Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-11-13
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VINO SEEKS 10 please ~ men each way,
And not himself ofIent;
lie may begin his work .dsy,
But God Knows when twill end +"
Oh Epigram.
d doctor, schoolnaster, and prin-
ter, are three as prominent essentials
TO the establishment of a village of the
first Class, as Squire, a tavern, aud
blacksmith, are to one of the fourth or
fifth. The printer, in the primitive times
of our country, was usually LETT out, but
rioer age and the general diffusion Of
light brought him gradually into the SER
vice, and increased his character and
estimation so much, that he at last be-
come of as vital consequence as any of
the others. If time allowed Of comments
Of this sort, | might be led to say that !
view this symptom of the genius of our
countrymen as trait of great and TIN
questionable premise in political view.
But with these things have nothing to
do, and therefore leave the subject as
found it.
In respectable village which was
growing int notice, and which was To-
Gated not many miles from the Susque-
hanna, some years ago, the inhabitants,
being stricken with the prevalent senti-
ment, erected press, and procured
from the city genuine graduate Of the
type, to take charge Of the concern
This was the first introduction our hero,
Will Sutton, had to the country. He'lgas
young, and withal, an honest and inge-
Nous youth, of a mild and gentle tenn
per, and little skilled in the intrigue and
deception so current in the world, with
which his hasty transit from the shaekIes
of apprenticeship to the post of a pub
Usher and an editor, had allowed him no
time to shake hands. Flattered by the
blaze of what looked like the opening
of splendid prospect, he, soon after he
entered on his new duties, relieved t.,
original proprietors of their burden, and
assumed the responsibility Of the con-
Germ himself.
To become popular, in other words to
please every one, is, perhaps, the first
aim and the freshest hope of every in
experienced and virtuous mind. tits SO
beautiful in theory, and the road ap-
pears at first SO plain and easy, that he
never dreams of difficulty in succeeding
+ in the practice. Will determined there
fore, to take every body's advice, and
wherever advice clashed, to choose1he
medium between the two extremes.
He commenced his paper by giving
the greatest variety possible, and prof
fering the most liberal terms, as much
as to say, pay me when and how you
can. People were pleased with thcsirst
numbers, and many good felix's took him
at his word and sent in their names. He
set this down as ample promise future
success, and built abundant hopes upon
it; but sundry printed, written and YER
ba! lampoons soon reused him from his
dreaming; one of his brother printers,
not far distant, had lost subscriber or
two through his agency, and, as his body
was out of reach, his equitable neishbor
ccntented himself with a desperate at
tempt to slip the Moose round his cha
racter, and hang lit up to infamy. This
was the first move that honest win saw
through, which staggered his faith, and
weakened his credulity.
He rubbed his eyes and looked at it q
moment, then concluded safely, if | Of
send but this fellow, whose motives are
broad and palpable, and who cannot de-
ceive Others, | may still accomplish my
aim; Pll set him down, as a cypher; I'll
still be popular. Two or three weeks
elapsed, however, and the buzz of hun
dred busy friends began to hum upon
his ear-too much of this--too much of
that, and not enough of another des-
cription ~ matter; he listened-he was
perplexed-it was the medium he had
been pursuing; how should he now act.
He at last made up his mind; wholly exc
'cluded the description of matter that
had the tewest advocates, and increased
the quantum of other kinds; a dozen or
two were still left compliments, and as
he could do nothing with them, he set
them down as cyphers with the printer;
with these exceptions, ne stu resolved
to please every body.
Nextcame in one of his worthy neigh
bors with a lampoon in his hand for an
enemy of his, and politely requested
its insertion. Sutton saw "a dangerous
predieament staring him in the face. If
! he published it, he should make pow
erful man and host of connexions his
enemies-he reasoned the matter over
with himself, and concluded to refuse it
an insertion. The author became out
rageous; he and his friends turned their