all the work is complet-
ed on the dot and usually within three
hours. Of course we bear this with
due meekness for we want the work.
And when the very numerous relig-
ious, social, secret, benevolent and
other organizations in town including
the managers of dramatic entertain
ments and dances, request us to pub
fish extended reading notices of sup
pers, entertainments and other func-
lions where money is taken, so that
they may be properly advertised, we
are prepared to be called swine, and
charged with lack of proper public
spirit by some of them if we venture
to suggest that we be reimbursed in
part for labor and expense incurred
by inserting such notices, even though
1t is only by renting space in our col
umns that we can meet the expense
of our publication and earn enough
to pay for our frugal fare. And of all
this we do not complain for like all
charity we are long suffering and
kind.
What does hurt us, however, is to
have the notion get abroad that we
are running our business for any pur-
pose other than to improve our health
In matters not that We have always
been pretty well, yet we cringe and
protest against the insinuation that
we are striving to so conduct our
business as to get some small return
on the comparatively large amount of
capital invested and for our time and
expense in so conducting it that our
paper shall stand so we'll in the
State and for such progress in the
community that 1t may deserve and
receive the patronage and support
of the general public. We confess
that this charge hurts us so much that
we are crying out from the depths
OF our despair for the wisdom of
Solomon, the patience of Job, the
wealth of Croesus, the courage of
Richard of the Lion Heart, and the
fasting ability of DR.. Tanner, so that
we might run our business nearly a