Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-08-25
"EDIrORIAI.."

|
zette, strike US as true and TO the point. They
to whom it IS iven to possess some experimental
knowledge OF the industry, care and general at
tentlon, which are necessary to give real inter-
est and value to the pages OF daily paper, are
well aware that the furnishing of foot or two,
running measure, OF editorial original, consti-
tutes bat small part of the duties of an editor.
iudcious of the scissors editorial, is not sell
dom available for the purpose III view, namely,
that OF giving interest and value to the paper,
that of the pen. And regards the pen alone
No one, among the initiated, need be told. that
one of lis most frequent exercises is comprised in
TIE process OF reduction. that is, the bringing
down of long article, To the compass of short
one. Nor need such be told that to perform this
apparently simple office in proper manner. very
often requires more time, than would suffer to
throw off an original of double the length of that
which is thus made to pass though the condens
ing process. In one of its phrases the editorial
office seems indeed, to be the impersonation of n
struggle between time aud space. These remarks.
together with those below, having reference, some
of them, to the higher responsibilities of the
cation, will enable. the general reader to form
idea Of the various duties of editor of daily
paper. The whole may perhaps serve 10 illus
trate the error of passing upon the abors of an
editor, upon the value of paper, bv the length
of its editorials Baltimore Pat.
EDITORIAL WRITINGS.
lew DAYS agO the National lntellgencer had
some sensible remarks on the subject of editing a
paper. One idea expressed has frequently struck
us with great force. Many people estimate the
ability of a newspaper, and the industry and tai
ents of its editor, by the variety and quantity o!
editorial matter which it contains. Nothing can
be more fallacious. 1t is comparatively easy
task for q frothy writer to pour out daily, columns
OF arords-,rOrGS. upon any and all subjects His
ideas NAV flow in tone weak, washy, everlasting
food" and his command of language may enable
him to string them together, like punches ofonions
and yet his paper may be meagre, ind poor
concern. But what is the labor, the toll of such
largely, to that imposed upon the iudicious, we'll
informed editor, who exercises his vocation, with
An hourly consciousness of its responsibilities and
its duties, and devotes himself to tho conduct Of
his paper, with the same care and assiduity that
4 sensible lawyer bestows upon suit, a hu- !
name physician upon 4 patient-witbout regard |
TO show display Indeed, the mere rriting part
IF editing paper, is but small portion Of tho /
work. The industry, even is not shown there
The care, the taste, tho time, employed in select
ng-is far more important-and the tact of good
editor is better shown by his selections than any
hing else; and, that, all know IS half the bat
le. But, as have said, an editor ought to be
IS TINA ted and his labors understood and appreca-
ed, by the general conduct of his paper-iis tone
its temper-its manner-its uniform, consIs
ent course-its principles-its aims-its manli-
,ess-its courtesy--its destiny-its proprietv.
70 preserve all these, they should be presery-
d, is enough to occupy fully the time and stten-
ion of any man. If to this be added, the gener-
/ supervision of the newspaper establishment,
which most editors have to encounter. the wonder
how they can find time, or 'head ROOM, to ,crise
t all!