CHAPTER V
DIVIDING THE RESPONSIBILITY
The rest of that day and a good share of the night was devoted to anearnest consultation concerning the proper methods of launching the_Millville Daily Tribune_.
"We must divide the work," said Patsy, "so that all will have an equalshare of responsibility. Louise is to be the literary editor and thesociety editor. That sounds like a good combination."
"There is no society here," objected Louise.
"Not as we understand the term, perhaps," replied Miss Doyle; "but everycommunity, however small, believes it is a social center; and so itis--to itself. If there is a dance or a prayer meeting or a christeningor illness, it must be recorded in our local columns. If Bob West sellsa plow we've got to mention the name of the farmer who bought it; ifthere's a wedding, we'll make a double-header of it; if a baby is born,we will--will--"
"Print its picture in the paper. Eh, Uncle John?" This from Beth.
"Of course," said Mr. Merrick. "You must print all the home news, aswell as the news of the world."
"How are you going to get the news of the world?" asked Arthur.
"How? How?"
"That was my question."
"Private wire from New York," said Mr. Merrick, as the girls hesitatedhow to meet this problem. "I'll arrange with the telegraph companyto-morrow to have an extension of the wire run over from Chazy Junction.Then we'll hire an operator--a girl, of course--to receive the news inthe office of the paper."
"But who will send us the news?" asked Beth.
"The Associated Press, I suppose, or some news agency in New York. I'lltelegraph to-morrow to Marvin to arrange it."
Arthur whistled softly.
"This newspaper is going to cost something," he murmured. Uncle Johnlooked at him with a half quizzical, half amused expression.
"That's what Marvin warned me yesterday, when I ordered the equipment,"said he. "He told me that before I got through with this deal it wouldrun up into the thousands. And he added that Millville wasn't worth it."
"And what did you say to that, Uncle John?" asked Beth.
"In that case, I said, I would be sure to get some pleasure andsatisfaction out of your journalistic enterprise. My last financialstatement showed a frightful condition of affairs. In spite of MajorDoyle's reckless investments of my money, and--and the little we manageto give to deserving charities, I'm getting richer every day. When asmall leak like this newspaper project occurs, it seems that Fortune ispatting me on the back. I've no idea what a respectable newspaper willcost, but I hope it will cost a lot, for every dollar it devours makesmy mind just that much easier."
Arthur Weldon laughed.
"In that case, sir," said he, "I can make no further protest. But Ipredict you will find the bills--eh--eh--entirely satisfactory."
"You mentioned an office, just now, Uncle," observed Louise. "Must wehave a business office?"
"To be sure," Mr. Merrick replied. "We must find a proper location,where we can install the presses and all the type and machinery that goto making up a newspaper. I hadn't thought of this before, but it is aserious matter, my dears. We may have to build a place."
"Oh, that would take too long, entirely," said Patsy. "Can't we put itin the barn, Uncle?"
"What would happen to the horses and cows? No; we'll take a look overMillville and see what we can find there."
"You won't find much," predicted Beth. "I can't think of a singleunoccupied building in the town."
"Then we'll put it in a tent," declared Patsy.
"Don't borrow trouble," advised Uncle John. "Wait till we've gone overthe ground together. Our truck will require a pretty big place, forMarvin said one freight car wouldn't hold all the outfit. He's going tosend two cars, anyhow."
"Have him fill up the second with print paper," proposed Arthur.
"Ah; that's another thing I hadn't thought of," said Mr. Merrick. "Howbig a daily edition will you print, Patsy?"
"Let's see," pondered the girl. "There are about two hundred at Royal,say four hundred at Huntingdon, at Millville about--about--"
"Say fifteen," said Uncle John; "that's six hundred and fifteen, and--"
"And the farmers, of course. There must be at least a hundred and fiftyof 'em in the county, so that makes seven hundred and seventy-fivecopies a day."
"Wait a moment!" cried Arthur, somewhat bewildered by this figuring. "Doyou suppose every inhabitant--man, woman and child--will subscribe foryour paper?"
Patsy blushed.
"Why, no, of course not," she acknowledged frankly. "How many do youthink _will_ subscribe, Arthur? Remember, it's to be a greatnewspaper."
"Four pages of six columns each. Plenty big enough for Millville," hesaid, thoughtfully. "My advice, girls, is to print a first edition ofabout four hundred copies and distribute the papers free in every housewithin a radius of five or six miles from Millville. These will besamples, and after the people have had a chance to read them you can askthem to subscribe. By the way, what will you charge for subscription?"
"How much, Uncle?" asked Patsy, appealingly.
"A penny paper is the most popular," he said, regarding her with merry,twinkling eyes. "Say thirty cents a month, or three-fifty a year. That'sas much as these poor people can stand."
"I think so too," replied the girl, seriously.
"But it seems to me a penny paper isn't dignified," pouted Louise. "Ihad intended to print all my poems in it, and I'm sure that ought tomake it worth at least five cents a copy."
