Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/34

Rh publisher of the New York Commercial Advertiser and a relative of Rev. Thomas H. Pearne, first editor of the Advocate.

Now, what was the old Spectator like? Let us take a look at the first issue. Of the four columns on page 1, a total of 2¾ columns was taken up with the Organic Laws of Oregon, more than three-fourths of a column was devoted to the new liquor law (for the liquor question has always been lively in Oregon, as elsewhere). Contrary to the general practice of later newspapers in Oregon, no advertising was carried on the first page, and the space not devoted to laws was given over to bits of miscellany such as "An Infallible Remedy for Lowness of Spirits" (a mixture of oil of good conscience, a tablespoonful of salt of patience, etc.) and an inch and a half of the following "Good Advice": "If your coat is comfortable, wear it two or three months longer; no matter if the gloss is off. If you have no wife, get one; if you have, God bless her, stay at home with her, instead of spending your evenings with expensive fooleries. Be honest, frugal, plain—seek content and happiness at home—be industrious and persevering; and our word for you are in debt, you will soon get out of it; your circumstances are now embarrassed, they will soon become easy, no matter who may be editor, or what may be the price of flour."

Just how beautifully this would harmonize with modern newspaper advertising psychology, the reader may judge. But this was 1846.

Now let us look at the proposed news policies. "It will be our object," read the salutatory, "to give foreign as well as internal news. Our means of obtaining news at present are limited. But as the country improves, facilities for obtaining news will improve. Our columns will be open for the reception of literary productions, and all scientific gentlemen are invited to contribute to enable us to give as much general information as possible."

A close inspection of the early files gives one the idea that pioneer Oregon's small quota of scientific gentlemen were too busy with their own affairs to contribute much to the enlightenment of the general newspaper reader—a situation which, more or less, has persisted. There was no original reporting of anything scientific. The editor's interest in science was indicated by occasional cuttings from the eastern papers. In some instances, perhaps, this was authentic science, but it was not indigenous to Oregon.

Reporting of the local news was, by common consent, the weakest point in the early Oregon papers. It is distinctly noticeable in the little Spectator, which had a news judgment far from that of twentieth century reporters. This weakness, as a matter of fact, persisted in the pioneer press for several decades, during which principles of newsgathering and newswriting now commonly accepted as funda-