The Story of the Treasure Seekers · Chapter
Being Editors explained
The Bastable children, inspired by Albert's uncle, decide to start their own newspaper called the Lewisham Recorder.
What happens
The Bastable children, inspired by Albert's uncle, decide to start their own newspaper called the Lewisham Recorder. Dora and Oswald co-edit, with Albert as subeditor, and they fill the paper with serial stories, poems, scientific notes, and instructive anecdotes. They have copies typewritten and sent to friends, but realize too late that they have no one left to buy it.
Themes in this chapter
Creativity and Storytelling
The children create a full newspaper with serial stories, poems, and columns, showcasing their imaginative writing.
Family Loyalty and Responsibility
Oswald and Dora cooperate as co-editors, and the children work together to produce the paper despite disagreements.
Poverty and Class Consciousness
The children's motivation to sell the newspaper for money reflects their ongoing financial struggles.
Characters to notice
- Oswald Bastable
Co-editor of the Lewisham Recorder; writes editorial notes and contributes a peppermint arithmetic tip.
- Dora Bastable
Co-editor; initially editor but shares duties with Oswald; writes Chapter I of the serial story.
- Dicky Bastable
Contributes a serial story chapter and scientific column; writes 'Sam Redfern, or the Bushranger’s Burial'.
- Noël Bastable
Writes Chapter V of the serial story and a poem 'The Wreck of the Malabar'.
- Alice Bastable
Writes Chapter II of the serial story about the Princess and the mice.
- H. O. Bastable
Contributes Chapter VI of the serial story, deferring to Dora for the rest.
Key passages
“It was Albert’s uncle who thought of our trying a newspaper. He said he thought we should not find the bandit business a paying industry, as a permanency, and that journalism might be.”
Albert's uncle suggested we start a newspaper because he didn't think being bandits would make us money in the long run, but journalism might.
The children pivot from bandit play to a more practical venture.
“We saw plainly that editors must be very rich and powerful, because of the grand office and the man in the glass case, like a museum, and the soft carpets and big writing-table.”
We thought editors were wealthy and important because of their fancy office, the man in a glass case, and the luxurious furniture.
The children's impression of editors is based on their visit to the newspaper office.
“We called the paper the Lewisham Recorder ; Lewisham because we live there, and Recorder in memory of the good editor.”
We named the paper after our town and in honor of the kind editor we met.
The name reflects both local pride and gratitude.
“We had no time to make it an illustrated paper, but I drew the ship going down with all hands for the first copy. But the typewriter can’t draw ships, so it was left out in the other copies.”
We couldn't make it an illustrated paper, but I drew a sinking ship for the first copy. The typewriter couldn't reproduce it, so later copies lacked the drawing.
Oswald's illustration was lost in the typewritten copies.
“We sent copies to all our friends, and then of course there was no one left that we could ask to buy it. We did not think of that until too late.”
After giving copies to all our friends, we had no one left to sell to—we hadn't thought of that beforehand.
A humorous oversight in their business plan.
