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Show i EaKSaMBVHaHaa'liaVBBViCH-iiaBi H j QfE: frl tf O RS ' TKIAU'OU"' -fN' iNDlANA' I IS J. ' ' - --l l HI 1 -fiffi' i?ea. F. Wilson Kater, Preacher, Apiarist !; a2c Publisher of the Unigcte Four County jgjb j ! Herald, the Only Newspaper Published on a Rural 85 -3--.-. ? -ryi--!- 'Z 1 . fel 1 v fCoprrfcM. 1M1. br tte No- Tort Iltrald Co. All rlht rvttrvcd.l 'i'ffi t rV X WI'p t0 tlle fact tl,at 3"c Htor Is con- y& 2 ill I, ducting a religious revival at Bulltown at Bg ' : tllis "rlrlne nud meeting with a largo jJ5j ' ' measure of success, liavlng got two con- IM verts right off, there- will not he any itftJS ' Issues of tho FOUR COUNTY HERALD for n spell. 52 : -nd wc graeiuusly ask the indulgence of our readers. 35 i; r used as a playhouse. The tombstone was the foundation founda-tion of his business, and withal the foundation of "llcrald Square," In Andersonvlllc, Indiana. The stone was then mounted on a crudely built plat- ' form ahout two feet in jielght, which served as. the bed for a printing press. Next a small tree was sawed down and from the trunk the Ingenious young man cut a log four feet long, which he padded and covered w3J 1 "" ' 4 ; "Herald Square" in Andcrsonville, Indiana !J3S i Somebody started the report around here that we had of tie j h suspended publication for all time but we believe gjjj the wish Unit we had was 'father to the thought fljfit ! and no can assure our subscribers, one and all. that ljjm i such Is not the um by any means. We believe our &? present urcupalion is a worthy one and that the 5Vg . ,;,-.- - , ' - .. -I & belter clns of clti.cns are with us. Wo will put a a stop to all uneasiness In a few weeks, when the re- ffij Yival Is over, and will bum the midnight oil but what iOKj ' 'we get out a better paper than ever before. At tho Hb expiration of subscriptions, as many Issues as we j l mls, will be added on free of charge, so you see elra' : mm nobody Is really out anything on the deal," '2J jfjS This announcement recently appeared on the cdl- fl torlal pages of the Four County Herald, a unique B . Indiana weekly' newspaper, which boasts among other mm ' distinctions, of being the only newspaper in the fjJJJ! r United Slates published on a rural route. The Rev. 5ff Mr. F. Wilson Knler Is responsible for the publlca- Mtlon. Besides gathering all tho news which appears K In the four pnge weekly, the Rev. Mr. Kaler sets up ra " the Ijpu and prints the paper on a crude printing JJ5l press he contrived himself, part of which consists of "g"J ar old fashioned tombstone that saw service for many ftrgS ' years on the sloping hill of a country grnveyard. jj Filling the pulpit and filling the columns of the news- ijjfij . papei aieunlyn ffw things which tho editor-preacher fjSffll does For a livelihood he raises honey. That Is. he is rMrl n n's'''-r successful apiarist and tends a large colony mjl of bees during his spare hours, If any part of his life iJhB Can so be designated. Z4"A Snugly nestled among the hills of Indiana there Is t pgtt it group of houses at the Intersection of two cross- & road3 which divide four counties, Decalur, Rush, HP Fayette and Franklin. It is this quaint locale that Bjl the Rev Mr Kaler has bucceeded in bringing out of jafjl the tall grass of oblivion. For more than fifteen 0lf years he has published the Herald, struggling against Tjljilljl the greatest odds imaginable'. Ills peculiar style of SB writing has not only attracted the attention of the HjjJSn Slate press from lime to time, bill frequently tho lilK metropolitan newspapers have gleaned material from HHjE his paper to which they added facetious comment- &fl. I i For "Editor Knler" writes with a free hand, courage- oU ously and fearlessly, "callmg a spade a spade." This 5 principle Ls boldly announced In a dlspluy line that fl s( retches across ihc top of the front page of the Her- gtw aid. which reads: "Hew to the line and let the chips ingjj fall where they've a mind to" It Is an interesting 2i ; brand of English that ho uses, "as Bhe ls spoke" in e j those parts among the hill folk. jjfj Xjine was u lieu the place was known to local fame .jflbft ; as Andei-aonvllle. Iiut thnt was .when they had a f5 , Post Olllee there and were entitled to a name. With ArtiSllf the introduction of a network of ruralroutes the little Il'ost Ollico was abolIshecL Hut do uot think Uncle S.i in did not hear from "Editor Kaler" on this score Indeed, scathing