Headlines are important for a newspaper. If the headline doesn't encourage people to read the story below it, the headline didn't work. It's no secret that headlines are occasionally a bit sensational just so people will read more.
A Tucson reporter had a little fun with a headline in a Salt Lake City newspaper, saying it was a "scare" head. Â Whether or not that is true, the Star's headline got the Morgue Lady to read the story.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1914:
Â
TUCSON CIVILIZED! WELL, DID YOU EVER!
_____
Salt Lake City Editor Puts a Scare Head Over a Matter-of-fact Story
_____
That Tucson is not a "wild western town" has just been discovered by Salt Lake newspapers, and a recent newspaper clipping has been received by Roy Stewart, operator at Tucson Opera house, which has a headline, "Tucson Not A Wild West Town."
The clipping tells about the visit of Mrs. H. L. Beemer and Mrs. K. H. Holeman of Tucson who accompanied the remains of Mrs. Beemer's husband back to that city some few days ago. He died in Tucson and was buried in Salt Lake City, his former home. Mrs. Beemer likes Tucson so well, however, that she has decided to return. The two ladies gave the newspaper reporter an idea that Tucson was a city very much like some eastern burg, in that it was very quiet and that the former "border" had been wholly banished. The news seemed to be so startling and unexpected to the Salt Lake head writer that he thought it worth a little scare head. Of course Salt Lake City has not been a "wild west town" for a few decades.
People are also reading…
Perhaps it was an idiom of the times, but the Morgue Lady is not sure what "the former 'border' had been wholly banished" means because the border between the U.S. and Mexico was a reality. It may have meant that border problems were well handled.
Tucson even had an opera house, the operator of which received the newspaper clipping in question.
Another sign of Tucson's civilization was a library, which was apparently flourishing in 1914.
From an article in the Star of the same date:
Â
25,796 BOOKS READ LAST YEAR BY TUCSONANS
_____
In January, Coldest Month, Largest Number of Volumes Was Read, 2450; 425 Books Accessioned During 1913
_____
Reports of the librarian of the Carnegie library, Mrs. J. H. Batte, and the report of J. M. Ronstadt, the treasurer, are very flattering and show the library to be in a flourishing condition and that it is largely used by the people of Tucson. The reports were presented yesterday at a meeting of the library board at the city library.
The members present were A. C. Bernard, the new member from the city council; Rev. L. W. Wheatley, B. M. Jacobs and J. M. Ronstadt. Councilman Bernard was selected secretary of the board in place of Alerman Devant. Only routine business was transacted.
The report of Mrs. J. H. Batte, librarian, for the year ending December 31, 1913, is as follows:
Number of volumes accessioned to December 31, 1912, 9730; number of volumes added during the year, 425; total number accessioned, 10,155.
During the year 25,796 volumes were circulated for home use. The largest circulation for one day was 160 books on March 1. The largest for one month was January, when 2450 books were loaned.
New borrowers' cards issued for the month, 598.
The fiscal year just ended has marked progress for the library. A substantial increase in the addition of technical books is noteworthy, and the library has been brought into useful relationship with the Woman's club and the Tucson schools.
During the year the reference department has been strengthened by the purchase of the Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, and the new Students' Reference work, also the Jewish Encyclopedia, a gift from Jacob Schiff. Many government publications of value and interest have been sent to the library. Those from the geographical survey and the department of agriculture are in demand. The Biographical Congressional Directory, with an outline history of the national congress, 1774-1911, is an addition to the reference room.
An accession is a new item added to an existing collection of books. The Morgue Lady would like to say she already knew that, but she looked it up.
The Pima County Public Library is still the best resource in the area if one has an itch to read but lacks the resources to purchase books. Indeed, one can borrow books (print, electronic and audio), music CDs, DVDs and many other items.Â
