England -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction; English fiction -- 20th century; Journalists -- Fiction
Nevill said from across the room, “How’s the paper getting on, Eddy? Is
the first number launched yet?”
“Not yet. Only the dummy. I have a copy of the dummy here; look at it.
We have filled it with the opinions of eminent persons on the great need
that exists for our paper. We wrote to many. Some didn’t answer. I
suppose they were not aware of this great need, which is recognised so
clearly by others. The strange thing is that _Unity_ has never been
started before, considering how badly it is obviously wanted. We have
here encouraging words from politicians, authors, philanthropists, a
bishop, an eminent rationalist, a fellow of All Souls, a landlord, a
labour member, and many others. The bishop says, ‘I am greatly
interested in the prospectus you have sent me of your proposed new
paper. Without committing myself to agreement with every detail, I may
say that the lines on which it is proposed to conduct _Unity_ promise a
very useful and attractive paper, and one which should meet a genuine
need and touch an extensive circle.’ The labour member says, ‘Your new
paper is much needed, and with such fine ideals should be of great
service to all.’ The landlord says, ‘Your articles dealing with country
matters should meet a long-felt demand, and make for good feeling
between landlords, tenants and labourers.’ The rationalist says,
‘Precisely what we want.’ The Liberal politician says, ‘I heartily wish
all success to _Unity_. A good new paper on those lines cannot fail to
be of inestimable service.’ The Unionist says, ‘A capital paper, with
excellent ideals.’ The philanthropist says, ‘I hope it will wage
relentless war against the miserable internal squabbles which retard our
social efforts.’ Here’s a more tepid one--he’s an author. He only says,
‘There may be scope for such a paper, amid the ever-increasing throng of
new journalistic enterprises. Anyhow there is no harm in trying.’ A
little damping, he was. Denison was against putting it in, but I think
it so rude, when you’ve asked a man for a word of encouragement, and he
gives it you according to his means, not to use it. Of course we had to
draw the line somewhere. Shore merely said, ‘It’s a free country. You
can hang yourselves if you like.’ We didn’t put in that. But on the
whole people are obviously pining for the paper, aren’t they. Of course
they all think we’re going to support their particular pet party and
project. And so we are. That is why I think we shall sell so well--touch
so extensive a circle, as the bishop puts it.”
“As long as you help to knock another plank from beneath the feet of
this beggarly government, I’ll back you through thick and thin,” said
Captain Crawford.
“Are you going on the Down-with-the-Jews tack?” Nevill asked. “That’s
been overdone, I think; it’s such beastly bad form.”
“All the same,” murmured Captain Crawford, “I don’t care about the
Hebrew.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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