editorlalx denouncing the government govern-ment appeared week after week and marked copies or the papers were forwarded to Washington. But the ways ar tho nation's capital are peculiar and ; have a way about them of being final so it waa a losing fight for the disconsolate editor. Imagine the chagrin and extreme humiliation ho was subjected to in being obliged to print along with hie dute Hue "Rural Route No. 13" In Ihe very samo piaco that every other newspaper in the counto" uses the name of a town or city. The Rev. Mr. Kaler Is a Blanch republican, but be nearly lost his political faith at that stirring time. The editor-preacher was not out of his teens when he began to assemble materlnj for his printing oUlce. He gathered the "sweepiugd" from several newspaper offices in tho nearby county seats, in which were sorts of type and leads. The drat money ho saved as a Iwy was spent In purchasing a case of type containing one font. In a deserted cemetery near the settlement 'he found an old Hat tombstone, which he carted off to ; 'i 'Iltle building his father had erected for him to be PH9bHH with canvas, to be used as a roller for the press. At the local blacksmith shop he directed the making of a crude iron chase, a square frame the size of a newspaper news-paper sheet, used in printing establishments to place the nype after It Is set'up and arranged In the form of a page. Jk-w-'twHis. First-Publication. .. With these essentials at hand the young editor set about to get out his first publication. The iron chase was laid on the tomustone, and when the centre was tilled with type it was held secure with small blocks of wood. From a discarded piece of printing press roller, made of rubber composition, young Kaler fashioned fash-ioned a small roller, which he used in inkmg the type on the form. Then he laid a blank piece of paper on the type and rolled the padded log over the top. The result was a somewhat blurred but still readable page of printed matter. In this manner the first issue of the Four County nerald "saw the light of day" and brought a thrill of delight to the proud sponsor. The Rev. Mr. Kaler still uses that old printing press, but he has added many Improvements during the many years of Us berviec. His office equipment, too, in the way of more type for advertisements and news matter, has been increased from time to time. But most of the "sweepings" he collected when he began publication are still scattered through the type cases and occasionally appear aloug with the "bought" type. It is not an uncommon thing to be treated to n display of five or six arletle'3 of type (Including German "caps" and Roman italics) iu the one line of news matter mat-ter In the Herald. As the editor-preacher never Installed In-stalled a proofpress. it is superfluous to add that Innumerable In-numerable and highly ludicrous mistakes, such ns an entire row of type upside down, words misspelled and errors of omission, creep Into the otherwise dignified columns. Circulation and advertising the two mainsprings of every successful newspaper were the two last things considered by the Rev. Mr. Kaler when he began publication. pub-lication. With him the first and evidently the only thing in mind was the anticipated Joy of seeing a real-for-sure newspaper born of his labors; possibly the same brand of - thrill experienced by the bride wife on making her first loaf of bread. The Herald started with Just twenty bona fide "paid-up" "paid-up" subscribers on the office list The young editor lost money on every issue, besides much time. But persistency marked his efforts, and, fortunately, time meant but little to him, for It was the one thing above all others that he could afford to sacrifice. He was Intent In-tent on becoming a power and wielding a big influence throughout the Utile community by the medium of his newspaper. He was willing to walk in bare feet over the thorny path of endeavor as long as there was a hope of reaching the velvety, easygoing incline the primrose path. His neighbors began to take him seriously and Incidentally In-cidentally take his paper; he was the happiest of men. He could descend upon tho couulry store forum at any hour and hear the "boys" discussing aud "cuss-in' "cuss-in' " the bralu-chlldren that sprang Into the columns of the Herald from hLs pen. Iot from his pen. however, how-ever, If ono desires to state the truth accurately, for rarely did he write an article. Fact Is, he would go among his neighbors with