From the Marion Enterprise archives

Marion Town Historian Carolyn Adriaansen, who is also a columnist for this paper, shares the following from The Marion Enterprise; January, 15 1926 ) :

'The hometown paper is the greatest advertising power in America.'

'The local newspaper has a tight hold on its readers, which no outside influence can supersede. It is said that a businessman in NYC who left his hometown in Ohio 25 years ago, still takes his hometown newspaper. I doubt that not many are still taking the old homepaper from back where they used to live and may I present this ode to that immortal sheet.'

The Little Country Paper

It's no 16-page edition that expresses big men's views,

And it's not filled up with pictures, nor telegraphic news;

It isn't printed daily, with no 'extra' every hour.

And the editor's not bragging of his influence and power,

It may have its faults and errors, but these I will forgive;

For it's printed in the country way back where I used to live.

It's only issued weekly and its not made up of style,

But when it arrives, I gladly put the daily by awhile.

I don't read in its pages what the wise and great men say,

But I see that Silas Jiggers brought some wood to town today

And that Grandma Parks is better, or that old Bill Jones is dead.

And it tells just what the parson in his Sunday sermon said.

I see again the faces of the friends I used to know

In the dim and distant fancies of the happy long ago.

And I read up in one corner that the fall winds howl and blow

And that Uncle Nathan Smith predicts an early fall of snow.

Or that our debating club will give a social next week,

At which our fellow townsman, Abner Brotherton will speak.

There are never learned essays on the questions of the day.

But is says that 'folks are looking for another raise in hay.'

I can see no glaring headlines of the last election fight.

But it says that 'Tom Shaw marries Ella Edgerton tonight.'

And my thoughts somehow grow fonder when the old folks names I see,

Telling that 'Reverend Tompkins was invited there for tea.'

It may be crude and homely - that same little country sheet,

And the make-up of its pages may be rather obsolete.

It is damp when I unfold it and the print is often blurred

Yet it's always more than welcome

and I read its every word,

And no reading to a city man a greater joy can give,

Than the little country weekly, printed 'where he used to live.'

top of page

 Copyright © 2002
Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513 - 315-331-1000
All Rights Reserved