“Clark, what in your honest opinion is the right standard for determining conduct?  Is the only right standard for every one, the probable action of Jesus Christ?  Would you say that the highest, best law for a man to live by was contained in asking the question, What would Jesus do?’ And then doing it regardless of results?  In other words, do you think men everywhere ought to follow Jesus’ example as closely as they can in their daily lives?” Clark turned red, and moved uneasily in his chair before he answered the editor’s question.

“Why—­yes—­I suppose if you put it on the ground of what men ought to do there is no other standard of conduct.  But the question is, What is feasible?  Is it possible to make it pay?  To succeed in the newspaper business we have got to conform to custom and the recognized methods of society.  We can’t do as we would in an ideal world.”

“Do you mean that we can’t run the paper strictly on Christian principles and make it succeed?”

“Yes, that’s just what I mean.  It can’t be done.  We’ll go bankrupt in thirty days.”

Norman did not reply at once.  He was very thoughtful.

“We shall have occasion to talk this over again, Clark.  Meanwhile I think we ought to understand each other frankly.  I have pledged myself for a year to do everything connected with the paper after answering the question, What would Jesus do?’ as honestly as possible.  I shall continue to do this in the belief that not only can we succeed but that we can succeed better than we ever did.”

Clark rose.  “The report does not go in?”

“It does not.  There is plenty of good material to take its place, and you know what it is.”

Clark hesitated.  “Are you going to say anything about the absence of the report?”

“No, let the paper go to press as if there had been no such thing as a prize fight yesterday.”

Clark walked out of the room to his own desk feeling as if the bottom had dropped out of everything.  He was astonished, bewildered, excited and considerably angered.  His great respect for Norman checked his rising indignation and disgust, but with it all was a feeling of growing wonder at the sudden change of motive which had entered the office of the daily news and threatened, as he firmly believed, to destroy it.

Before noon every reporter, pressman and employee on the daily news was informed of the remarkable fact that the paper was going to press without a word in it about the famous prize fight of Sunday.  The reporters were simply astonished beyond measure at the announcement of the fact.  Every one in the stereotyping and composing rooms had something to say about the unheard of omission.  Two or three times during the day when Mr. Norman had occasion to visit the composing rooms the men stopped their work or glanced around their cases looking at him curiously.  He knew that he was being observed, but said nothing and did not appear to note it.