a sort of dignified, clerical air, which plainly bald: "Peace be with you what do you know to-day?" Then, on learning of something he considered of news value, he would stroll bnck to his little office, mount a high stool at his ease and soon reduce his .thoughts Into cold type. He never made notes of projected stories When there was an editorial of great Import to be given to his readers ho would set aKldo part of a certain cer-tain night to do that work, alone In his workshop-editorial sanctum, free from the Interruptions of the "town loafers." Many times he labored far Into the night on editorials of vast moment, such ns, "Why Don't Our Itoad Supervisor Put Gravel on the Pinhook Turnpike Same as He Has Done on the Lower Grave s' J ByHf ------H -------- ---------. mm----i maiMMi-Bt Rev. F.. Wilson Kafe, the "Editor. Preacher" JH 4QK-yard 4QK-yard Itoad? Taxpayers',. Ther? ls a .Nigger In the Woodpile Somewhere." Mfc?" Fearlessly ye editor would then proceed to point out that said supervisor lived 'lieyond" the Tinhook turnpike, turn-pike, and also that he had a mtirri'ed son and a brother-in-law living down that'way.v In setting up the type for,ditorlaIs and news matter, mat-ter, if the editor-preacher ever" desired tb make a change once he hnd the1 matter In type he could not "cross it out" ufter (he fashion of the eager copy reader of the mctropofitau dall. with a big blue pencil, pen-cil, but he was obliged to throw all the type back In tho case and "begin till over." And this meant a lot of time and previous labor lost ad more kerosene for the big hanging lamp In his office. So, often after realizing real-izing that he had made a blunder or that he desired to change the tone of a news article or editorial, rather than lose time he would let the type stand and print It In the Herald against his better judgment Such cir cumstances often resulted in bringing trouble down upon him and forced the publication of many retractions retrac-tions in subsequent issues. Needless to sny, the ,Rcv. Mr. Kaler soon became the most talked of man for miles around. His friends were proud of him and declnred he was doing a great work; his enemies the kind that springs up in the wake of every aggressive man said he should "stick to the preacher business and stop meddling in other people's affairs," while his wife Implored him to give more attention to the now neglected stands of bees which were bringing them In tholr only source of revenue. The circulation of the Herald grew 'by leaps and bounds, that ls considering the sparsely settled and Inhabited hilly country where It was received. There are more than seven hundred subscribers now on the "revised subscription list," and advertisements crowd from ton to twenty columns in every Kane. The Rev. Mr. Knler has made a success of his undertaking and has made "Herald Square" in Andcrsonville the most prominent point In the four counties that Join each other in that locality. Making His Influence Felt. The editor-preacher has mado his Influence felt time and again. Was he not responsible for the installation in-stallation of the horse watering trough at the crossroads, cross-roads, to pay nothing of the fifteen street lights that blaze ulghtly In Andcrsonville? And the farmers have repeatedly risen up nnd called Milm blessed because be-cause he insisted on tho County Commissioners putting put-ting In new Iron chains In the hitch rack back of Morgan's Mor-gan's general store. It can be said in truth that the Itev. Mr. Kaler is at once a wag, poet, essayist, humorist and moralist, and his readers reap the benefit of his wide versatility. When a prominent citizen uuccumbs, for Instance, every subscriber knows that in the next issue of the Herald, In addition to the usual obituary, will appear six or eight original verses with a tear In every line. Then, again, following a Joyful occasion, such as a watermelon frolic or strawberry festival In the front yard of thu Hardshell Baptist Church, verses of a highly humorous nature are sure to appear. Inspiration Inspira-tion also comes to the edltor-preaohor at such times as the birth of twins In the community, tho wedding of an elderly couple, defeat of the local horseshoe pitching pitch-ing squad, the chasing of a stray pig through the village vil-lage streets and like occaslouu. What he has repeatedly described as his "favorite poem" is one he wrote several years ago. It ls entitled en-titled "The Local Stop" and has to do with the troubles of