Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-09-21
DU BUQUE VISITOR.
THE EpITOR-fRr oxE.l

His lot was knocked down to him bar
gain, and it turns out to be take-if1.
His land of promise is moving bog.
His bed of roses is higt-backed chair
stuffed with thorns. Hislaurel wreath
is garland of nettles. His honors re-
solve into capital hoax; his pleasures
are heavy penalties; his pride is the
snuff Of candle; his power but vol
umes of smoke. The Editor is the most
| ilI-starred man alive. He, and he a
lone-the ten thousand pretenders "a
bout town notwithstanding-is indeed
the identical martyr commonly talked
of as the most ill-used individual. He
seems to govern opinion, and is in re-
kality victim to the opinions of others.
Hkincurs more than nine-tenths of the
risk and responsibility, and reaps less
than one-tenth of the reward and repu-
tstion. Xhe defects ofinis work are Ii
berally assigned to him-the merits of
1t are magnaninlousiy imputed to his
correspondents. If bad article APP
pear, the editor is unsparingly con-
demned; If brilliant one be inserted,
Anonymous carries off the eulogium.
The editorial function is supposed to
consist sin the substitution Of If 1t be
for If II IS, and the insertion of the
word hoWeuer here and there, to i'm
pede the march of a fine style" Com
mas and colons are the points he is re-
puted to make-his niche of fame is
merely parenthesis-he is but note
of admiration to genius! His life is
spent in ushering clever people into
deserved celebrity; he sits, as charito-
eer, outside the vehicle, in which pro-
digious talents are driven to immortal
ity. 1t is his fortune to insert all his
contributors in the temple of glory, and
to exclude himself 0for want of space"
He is always to ego in," but expires
at last. He bestows pre-
sent popularity on thousands, without
securing posthumous renown as his
own share. His career is in this life
tale of mystery-s'to be continued in
the next" He is only thought Of when
things so wrong in the journal. Curl
osity then looks out at the corners of
its eyes, and with brows and lips purs-
ed-up querulously calculates "Who is
he'' If, by any chance, praise instead
Of censure should be mediated, the
wrong man is Immediately mentioned.
People are only certain of their editor
when they design to horsewhip him.
Is there brightspassage or two in an
Indifferent article, you may be sure
they are not indebted for their polish
to the editorial pen. Is there dull
phrase or harsh period in some favor
tie contribution?-Oh! the Editor has
altered it, or neglected to revise the
press? But if the Editor is abused for
what he inserts, he is twice abused for
what he rejects. 1t is a curious feature
Of his destiny, that if he strikes out but
single line of an article, whether in
verse or prose, that very line is infalli-
by the browning beauty of the pro-
iuction. 1t is not little odd, that
when he declines paper, that paper
s sure to be by far the best thing its
'uthor ever wrote. Accepted articles
nay be bad; rejected ones are invaria-
'ly good. 1t is admitted that Judgment
S the first essential for an editorship,
md it is at the same time insisted on,
hat judgment is exactly the quality
which the Editor has not. An author
$ praised in review-he is grateful
o writer, whose name he has indus
riously inquired for; an author is con-
lemned in a review-hct IS unspeaka-
ny disguised with the Editor. Week
tier week, month after month, the said
EDITOR succours the oppressed, raises
p the weak, applauds virtue, exalts
alent--he pens or promulgates the
raises Of friends-of their books, pic
llres, acting, safety-lamps, and steam
from the catalogue of gol-
EN- names his own is an eternal absen-
&c. Greater self-denial was not shown
y the late Mr.. Massingham Of Drury-
ane, who held Office in the theatre for
early forty years, without once wit
essing play or farce! Being solely
the Editor is compelled
OF only to review, but even to read,
ewyolumes. There is another pecu-
arity in his condition. OF ali the
ISIS. that come before him, it is his
tie to peruse only those which will
last repay the trouble. Observe:
ontributor writes nonsense ten times
yer, the articlesare returned--he sends j
ne much better, tits inserted-a fourth ,
'ntains touchesof genius-a few more .
apers are written and accepted, and 7
,oi,. o,,fho,. hoe x,,o,, I. ~.