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Writing for the Press.

I

N writing for the Press, while being explicit, the writer should make the statement as brief as possible. Though in ordinary conversation talk may be cheap, in the newspaper, words cost money. If sent by telegraph,

they cost for transmission; time is consumed in their examination by the editor and proofreader; money is expended in putting them in type; ink and paper must be furnished on which they make their impress; and time is to be occupied by the reader in their perusal; therefore, each word should convey as much significance as possible.

General Directions.

1. If, unavoidably, a long article is written relating to a variety of subjects, it is well to break the sameness of the appearance by sub-heads, scattered through the article, relating to different subjects considered in the composition.

2. Write very plainly, on white paper with black ink, taking care to write names of persons, dates and places, with the utmost distinctness.

3. Use sheets of paper about six by nine inches in size, numbered in their order if more than one sheet be used. Very large sheets, on the compositor's case, make it inconvenient for the type setter.

4. Write on but one side of the sheet. Thus the paper containing your communication may be, if necessary, cut into parts, and distributed among several compositors who will place your composition in type.

5. As a rule, in short news articles, never use the pronouns I or you. A plain, succinct record of the news is all that is required. If necessary for the writer to refer to himself, it is better to say "Our reporter" or "The writer."

6. Never waste time in complimenting the editor or his paper, when writing a letter for publication. Commence at once with the subject in hand, and close when you have done.

Local Reporting.

That kind of journalistic writing most easily taken up, and yet quite difficult to do well, is that of presenting in attractive form a judicious report of home news.

Much demand exists for more reportorial talent, especially on the country newspaper. Thousands of exciting incidents and events transpire, the details of which, written up for the press, would greatly edify the readers of the country journal, the editor of which, knowing nothing of the affair, is compelled to fill his paper with foreign news of less interest to his subscribers.

As a general rule, there is not sufficient local matter to be obtained, nor space to be filled, in the weekly country journal, to make it an object for the publisher to employ, at a weekly salary, a person whose exclusive business shall be collecting local news; and yet the editor is desirous of obtaining all the important home intelligence there is, and will willingly pay for such as he may publish, at the rate of from $1 to $5 per column, when an arrangement may be made for the correspondent to write regularly.

Of course no writer should expect compensation until it is clearly shown that his or her writings are of decided service to the paper in which they are published. When they become so, editors and publishers readily concede the fact, and are willing to pay what the articles are worth.

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Important Reportorial Qualifications.

The reporter should be truthful. In writing of any event, great care should be taken to state the actual facts. To do this, the reporter should possess the energy to go to the scene of action, if possible, himself, and learn the exact condition of affairs. It is often unsafe to depend upon hearsay.

The reporter should carefully guard against allowing his own opinions to warp or bias his report of the sayings or doings of others, thus giving, almost without his being conscious of the fact, an untruthful representation. A plain, unvarnished report should be made, and nothing else.

Much discretion should be exercised in the personal mention of individuals. A dozen words, thoughtlessly written, may do irreparable injury to the reputation of an innocent person: a paragraph in praise may add to the life-long happiness and prosperity of the individual upon whom it is bestowed. As a general rule, while praise may be personally given, if wrongs exist, it is better to speak of them in general terms, rather than couple them with names of the individuals at fault; though, if the person be notoriously persistent in a course of wrong doing, justice demands newspaper exposure.

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New Buildings. - To be or built, erected by whom, for what purpose, cost, etc.

Price of Staple Commodities.

prospect for the future, etc.

In the market,

Parties Leaving Town.—Who, when, where going, business going into.

By whom, to whom, where given,

Presentations. what presented, why. Railroads. New roads in prospect, profits of present roads, etc.

Sales of Real Estate.-By whom, to whom, who will occupy, amount paid, etc.

Shows, Exhibitions, Fairs. Where, when, who gives them, character of entertainment.

Schools. Facts and figures concerning them, change of teachers, improvements needed, etc.

Secret Societies. - Election of officers, prosperity and condition of the society.

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Strange Phenomena. ments, on or in the earth, where, when. Suggestions of Improvements Needed. Where, when, by whom, cost, etc.

Surgical Operations. By whom performed, of what character, condition of patient.

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Should the town in which the correspondent is stationed be sufficiently large, and the news frequently occurring important, the publisher will pay an accepted regular correspondent for news that he prints, from $1 to $10 per article, as may be agreed between publisher and correspondent.

Only such matter is desired for the metropolitan journal as will interest the people throughout the entire country. Of such news are facts concerning : Enactments of Law. Severe accidents. Fires. Crops. Murders. Elopements. Burglary. Schools. Churches. manufactures. Railroads. Elections. Weather. Discoveries. Inventions. Strange phenomena. Important Statistics. Personal mention of distinguished persons, etc.

