public void characters(char ch[], int start, int length) throws SAXException {

		if (title) {
			document.setTitle(new String(ch, start, length));
			title = false;
		}

		if (dateline) {
			document.setDateline(new String(ch, start, length));
			dateline = false;
		}
		
		//we don't actually do anything here... this method can be removed
		if (topics) {
			//document.setTopicList(new String(ch, start, length));
			//topics = false;
		}
		
		//dispose of places
		if (places) {
			places = false;
		}
		
		//"d" contains the names of topics 
		if (d && topics) {
			document.addTopic(new String(ch, start, length));
			d = false; 
		}

		if (body) {
			bodytext = bodytext + new String(ch, start, length);
		}

	}