Evening star., 1937-05-23
Young Capital Residents Follow Varied Pursuits Many Hobbies
Journal Fad
StirS Group
Of Editors
Many Get Into Ranks
at Landon School,
Forming Club.

MAYBE it's not news when one or
two youngsters get together and
decide to put out single newspaper.
But when six or eight boys in the
same school suddenly set themselves
up as editors, each with one or more
newspapers of his own-and dailies at
that-it's STORY" and it's apt to be
exciting as well.
1t seems that it's very exciting at
Iandon School in Bethesda, Md,
where editors are as thick as hops
these days and where newspapers are
breaking out like rash.
The situation was revealed to the
editor of this page last week when
five of seven members of the Report
ers' Club at the lower Landon School
called to look over The Stars news
paper plant.
Carrying sample copies of their own
publications, the young editors eX-
planned how it was at Landon. So
many boys are putting out papers,
they said. that the Reporters Club had
to be organized to keep the standards
high. The Reporters Club, inciden-
tally, might just as well be called the
Publishers Club. for practically all of
its members are boys who get out their
own papers.
Only boys who have their papers
printed on a typewriter or ditto
machine are eligible, they declared. In
addition. boy has to be voted in the
club on his personal merits. The prin-
cipal aim Of these young publishers
Is to provide news for their readers
School happenings, sports and spicy
items about the different activities of
the students are followed carefully.
The newspapers also display a
partisan spirit and take sides in all
student controverSies-part a
feud between two groups Of boys who
call themselves the "Mess-Up Gang
and the Posse"
In fact, Billy Lockood, Il, the lead
ing publisher of the school who started
this journalistic fad, admitted he went
into the newspaper business because
he didn't like the movements of a
certain student. He thought if he'd
get powerful press in opposition to
the boys activities he could put a
stop to them, he said.
Once the newspaper movement was
under way, however, Billy found he
had plenty of rivals Others who now
operate well established papers in
clude Breton Morse, 10, who is
president Of the Reporters Club:
Oscar Underwood. IL, chief of the
Board of Directors; webb Mealy, 10,
vice president, and Christopher Anus
sen, II, secretary.
Though daily story on fights and
plans of the "Mess-Up Gang" and
the Posse" furnish the most exciting
source of news. Landon's young edi-
tors find variety Of events to cover.
For instance, when a son recently
was born to one of the professors the
news was headlined across several
of the papers: "Mr. Collins Gets
Baby"
Abbot Has Argument" furnished
the headline for another interesting
item which read: "A couple of days
ago Abbott was having nice time
rolling a tire. He accidentally hit a
car and had terrible argument with
. lady"
Several editors have one or more
reporters and one of the biggest
scoops of the season was scored
when a reporter recently helped catch
runaway horse at the upper school,
Realizing the value of the news he
phoned his editor just in time to
make the paper and the next morning,
The Little, which is published by
Breton Morse, carried the exciting
story before the students knew what
had happened.
Though the boys usually confine
their items to local events, the Hin
denburg disaster was covered, and one
publisher, whose paper is called the
Airplan News, issued an extra with
illustrations.
What the editors will do to any one
seeking publicity. however, is illus
trated by the following item carried
in The Mess-Up Weekly:
George Pulver himself told all the
editors Of the papers to put in the
headlines that his birthday was today.
Please spank him ten l0) times"
1t might be added that all of the
editors carried the birthday an
nouncement. and that, to man, they
also suggested the 10 spankings!
Expenses of operating the news
papers are covered in the advertising
charges for such announcements as
who lives near the school? II you
do you can buy the use of Peter
Hopes garden. See him, it costs l5c
Tor it all Summer
Ard: "Tadpoles for sale. Apply to
Francis Sheperd."
The papers are distributed free.
"Come and get it, maybe you will"
Is my motto, young Underwood said.
"But," he added, Il will save a paper
for anybody who wants to pay me
8 cents for yearly subscription.
Each of the editors is planning
. big commencement issue next
month.