Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-08-23

"RDiroRi,L Tho subj lined remark, FROM
the Alexandra Gazette, strike u, a, :rue aSs IL
the point They To whom At ~ given 10 possess
som cxPerimen,ai know ledge Of the i,sii.tyv
care and general attention, which are n,cessar,
u give real intere.t aud value To the pages Of
DAILY paper, arc we'll aware ihlt the furnishing .
loot or two, running measure, editorial 'ot sinSl'
constitutes but a small part Of tie d.iie, Of an
editor. judIcisus use 81 the scissor. editorial
Is not seldom. AZ svsilsbl- Tor the purpose in vcx
namely, that Of giving interest aud value u the
paper, as that ofIhe pen. And n rr-,.ll, the p-u
slone-No ono, among the iaiii.tsd need b..
told, that ons OF it, most frcgleut exercise, /,
comprisedin the process .: reduction that l., the
ornsios down Of long article, TO the conp.,,
or short one. Nor Sccd such be told That Ia
perform this APPARENT, simple Office IN prorer
manner, very often requires more uHe u,.n
would suffice To throw oil an ''OTiginll," Of duu-
b'e the length OF that hich ~ thus made u pas.
through the condensIng process. Ia one OF IL.
phases the editorial olice seems indeed TO u.
the impersonati"n OF a siru:gle between tiue
and ,P1ce. The,e remarks, together - nh those
below, having reference. soms of them, 10 the
higher responsibildiss OF tho " ~ enable,
the general rcsier ~ form some idea VI the va
riou, duties OF an editor Of . d,ilv p.per Tn.
whole may perhaps serve To iIiuslr.t tie error
of passing upon the la5ours Of an editor, or u2os
the value Of paper by the length OF its editorials:
EDlToRiAL WRIrINGs.-A few DAYS
ago thu National lnielligencer had some
sensible remarks on the subject Of editing
aPaper. One idea expressed, has fire.
quenily struck us with great force. Ma
ny people estimate the ability Of a newspa-
per. and the industry and talents of its
editor. by the variety and quantity Of ed
itorial matter which II contains. Nothing
can be more iallacious. I, is comparative.
ly an easy task for frothy writer TO Jour
out daily, columns Of uori,--rorEs. unou
any and all subjects. His ideas may now
IN "one week, washy, everlasting. Hood 8"
and his command OF language may enable
him 10 string them together. like punches
OF onions, and yet his paper may be a mca-
gre, and poor concern. But what is the Ia.
boz, the toll Of such man, " lao displays Li,
"leaded matter" ever so largely. 10 that
imposed upon. the. judi -ious Hril inform
cd editor who cNcTriscs his vocation. with
hourly conci'usncss Of rs rcspon Utilities.
and its duties, and devoies himself to the
conduct of h,s paper wish The same care
and assiduily that a sensible LAWYER be-
stows upon a suit. or humane physician
upon pa'icni--wI,hout regard 10 sh1v
or display. la deed. the mcrc ur3iag
p1rf, Of editing apspcr, itnoi .hown there.
The care, the taste, The iims. employ ed
in selecting -is Ear more i:npot1nt-ana
the fac! Of a good editor i better .hown
by his selections than any thing else; and.
that VIC all know IL h>li the b,'iic Bat.
az we have sal J. n editor ought - be- rs-
timated AMI bis l,hor Understood and an.
preciited, ny The general con lId Of biz
Paper-i,s tone tempe. Its manner
ats uniform, Consistent cour'c--iis rfinci.
pies Its ai'ns-itt m lnl'ncr,-iis courte.
sy--its dIgniiy--iis propfic'y rrcserye
all these. as they should be preserved. i,
ien'ion OF any uan. ITO ,hi, Ne added.
the general supervision Of the new.paper
establishment which nlos, editors have
70 encounter, the wonder is how they can
had time. or head room, to tcriie al ALL