"That will make it worth more, my dear," commented Uncle John; "butfrequently one must sell property for less than it's actually worth.You must remember these people have not been used to spending much moneyon literature, and I imagine you'll have to coax them to spend thirtycents a month. Many of the big New York papers are sold for a penny, andwithout any loss of dignity, either."
"Do you think we can make it pay on that basis, Uncle?" asked Beth.
Uncle John coughed to gain time while he thought of a suitable reply."That, my dear," he informed his niece, "will depend upon how manysubscribers you can get. Subscribers and advertisers are necessary tomake any paper pay."
"Advertisers!"
"Of course," said practical Beth. "Every merchant in Millville andHuntingdon will naturally advertise in our paper, and we'll make themajor get us a lot from New York."
"Oh," said Patsy; "I see. So _that_ difficulty is settled."
Arthur smiled, but held his peace. Uncle John's round face was growingmerrier every minute.
"Patsy, do you think we shall make any money from this venture?" askedLouise.
"We ought to, if we put our hearts and souls into the thing," was thereply. "But before we divide any profits we must pay back to Uncle Johnthe original investment."
"We don't especially care to make any profit, do we?" inquired Beth."It's fun for us, you know, and a--a--great educational experience,and--and--a fine philanthropy--and all that. We don't need the money, soif the paper pays a profit at a cent a copy we'd better cut down theprice."
"Don't do that yet," advised Uncle John, soberly. "There will beexpenses that as yet you don't suspect, and a penny for a paper is aboutas low as you can go."
"What's to be my position on the staff, Patsy?" asked Beth, turning toher cousin.
"You're a good mathematician, Beth, so I propose you act as secretaryand treasurer, and keep the books."
"No; that's too mechanical; no bookkeeping for me. I want somethingliterary."
"Then you can be sporting editor."
"Goodness, Patsy! There will be no sporting news in Millville."
"There will be a ball game occasionally, and I saw some of the menpitching quoits yesterday. But this is to be a newspaper reflecting theexcitement of the entire world, Beth, and all the telegraphic news of asporting character you must edit and arrange for our reading columns.Oh, yes; and you'll take care of the religious items too. We must have aSunday Sermon, by some famous preacher, Uncle. We'll print th
at everySaturday, so those who can't go to church may get as good a talk as ifthey did--and perhaps a better one."
"That will be fine," he agreed. "How about murders, crimes anddivorces?"
"All barred. Nothing that sends a cold chill down your back will beallowed in our paper. These people are delightfully simple; we don'twant to spoil them."
"Cut out the cold chills and you'll spoil your newspaper," suggestedArthur. "People like to read of other folks' horrors, for it makes themmore contented with their own lot in life."
"False philosophy, sir!" cried Fatsy firmly. "You can't educate peopleby retailing crimes and scandals, and the _Millville Tribune_ is goingto be as clean as a prayer book, if I'm to be managing editor."
"Is that to be your office, dear?" asked Louise.
"I think so. I've a heap of executive ability, and I'm running over withliterary--eh--eh--literary discrimination. In addition to running thething, I'll be the general news editor, because I'm better posted onnewspaper business than the other girls."
"How does that happen?" inquired Louise, wonderingly.
"Why, I--I _read_ the papers more than you or Beth. And I've set myselfto master every detail of the business. No more crocheting or fancywork--no novel reading--no gossipy letter writing. From this day on wemust attend strictly to business. If we're to become journalist, girls,we must be good ones--better than the ordinary--so that Uncle John maypoint to us with pride, and the columns of the _Millville Daily Tribune_will be quoted by the New York and Chicago press. Only in that way canwe become famous throughout the world!"
"Pass me the bonbons, dear," sighed Louise. "It's a high ambition, isn'tit?"
"A very laudable ambition," added Uncle John approvingly. "I hope myclever nieces will be able to accomplish it."
"How about pictures?" asked Beth. "Modern newspapers are illustrated,and have cartoons of the leading events of the day."
"Can't we buy those things somewhere?" asked Patsy, appealing to UncleJohn again. "There isn't an artist among us, of any account; and weshall be too busy to draw pictures."
"We must hire an artist," said Mr. Merrick, adding the item to hismemoranda. "I'll speak to Marvin about it."
All these details were beginning to bewilder the embryo journalists. Itis quite possible that had not Uncle John placed his order for pressesand type so promptly the girls might have withdrawn from theproposition, but the die was now cast and they were too brave--perhapstoo stubborn--to "back down" at this juncture.
"I realize," said Patsy, slowly and with a shake of her flaming head,"that we have undertaken an important venture. Our new enterprise is amost serious one, girls, for there is nothing greater or grander in ouradvanced age than the daily newspaper; no power so tremendous as thePower of the Press."
"Yes, the press must be powerful or it wouldn't print clearly," remarkedBeth.
