The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-02-01

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My article of more than a column had
to depend much on description of
her personality. My opening sentence
recall struck me then as skillful. 1t
read like this: ELLEN M. Stone is
Boston bred The compositor unfor-
tunately mistook the kind OF bread
and there might have been a tragic
sequel if had not caught the story
in proof in time to correct it Anoth-
ef time was not so fortunate and the
brilliant Smith Reception was blazon-
ed to the world as the Smith De-
ception.' These are but q few Of the
worries that drive newspaper work
er to an early grave, to Florida or to
California. This mistake Of a letter
is common error that often the
most careful proof reading cannot
eliminate Every line OF ordinary
reading type is cast out of one piece
of metal. To change any mistake in
line, even SO much as insert or take
out comma, means the recasting OF
the entire line There is chance for
another mistake or two in the new
line for often the time to proof read
the correction cannot be taken in the
rush of closing up a page. There is
always the chance Of the galley boy,
whose work it is to insert corrections
in the original articles, getting the
corrected line in the wrong place.
That is how it comes that lines set
misplaced sometimes. | remember an
obituary notice once that was bisect-
ed by a line from a grocery ad on the
price of prunes. 1t gave the town
wass a new joke but it wasn't funny
to the foreman of the composing room.
Now for just few donts In regard
to newspapers:
Don't phone your missionary notice
in three minutes before press time
and then get cross because it does
not appear that day. A war story is
apt to be ahead of you.
Don't expect to get everything print
ed that you send to paper. Some
one else's item may have more news
value than yours.
Don't be uncivil to reporter when
he asks you for information abont
yourself Remember he is paying you
a compliment by coming to you direct.
Ten of your dearest enemies would
gladly tell him all they know about
you and more.
Don't ask your paper to insert paid
notices for nothing. They have their
rules and must live up to them Re-
member cards of thanks must be paid
for. This is not done from mercenary
motives, but because unless some
check is put upon this custom, page
or two might be devoted daily to peo-
pie who want to thank someone for
something
Don't go into newspaper Office
and ask them to give you paper, any
more than you would go to q dry goods
store and ask them to give you
spool Of thread 1t is exactly the
same principle. The papers are stock
in trade of the concern
Don't ask paper to print an item
or article just as you wrote it. You
may have your cellar full OF medals
and your attic full Of diplomas from
English departments of universities
and still not be able to meet the style
of the paper. Remember 1t trains its
reportorial and editorial staff to fol-
low certain style and that style must
be adhered to. Yours may be better
but 1t doesn't fit in. Each depart
meDt on our paper follows Its own
style. II offer any matter to the
theatrical, or the city department, It
is subject to change by its editor.
When members Of other departments
offer me social items | reconstruct
them according to my individual style
that characterizes my department.
Don't put off giving the report OF a
Friday meeting to your paper until
Tuesday and then expect them To give