a countryman riding through nn unknowq part of Indiana on an interurban car. Ho has reprinted reprint-ed the verses on request sevcral-Umea, each succeeding time putting them in larger type and In a more prominent prom-inent position In the Herald. The Rev. Mr. Kaler has often declared thrpugh his paper and from the pulpit and he believed the power of the press was a greater lutluence than that wielded from tho pulpit Tho argument in his own words waa: "There Is Just a certain element that go to church. ,,;; ;' !I-sMeS5 '' ''- '- HHHHis'''""' '"':: I y4il fi-WPaias-3ft wvyvJP B &Y.aBUfLKi.jjaB MM nn vBSfB, illw ! Bt4 lfipn2fli9pip9R'Hsfi?Cfflipnr v 'f' iNaflp' i n. 52HlflflM-HH-ll9V s h H SvSHBMi?S '-'"""" ;H j t-m- . !! Mr. .Kaler and Family f ;' i Most of them are good anyway But everybody, nearly, reads the newspapers, and by, these mediums you, can reach folks that need tho most help and the very ones 3ou can't reach any other way." The editor-preacher makes a practice of visiting a majority of his subscribers In their homes and stores. It is In this manner that he gathers his news. If a horse or cow dies In the community the Rev. Mr. Kaler hurries to the scene and gathers "mental datn" for a minute and graphic account to be published In the Herald. In cases of loss by death or fire he Invariably In-variably suggests a plan for as3istlug an unfortunate neighbor. In short, the Herald nas brought the people y L - k JP " ILJBKSwffewrrSfi v!3?I&j l4yPj i -BEvl H &Mmmm&& ,jfMj-:?fe u MmiJism (.H ( H In .the Composing Room. 1 1 H aroand AnJernonvine close together and made of them one great family The weekly perusal of the Herald amounts to the same thing as the general discussion, In confidence, which the average family Indulges in at the evening meal. Faults are pointed out to some aud praise given to those deemed worthy, but the whole is always tempered with a general tone of chanty. For several years now the Rev. Mr. Kaler has been assisted occasionally by his wife and daughter. His wife can set type faster and a deal more accurately than the editor himself. His daughter Nora, who Is thirteen years old, often assists him In printing the papers. But he does not call upon them unless he Is pressed for time in his ministerial capacity. Since they live in a little cottage hard by the Herald office they often prove a most desirable convenience. It ls not uncommon uncom-mon for the neighbors to see the soiled aproned- Rev. Mr. Kaler appear at the door of his office nnd hear him call out to his wife: "Sft,rah, oh, Sarah!" "Yes," comes the reply, as a window goes up In the house. "Can you come over a little while and set up five or bix small items for the fourth page? I should like to go to press this morning." "What are they about, Parson?" asks the wife as sne hurries to his side. "Oh, I don't know exactly. Can't you think of something to fill out? Let's see. I'll tell you. Might make two or three lines about Aunty Mlraudy Smiley s.till being on the sick list, with no change in her condition. con-dition. Oh yes, I knew there was something I was forgetting. There's Orange Felt's new barn. I almost al-most clean forgot about that. That would never do, for Orange would be mad as a wet hen and like as not cancel his subscription." Thus It often occurs that many people owe their newspaper prominence In that locality to the "extra licks" contributed by the faithful wife, who deserts her household duties that the Herald may get to press on time. But It does not always get out on time. On such occasions as the County Fair, Fourth of July celcbra-. tions. State ministerial conventions at Indianapolis or a revival the edltor-preachor merely suspends publication pub-lication and explains tho next time he Issues a paper. While It is always a disappointment to his readers to miss a single issue, they seldom complain. They feel that they are signally blessed In having In such a small community any kind of newspaper, regard less of its shortcomings and irregularity. Hence they are ever ready to grant the Rev. Mr. Kaler the snered privilege of omlttlug a number or two occasionally, if he so desires, without subjecting him to unfavorable criticism. An Editorial Apology. For instance, last winter he failed to publish the Herald one week, as he devoted five days to assisting the local druggist to cut Ice from the creek and help store It away In sawdust for summer consumption. His apology, which appeared the following week, rend: "Last week we helped Rayme Hargrove put up ice. Nobody can kick on that, even if we didn't get out a papor. Because next summer it will be fine to drop in on Rayme sonio Duo hot day and have a dish of his cooling, inimitable ice cream. You can thank us, girls, next summer for part of that Ice cream your fellows buy you Sunday evenings after churchl iWe w j M helped kill the bear, we did. Ha! ha!" H For the most part the columns of the Herald axe t M filled with small news Items of local .interest News H of the outside world is considered of .such little slg- j M niflcancc that It is absolutely Ignored. 