Not the Point.

Woodville Examiner, Volume 3, Issue 284, 17 September 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

Not the Point.

“ What’s this 2" the managing editor and proprietor inquired, as his critical eye swept the new young reporters copy and rested on an item at the bottom of the page. The new young reporter, with a tremble in his voice, slowly read : “Hez Buckley’s old horse got across a picket fence yesterday, and the hired man had to hit him in the head with an axe.” “ That never will do at all,” said the managing editor, severely, and drawing his pen deftly through the obnoxious item he wrote on the margin below : “We regret to say that a valuable horse belonging to om esteemed fellow-citizen, Hezekiah W. Buckley, Esq., met with a severe accident last week, necessitating putting the noble animal out of the way, which was done as gently and considerately as possible.” “ But, sir,” expostulated the new young reporter, gasping slightly, “ the horse wa’n’t worth more than sixty shillings.” “ That isn’t the point,” the managing editor returned firmly. “ The point is to retain Buckley’s influence in our favor. By the time you’ve run a country paper as long as I have, young man, you’ll understand that nothing but a ‘valuable’ horse ever dies.” And when the paper came out Mr. Buck* ley called in and had ten extra copies done up in wrappers.