The Fun of the Amateur Editor.
In answer to your request in your issue of June 11th, I write to tell you that I do not hire my paper printed as the other correspondent does. The name of my paper is Our Young People, and the printing on each of its four pages measures five by six, slightly larger than the Amateur Collector. Our Young People is eleven by eight when open. As we print it ourselves it does not cost much actual money, but it does cost quite a good deal of work.
Our press has a five by eight chase—that is, it can print about five by seven. Our outfit cost sixty dollars in the first place; but this once bought, it does not cost much money to keep the paper running. At first it may be harder work to print one's own paper than to hire it printed, but in the course of a few months one gets used to the work, and it is easy to get out an edition. You save the money you would have had to pay the printer if you hired it done. But of course there are many difficulties where one prints his own paper.
I find that I am much hampered for type. Although there is plenty of body type, I do not have enough varieties to print advertisements, small hand-bills, etc., very well. Many a time I have spilled, or "pied" the printers say, something after I have had it all set up. But nowadays this does not happen as often as it used to. These are samples of our difficulties, but I have said nothing about the pleasures and fun which far outnumber the difficulties. So I am not sorry for having tried to become an editor in a small way. I would be glad to exchange Our Young People with other amateur papers, and to send a sample copy to any one who wants it.
Clement F. Robinson,
Editor of Our Young People.
Brunswick, Me.
Sir Clement wants to belong to the New England Amateur Press Association. Will the secretary of that association kindly send him particulars?