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type, before it is correct. Of course this loss of time must be borne by the compositor, and frequently, with those printers employed in setting type by the thousand, bad manuscript entails a loss in their earnings of several dollars per week.

While to filch from the pocket of the printer, in this manner may not be deemed so dishonorable as to steal his purse, the result is, however, all the same.

Again, business men who would regard it a great intrusion for another to trespass on their time for even a half hour, will show the discourtesy to write a letter to a correspondent which may consume hours and even days of his time in deciphering the same.

This evil would be less if it stopped here. Unfortunately, however, it goes beyond and afflicts the coming penmanship of our youth. The boy that will pick up the half consumed cigar and smoke out the balance of the stump, thinking that thereby he makes a man of himself, will look upon bad penmanship, when executed by distinguished men, as an evidence of genius, and is not unlikely to imagine himself a great man, because he imitates their pot-hooks and scrawls.

Eminent men are liable to have faults. If the error is an illegible penmanship, this defect is none the less a fault, because the man may have distinguished reputation and redeeming qualities in other directions.

Young writers should not therefore ape bad penmanship as an evidence of genius. Of two articles written for the newspaper, all things else being equal, that one stands much the bestchance for publication which is most plain in penmanship. Let the young author see that the composition is not only correctly written, when prepared for the press, but that it is so perfectly legible that its merit may be readily seen upon

examination.

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HE accompanying illustrations, upon this page, represent the principal sizes of books, namely: Folio, a long book; Quarto (4to), nearly

square, (shape of HILL'S MANUAL); Octavo ( 8vo), the general size; and Duodecimo (12mo), a small book,as seen below.

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FOLIO.

The standard size of book paper is 25 x 38 inches; one half of the sheet being 19 x 25 inches, which folded in two leaves, having four pages, makes a book of the size called a folio.

QUARTO.

When the half sheet is folded in four leaves, making eight pages, it forms a quarto in size.

OCTAVO.

The half sheet folded again, eight leaves, sixteen pages, forms an octavo, or folded into sixteen leaves forms a sixteenmo.

DUODECIMO.

By folding the same into twelve leaves, making twenty-four pages, we have a duodecimo. Folded into eighteen leaves, or thirty-six pages, we form an 18mo; into 24 leaves, and we have a 24mo, &c.

The words Post, Crown, Demy, Royal, etc., used in connection, as Royal Octavo, designate the sizes of paper of which books are made. See table, page 225.

Modern facilities for the manufacture of paper enable publishers to have any desired size made to order, as has been. done in the case of this book.

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The marks a, b, c; 1, 2, 3; 1*, 2*, 3*, 1a, &c., occasionally found at the bottom of a page, are what printers term signature marks, being printed for the direction of the binders in folding the sheets.

The art of covering books In a superior manner, was in use long before the art of printing was discovered, some of the most beautiful and elaborate binding being executed as early as the 11th century. Books, which were in manuscript, in those days, were few, and so very valuable that great care was taken in their preservation, jewelers and other artisans engaging in the manufacture and ornamentation of their covers.

With the advanced civilization of the 19th century, however, the superior machinery for book binding has not only cheapened the cost, but the facilities in some large establishments, are such as to enable manufacturers to elegantly bind, in muslin, one hundred and fifty copies per hour.

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NAMES OF THE DIFFERENT SIZES OF BOOK AND NEWSPAPER TYPE.

The poetry and other matter occupying the lower portion of the following oblong spaces, it will be seen, are printed in a style much more open than the matter occupying the upper part of the space. This results from placing a thin piece of metal, called a lead, between the lines. Reading matter having these leads between the lines is called leaded: thus, the reading matter in the following spaces is what is termed solid and leaded; the upper portion being solid, and the lower part leaded.

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This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line
This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pica.
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This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pica. ABCDE 1234
This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pica. A B C D E F G 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pics. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinds of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pica. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z & 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
This page contains a specimen of fourteen kinda of newspaper and book type, from Brilliant to Two-line Small Pica. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z & 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

BRILLIANT.

Experience proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bead of a twig foretells the in-lination of the tree, The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful, and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy, dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy in measurably the maker of his own destiny; and if he fail to acquire a master-knowledge of the trade to which he is put, it will mainly be because he did not, at the outset, determine to be a master-workman. Good moral and steady industry are indispensable. Among the business habits, that are highly valued in the apprentice, are punctuality, order, BeatDess and dispatch. The boy who is promptly at his work in the morning soon wins the esteem of his employer. The lad who keeps the shop and store in a heat and orderly manner era long becatoes a valuable assistant, and the youth who, in addition to these qualifications, is activ in the dispatch of businew, is certain to make himself useful to those with whom he may engage. The boy should also recollect that ere long he may be called upon to All the place of employer, if he is true to the trusts imposed upon him, while an apprentice and employes. To attain the highest success as a tradesman and worthy citizen, he should not only form these currect habits of business, but he should carefully cultivate and maintain a pure, untarnished morality: upon which rests all permanent happiness and success, To do this he should avoid bad associates, and thoroughly resolve, in the commencement, to be economical, prudent, temperate, truthful, and scrupulously honest.

