Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-27
From the Pitsburg Saturday Evening visiter.
CONFESSIONS OF AN Ex-ED1roR.


tinually rushing upon their own des-
truction, have written these confess
sions. Should they be instrumental
in saving any youthful aspirant to the
honors of the Editorial chair from my
unhappy fate, l shall bear my disap-
pointment with greater fortitude.-
Having, from an early period Of my
life, been infected with the cAcoE-
rnus scR1DEND1, which sad expert
ence has not yet enabled me entirely
to overcome, l have been in the habit
of making frequent contributions, both
in prose and verse, to the periodical
literature Of our day; sometimes, tho
rarely, my poetical contributions were
inserted; but my prose productions, in
which chiefly prided myself, were
never SO fortunate. Attributing this
to the want of taste and disccrnment
iu the publishers, determined to be-
come an editor myself. Selling, at
considerable sacrifice, my paternal es-
tate, which had been in the family for
three generations, purchased share
in popular journal. Truth and can
dor, however, constrain me to say that
at the time of signing the necessary
deeds which conveyed the happy home
of my coildhood to the hands Of
stranger, I had many misgivings. !
was affected even to tears, the many
happy, joyous days l had passed in
this retreat, ruahed through my brain
with an inconceivable vividncss and
force. As the mind Of the frantic vic
tim Of the high fever is said to recov-
er its tone and strength previous to
its dissolution, so, in that eventful mo-
ment, the folly and infatuation Of my
conduct was agonizingly visible to my
awakened perceptions. But it was too
late to repent: the justice had come
some distance to acknowledge the
deed, and the neighbors had been call
ed in as witnesses; with the desperate
courage of felon at the gallows, Sci
sex the pen, and, with firm hand,
signed away responsibility, compc-
tcnce, and happiness.
This state of feeling did not last long;
my confidence in the superiority and
brilliance of my genius came to my
aid, and began to be ashamed Of my
weakness. What! thought I, for the
sake of retaining possession Of pal
try farm, shall l neglect the opportu-
nifty of having my name enrolled on
the page of history by my wise coun-
sells in the halls of my country's Lee
gislature at the hour of need! Shall
bury the great talents which God has
given me, undoubtedly for wise purpo-
scs, in the obscure valley of my birth!
Perish the thought!
| Such were my feelings when Time
had obliterated the shock attending my
first step in this disastrous enterprise.
would fain endeavor to describe the
buoyant hilarity Of my spirits when
;. took possession Of my Editorial
chair; but feel that it. is impossible
for how can the broken-hearted and
miserable describe the joyous and gay.
was as man who has partaken large
ly of the subtitle spirit of Joy perva-
dcd my whole frame, my step was
more elastic, my carriage morely lofty
+ and dignified; the fruition Of all hopes
was accomplished; felt as the happy
!, bridegroom who has just welded the
only love of many years. Sincerely
| do | hope that the similarity of our
feelings cannot be traced any further.
The worldly generally comedies to the
bridegroom one month as the happi-
ness; but can safely say that my per-
plcxities commenced with my first
number. Though l surrounded my
!, self with all the appliances to fan the
fire Of genius and stimulate it's tagging
embers-though | procured chair Of
!. classical form and unrivalled casa
table of surprising Convenience,
inkstand supported for me by the fault
less forms Of the three graces, with
the best pens and paper that could be
procured-yct Inexperienced great diff.
4 fculty in inditing my Inaugural Ad.
dress;' which, although spent sleep,
less night in bordering the subject,
could not but perceive was quite com.
mon place, and entirely unworthy o.
my genius. Thinking that this lame.
ness must arise from the pertuberatior
of mind incident to my novel situa-
ton and the brilliant prospect before
me, l resolved to write no more unit
/ became more calm and collected; SO
/, pleading indisposition, as an apology