Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1900 — CHINESE NEWSPAPERS. [ARTICLE]

CHINESE NEWSPAPERS.

Cheapest in the World and Dear at the Price, Except as Curios. The lot of the Chinese editor is not one to be envied by those who follow the calling of literature in this country; indeed, it is said to be little short of martyrdom, says a writer in the London Express. He has a very remote chance of living a long life unless the organ he conducts is a powerful one, and an equally remote chance of dying a natural death. If a newspaper run by a Chinlfluan returns a profit equivalent to £IOO per annum the proprietor must think himself an exceedingly lucky man, but not 10 per cent, are so successful as this. The price of these news sheets, as they might be more aptly trmed, is absurdly low, owing to the small wages asked by native workmen. A Chinese compositor is perfectly satisfied with 2 taels (two ounces of silver) a month, and, failing that, a small quantity of rice. Again, paper can be purchased for next to nothing, being made from the refuse collected in the rice and cotton mills. Knowing this, no person would think of paying more than 4 cash (the tenth of a penny) for a current copy of a paper. The advantages of the free press are, of course, unknown, and the editor who attacks the government or any officials of high degree in his column may find himself in prison at any moment, with a warrant issued for his decapitation without a trial in a few days’ time. In the large towns these measures are to a certain extent modified, for the authorities are perfectly aware that to behead an editor unless his offense Is a very grave one would be to incur the anger of his comrades, who would promptly revenge his death by stirring up an insurrection at the risk of being tortured to death for doing so. But they can and do Imprison an obnoxious editor whenever they think fit, and tn order that such a calamity should not affect a journal a man is always employed at a small salary who is willing to take the blame upon himself and go to prison in the editor’s stead. Thus, - the literary lights in China continue to flourish while their substitutes frequently spend half their lives in confinement." War news seldom finds its way into these obscure papers, and when .it does It Is based on solely, for no war correspondents are employed,' and such institutions as press agencies are altogether unknown. There Is not the slightest doubt therefore that thousands of people in the remote parts of China will read their paper regularly daring the present trouble, and yet be unaware that their country Is nt war. Of course, several of the largest papers are conducted by Enrp-" peans upoh modern Hites, but they are allowed more freedom artd do- not come under this category.- ’.