'But if an Andcrsonville resident visits a next door neighbor It M is liable to find its way into print If a man goes ! M hunting, paints his buggy or discharges a farmhand ', M it is all duly chronicled in the Herald. The Itev. Mr. j H Kaler places a value of his own upon news matter. j M "When I go out to gather matter for the Herald," M ho says, "I don't look for news, I look for excuses. M ., . i . .... n H Just any old excuse for putting a person's name in the M paper. They all like to see It, and to this I attribute ' I H my success." M Whenever the only physician in Andersonville re- i M ports a birth or the illness of one of his patients his M nnmo always appears with Ihe news item. Some of i the characteristic items which have appeared In the I M Herald recently follow: ' j "PI King was sick on the east side last week." H "Born to Dutch Ensweller and wlfo this week, a ten pound D03' a little republican. Reported by Dr. M Metcalf. If pays to be an officer, don't it, Dutch and ' H Fatty?" I H "Harry Miller and his best girl were at Pinhook at- ' H tending church last Sunday night. He drove her H home." M "Fred and Ray Cooner were in town one day this H week having some blacksmlthing done." M "Joe Pike passed through Wed. en route to Glen- H wood to have a horse shod." ' M "Sallie Lewis and Irene Stevens kept house for Dr. H Metealf while his frau was visiting in the cltjv Doc ' r H likes good cooking, eh, doc?" J M . "Ye editor will preach at Bulltown next Lordsday, H morn and eve. All are welcome. Come." H For of such is the little kingdom ruled by the , H editor-preacher. Ills is the typfcn1 country news- M paper, an institution which is fast passing out with the Introduction of modern machinery at a'small cost H Out of his almost inadequate and crudely arranged j IH printing establishment he has preached the gospel of jH righteousness for many years now, moulding the sen- I J M tlment of tho community nnd directing every pro- gresslve move they have made since he entered tho , H arena battling for public benefactions. I fM The Rev, Mr. Kaler is not content with being tho rtJ H busiest man in that "neck of the woods." for hardly a 'I IH month passes that he does uot seek additional labor ( JH in other avenues than the ones that uow engage him 1 . ,jH during his waking hours, lie is forever taking up tho !- agency of some newly patented articles, besides, lie 1 H carries a full line of both fire and life insurance. ' Not 1 long ngo he took a dip In politics and was nominated 1 IH for Statu Assemblyman. The campaign cost him H quite a sum of money, not to speak "f the dozen or M more Issues of the Herald ho missed publishing;. And 1 IH in the end he was defeated. He has quit the political ' H game forever, he says, but philosophically adds that'it ) H was a valued experience. Another thing that con- , sumes a great ijeal of his time is his u-llglous attend- H mice at lodge meetings. Ho is what the countrymen 1 H cnll a "Joiner." for he belongs to six lodges. In mpt ' H of these organizations he fills an office, which requires H his presence at a dozen or more meetings evqfj IH month. But the Rev. Mr. Kaler says belonging to IH lodges is part of an editor's life, for It lo at these- H gatherings that he often gets some of his best uewu IH Despite any shortcomings of the quaint editor H preacher, or his publication, the folk around Ander 1 H sonvllle are always ready to swear by him. They iidV H mire him, they respect him, they fear him aud Ihey J H love him. Of one thing they are sure, no sinister ( J H motive ever prompts him to take a position contrary , jH to honest judgment The sincerity of Ills stand on jH any question 1$ never doubted, for during all the year ' H he has conducted the Herald he has faithfully lived up to his motto: - ' H "Hew to the line and let tlie chips fall where they'vo J IH a imLdU iW I H ni |
