BORROWED PLUMAGE.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 135, 6 January 1868, Page 3

BORROWED PLUMAGE.

To the Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus. Sie, —I believe amongst literacy gentlemen or ladies, journalists, and writers in general, that custom and courtesy compels, that in the event of any of| the above borrowing a paragraph or) sentence, to acknowledge having done so ; amongst gentlemen of the press it is invariably the rule, and a right that no individual can dispute —the most flagrant breach of this rule has been perpetrated in the columns of the Evening Star, of December 31st, 1867. The article in question is a leader supposed to have been written by one of the staff attached to the Evening Star. The leading article in all journals is supposed to be original matter, unless expressly stated to have been taken from a brother journalist. I now give you the extract from the Melbourne Leader of December 14th, 1867, and the leader of the Evening Star of Dec. 31st. 1867, and you may judge if the courtesy that is exchanged by the press is not forgotten in this case : Melbourne Leader, Evening Star, Dec. Dec. 14th, 1867. 31st, 1867. Seeing that the pro- The proprietors of prietors of the Argus the Times are directly are not in the colony, responsible for ridicuthey cannot be held lous or slanderous directly responsible statements made in for the ridiculous their journal, but the utterances of indivi- fact Is, they have duals entrusted -with soared above all suthe management of blimary and journaltheir property. In fact istic considerations, they have soared above They have an editor all sublunary or jour- to be whipped when nalistic considera- occasion requires it, tions. They have a and a staff of writers printer to be impri- to preach any thing soned when occasion but gospel sermons requires, and a rota- occasionally, tion of editors whose chief delight it is to exult in their tion, until the connection is suddenly severed.

This, Mr Editor, is the subject of ray complaint. I send this notice of their error in no ill-will towards them, and they, being an infant journal, may have not known the courtesy that is due to a brother journal; if they have committed the error in ignorance of the custom, I hope they will do so no more, and if they have no man on the staff able to write original articles, then I say to them copy from other journals, but acknowledge they have done so, and I am sure they will spare me the trouble to remind them of it. I will not trespass on your space" but before concluding, I give them this parting advice—the old year was finished with other people's writings commence 1868 with the staff attached to the Evening Star; and if bonnd to copy,

[ acknowlege. I hope this will be taken in the spirit that it is written —I mean with good wishes to their infant journal, but once more should I see at any time they still are copying, I shall give them the castigation they deserve. Tours truly, Mentob. i