"We are to become public mentors to the simple natives of Chazy County,"continued Patsy, warming up to her subject and speaking oratorically."We shall be the guiding star of the--er--er--the benighted citizens ofMillville and Huntingdon. We must lead them in politics, counsel them inthe management of their farms and educate them to the great WorldMovements that are constantly occurring."
"Let's put all that rot in our prospectus," said Louise, looking at hercousin admiringly. "Can you remember it, Patsy, or had I better write itdown now? I like that about teaching the farmers how to run theirfarms; it's so practical."
"You wait," said Patsy unflinchingly. "I'll write 'em an editorial thatwill make their eyes roll. But it won't do a bit of harm for you andBeth to jot down all the brilliant thoughts you run across, for thebenefit of our subscribers."
"We haven't any subscribers yet," remarked Beth, placidly.
"I'll overcome that defect," said Uncle John. "I want to subscribe rightnow for ten copies, to be mailed to friends of mine in the city who--whoneed educating. I'll pay in advance and collect of my friends when I see'em."
This was certainly encouraging and Patsy smiled benignantly.
"I'll take five more yearly subscriptions," said Arthur.
"Oh, but you're going to be on the staff!" cried Patsy.
"Am I?"
"Certainly. I've been thinking over our organization and while it isquite proper for three girls to run paper, there ought to be a man topose as the editor in chief. That'll be you, Arthur."
"But you won't print my name?"
"Oh, yes we shall. Don't groan, sir; it's no disgrace. Wait till you seethe _Millville Tribune_. Also we shall print our own names, in that casegiving credit to whom credit is due. The announcement will run somethinglike this: 'Arthur Weldon, General Manager and Editor in Chief; P.Doyle, General News Editor; L. Merrick Weldon, Society and LiteraryEditor; E. DeGraf, Sporting Editor, Secretary and Treasurer.' You see,by using our initials only, no one will ever suspect we are girls."
"The Millville people may," said Arthur, slyly, "and perhaps thedisguise will be penetrated by outsiders. That will depend on thepaper."
"I don't like that combination of sporting editor and secretary andtreasurer," objected Beth. "It isn't the usual thing in journalism, I'msure. Suppose you call me Editor of Special Features, and let it go atthat?"
"Have we any special features?" asked Louise.
"Oh, yes," said Arthur; "there's Beth's eyebrows, Patsy's nose, and--"
"Do be sensible!" cried Patsy. "This isn't a joking matter, sir. Ournewspaper will have plenty of special features, and Beth's suggestion isa good one. It sounds impressive. You see, Arthur, we've got to use youas a figurehead, but so you won't loaf on your job I've decided toappoint you Solicitor of Advertising and Subscriptions."
"Thank you, my dear," he said, grinning in an amused way.
"You and Louise, who still like to be together, can drive all over thecounty getting subscriptions, and you can write letters on our newstationery to all the big manufacturers of soaps and breakfast foods andbeauty powders and to all the correspondence schools and get theiradvertisements for the _Tribune_. If you get a good many, we may have toenlarge the paper."
"Don't worry, Miss Doyle; I'll try to keep within bounds."
And so they went on, laying plans and discussing details in such anearnest way that Uncle John became as enthusiastic as any of them anddeclared in no uncertain tone that the _Millville Daily Tribune_ wasbound to be a "howling success."
After the girls had retired for the night and the men sat smokingtogether in Uncle John's own room, Arthur said:
"Tell me, sir, why you have encouraged this mad project."
The little millionaire puffed his pipe in silence a moment. Then hereplied:
"I'm educating my girls to be energetic and self-reliant. I want tobring out and develop every spark of latent ability there is in them.Whether the _Millville Tribune_ succeeds or fails is not important; itwill at least keep them busy for a time, along new lines, and tax theirbest resources of intellect and business ability. In other words, thisexperience is bound to do 'em good, and in that way I figure it will beworth all it costs--and more. I like the originality of the idea; I'mpleased with the difficulties I see looming ahead; I'm quite sure mygirls will rise to every occasion and prove their grit." He paused toknock the ashes from his pipe. "I'm worth a lot of money, Arthur," hecontinued, meekly, "and some day these three girls will inherit immensefortunes. It is my duty to train them in all practical business ways totake care of their property."
"I follow your line of reasoning, sir," observed Arthur Weldon; "butthis absurd journalistic venture is bound to result in heavy financialloss."
"I know it, my boy. I'm sure of it. But can't you see that the lessonthey will learn will render them more cautious in making futureinvestments? I'm going to supply a complete newspaper outfit--to thelast detail--and give 'em a good running start. Then I shall sit backand watch results. If they lose money on running expenses, as theysurely will, they'll first take it out of their allowances, then selltheir jewelry, and finally come to me for help. See? The l
esson will beworth while, Arthur, and aside from that--think of the fun they'llhave!"