The author personally may be very modest and hesitate in mak ing his name known, but if an article has merit justifying publica tion it is the kind of material that adds to reputation, and the lat ter is an important element of success in life. Even though the writer should make mistakes, it is best to let his name be known in order that his friends can give him honest criticism and aid, which will do more good for the .right kind of a person than will unstinted praise. Writing popular articles is a valuable accom plishment and really an obligation for students, especially in tech nical courses, as every scientific man should do what he can to , render his subject intelligible and useful to others. The ability to write readily comes only with much practice and such pains taking care as that with which one prepares an article which he intends to publish over his own name and for the accuracy of which he thereby personally stands responsible. The reader takes a much greater interest, especially in a local publication, in a signed article than in one that is anonymous. If the author is known the personal element attracts attention at once. Readers may have questions to ask or some additional and help ful facts to state, and they desire to know the name and address of the contributor. Greater care is taken with signed articles, and readers can there fore feel more certain of their accuracy. Also, if the author is known the reader, is generally • able to judge something of his ability to treat his subject. The first act of a trained reader is to look for the name of the author of an article as a guarantee of accuracy and ability. The editor often selects articles by the name of the author alone, knowing that a writer with a reputation, will never publish over his own name anything but the result of his conscientious effort, and his reputation was won by adhering to this principle. True science, truthfulness, courtesy, and heroism have no greater foe than the anonymous contributor. Falsehood, coarse jests, and of fensive articles are generally left anonymous to shield the cowardly authors. A regular periodical, for which a certain editor or board of editors is responsible, must depend for its success upon the merits
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers