The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-22
Fioggin: an Editor.

both worn out, and not murder is to be
had for love or money. Even ''shocking
accidents and lawful catastrophies" are
as scarce as warming pans in the West
Indies, and there has not been mob or a
highway robbery worth a fig, for long
time. What is 10 be done What can
we poor editors do to keep our readers in
good humor Some contrive TO Gil up
their columns with their own private con-
Germs, and, what is worse yet, with their
personal quarrcls. But this is an exam
pie we do not intend TO follow. Patrons,
when they pay publisher for his paper,
DO not expect him to devote it to his own
private affairs. clergyman would pro-
badly give offence if he were to keep the
fodder for his horse in the gallery Of the
church, or hang up his winters stock Of
bacon and sausages around the pulpit.
And yet this would not be more papably
appropriationg to private use what belongs
to the public, than for an editor to fill his
paper with his own personal affairs.
Well, as we are not disposed to occupy
our columns with personal abuse, we will
try something else, and relate an incident
for the truth Of which we can youch.
About twenty-five years ago, when a
certain western state (which we shall not
nance was a territory, and with few in
habitants, young lawyer from one of the
old states, cmigrated thither, and settled
in the town of k. He succeeded al
mirably in his prolcssin, and rose rapidly
in popular favor. He had been there near
" two years, when he induced a printer
to come on and print for him weekly
paper. of which he was editor and propri-
etor. Squire $. was much pleased, for
while, with editing a paper. He was
man of very low stature. but he used the
editorial "wE' as frequently as if there
were a dozen of him. and each as biz rs
Daniel Lambert. or the Kentucky Giant.
Strange to saw, there were, nj that time,
men in office who were not particle more
honest than they should be: thing which
probably never hammered before, and ne
YER will aaain.-'Sduire s. felt all the pa
triotism of 4 son of rs, and poured out
Crane shot and canister against public abu-
SEES. This soon stirred hornets nest
about his ears; but as there was no other
paper in the territory. there was no reply,
and he enioved his warlike propcnsitics
in security.
At leng,h he published an article, more
severe and cutting, aganstmalfcasancc in
Office. than any that had preceded it. In
fact, THOUGH pointed at no one individual
in nortirnIor. if was usc9rcher."
some three or Cour DAVIS afterwards. he
was sitting alone in his editorial office,
which was about = quarter Of a mile from
the nrin,;no establishment. his pen was
busv with parorraDh when his door was
o,onol w;,bon, much ceremony. and in
st,ll,cd , man rull six feet in his stock
;prs lie asked. "orc Won s.. the editor
If This manor -, Thinking he had found
new na,rop. the little man. with one of
his bI,ndcst smiles. answered in the aC-
Grma,ive. The STRANGER deliberately drew
the last number of the paper from his
noc,et. and poin,ipu 10 the article against
rogues in office. told the a0righ,ed editor
,ha, !, was intended for chin" Ii was
in vain that $. protested he had never
heard of him before. The wrath of the
visitor rose ~ fever heat, and from being
50 lonr restrained, boiled over with dou.
HE Grv. He gave the editor his choice
either to publish an humble, very hum.
bic rccanta,ion, or take a Gogging on In
spot. Either alternative was worm-wood
but what could he do The enraged of
hcc-holdcr was twice his size, and at one
blow could qualify him for an ouhituary
= notice. He agreed to rctract, and as his
c visiter insisted upon writing it himself, 1t
. sat down to the task. Squire $. made al
n excuse to walk to the printing Office, will
n promise that he would be back in sea