THE FUTURE LIFE.

By Wm. C. Bryant.

How shall I know thee in the sphere which keepe

The disembodied spirits of the dead,
When all of thee that time could wither, sleepe
And perishes among the dust we tread!

PEARL.

Experience proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bend of a twig foretells the inclination of the tree. The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful, and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy, dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy is measurably the maker of his own destiny; and if he fail to acquire a master-knowledge of the trade to which he is put, it will mainly be because he did not at the outset determine to be a masterworkman. Good morals and steady industry are indispensable. Among the business babits that are highly valued in the apprentice are punctuality, order, neatness and dispatch. The boy who is promptly at his work in the morning soon wins the esteem of his employer. The lad who keeps the shop and store in a neat and orderly manner ere long becomes a valuab ́e assistant, and the youth who, in addition to these qualifications, is active in the dispatch of business, is certain to make himself useful to those with whom he may engage. The boy

Will not thy own meek heart demand me there f
That heart whose fondest throb to me was given !
My name on earth was ever in thy prayer,
And wilt thou never utter it in heaven!

NONPAREIL.

EXPERIENCE proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bend of a twig foretells the inclination of the tree. The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful, and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy, dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy is measurably the maker of his own destiny; and if he fail to acquire a master-knowledge of the trade to which he is put, it will mainly be because he did not at the outset determine to be a masterworkman. Good morals and steady industry are indispensable. Among the business habits that are highly valued in the apprentice are punctuality, order, neatness and dispatch. The boy who is

The love that lived through all the stormy past,
And meekly with my harsher nature bore,
And deeper grew, and tenderer to the last,
Shall it expire with life, and be no more?

DIAMOND.

Experience proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bend of a twig foretells the inclination of the tree. The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful, and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy, dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy 18 measurably the maker of his own destiny; and if he fail to acquire a master-knowledge of the trade to which bis put, it will mainly be because he did not at the outset determine to be a master-work man. Good morals and steady industry are indispensable. Among the business habits that are highly valued in the apprentice are punctuality, order, neatness and dispatch The boy who is promptly at his work in the morning soon wins the esteem of his employer. The lad who keeps the shop and store in a neat and orderly manner ere long becomes a valuable assistant, and the youth who, in addition to these qualifications, is active in the dispatch of business, is certain to make himself useful to those with whom he may engage. The boy should also recollect that ere long he may be called upon to fill the place of employer, if he is true to the trusts imposed upon him while an apprentice and employe. To attain the highest success as a tradesman and worthy citizen, he should not only form these correct habits of business, but he should carefully cultivate and maintain a pure, untarnished morality; upon which rests all permanent happiness and success.

For I shall feel the sting of ceaseless pain,
If there I meet thy gentle spirit not;
Nor hear the voice I love, nor read again,
In thy serenest eyes, the tender thought.

AGATE.

EXPERIENCE proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bend of a twig foretells the inclination of the tree. The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy, dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy is measurably the maker of his own destiny, and if he fail to acquire a master knowledge of the trade to which he s put, it will mainly be because he did not at the outset determine to be a master-workinan. Good morals and steady industry are indispensable. Among the business habits that are highly valued in the apprentice are punctuality, order, neatness and dispatch. The boy who is promptly at his work in the morning soon wins the esteem of his employer. The lad who keeps the shop and store in a neat and orderly manner ere long becomes a In meadows fanned by heaven's life-breathing wind, In the resplendence of that glorious sphere, And larger movements of the unfettered mind, Wilt thou forget the love that joined us here?

MINION.

EXPERIENCE proves that the apprentice foreshadows the workman, just as surely as the bend of a twig foretells the inclination of the tree. The upright, obedient, industrious lad will graduate a steady, skillful, and capable man, as unmistakably as the perverse, idling, careless boy will ripen into the lazy dissolute fellow. The fact is, a boy is measurably the maker of his own destiny; and if he fail to acquire a master-knowledge of the trade to which he is put, it will mainly be because he did not at the outset determine to be a master-workman.

A happier lot than mine, and larger light,
Await thee there; for thou hast bowed thy will
In cheerful homage to the rule of right,
And lovest all, and renderest good for ill.

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