A Singular Discovery

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 95, 9 February 1892, Page 2

A Singular Discovery

We are indebted to the Woodyille Examiner for the following extract:— " The Flaneur " in Sydney Freeman's Journal has an excellent article entitled "Celestial . Customs" in which the following passages occurred: — One of the most peculiar Chinese customs of this season is that of payine up all debts just before the New Year begins. The Caucasian leads the world in most matters, but this is one point in which the heathen Chinee is well nhead ; as about twelve out of every dozen newspaper proprietors in the land will admit with reverent, bowed, uncovered heads. There seems to be a growing impression with the public that a newspaper can be run for nothing, and that those connected with it uever eat, nor drink, nor require clothing This is a great mistake. A properly* conducted newspaper is a most expensive venture, for while the receipts come as pence the outlay goes steadily forth in pounds. And newspaper men do eat and drink occasionally. Not often, I admit, still at times they do, and they have to pay up for the privilege just the same as common mortals also, I once heard of a most respectable man who suddenlj broke into a howling rage and declared this world was chockful of deceit and devilry as an egg was full of meat, and he cared not how soon he left the illusiro show for ever. When he had cooled down he explained that he had been a constant borrower of the local paper for over seven years, and just discovered that the man (if it were just to call him a man) from whom he borrowed it, had not paid a single subscription during the whole of that time. He was pained, shocked, disgusted to think that such a wretch could walk the earth and look into the face of an honest man.