The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-02-27
SELECTIONS FROM PUNCH.
IN LIEU OF A LEADER.

IN LIEU OF A LEADER.
This is a grumbling world, truly, and we
are ofthe opinion il will continue a grumblingI
world up to 5 o'clock on the morning that
Parson Miller has set for the destruction Tor
purifcation0 of all things. There are as
many different kinds of grumblers, too, as
there are different kinds Of men, and they
"are not a few but the most hearilessl
grumblersin all the world, with whom mortal
ever had to do, are newspaper 'patrons ~
We 'sspeak by the Book"-we've tried them.
An authors troubles are nothing to what an
editor has to pass through weekly. But we
will let Punca speak the rest for US, mere
ly remarking that besides sitting type, work
ing the press, splitting wood, going TO mar
ket, dunning subscribers, (labor lost0 work
ing in the garden, &c., &C., we have been
busy three hours each day this week answer
ing "no" 10 the questions of our numerous
yisiiers-"has the canal bill passed?"-"any
news from Owen?" sc. If any of our sub
scribers think they can furnish a more inter-
esiing sheet than we have this week and do
other work besides, just let them Try it.
FROM A PUBLISHER TO AN AUTHOR
DEAR SIR: 2
Upon my word, this is too bad! We have
beeh standing for copy for two days. Really,
too bad. ! would not wish TO write anything
that might be thought severe, no, | trust
-lessJ | haxe 9 fHtea a5as ff abbsdr f e la1sAt Very
strange that gentlemen authors are the only
sort of people with whom there is nothing like
regularity. Ii is never so with other trades
mon. i'll want a coat, or a pair OF boots,
by a day-the tailor, the bootmaker never
disappoints me. And yet those who write
aciH take such liberties as if pen and ink gave
sem a sort of license 10 do what no respect
able tradesman ever thinks of doing. Bust
ness is business all the worldover; and there
should be punctuality in making poems as
ia making pantalloons. When writer's can't
be punctual, they ought to give up the trade
and seek some other employment. 81
do not deny that your head may not
have been a little out of order-that your
spirit may have been low or desperate-tha,
all this beautiful world, as you once very
finely said to me, may have seemed to you
as if ii was made of wet brown paper. | don'i
deny this; but then what have | said to you
again and again? Ought not men who are
liable TO such ridiculous crotchets, to work
double-tides when they are quite well, SO
that they may always have copy in advance
of the blue devils? ], sir, who do not pre-
tend 10 what some folks call the dignity OIL
an author-I have always been in advance
of the world; | have always caught time by
the forelock in all things.
Permit me to say, there is a good deal oil
nonsence talked by you gentlemen authors
to the great Inconvenience of the %unfortu-
nate tradesman who trades with you-aboul
waiting for Inspiration. Pooh! It's very
little waiting for a policeman when you wan
him-you may wait all day and never light
upon him. Inspiration, sir, if you only per
severe, comes with pen and ink, in the same
way that a pump that seems dry gives water
with pumping.
Again, some ofyou gentry effect TO be al
fected by the weather as if you wrote il
quicksilver and not in ink. Doctor johnson
sir, contained in himself as many people nov
called authors, as there are sticks in a fagot
And what says pf. johnson about the effec
ofreason and weather? why, he growls a laug
at it. Yes, sir, that great man would hav
written Paradise Lost quite as well in
coal mine as in Arcadia if there is such
place. Besides, when a man has served hi
time TO writing, it's nothing more-I'm sur
o~fit--nothing more than a knack. Just a
a woman knits garters and gossips at tn
same time, he can 60 on wiring his book
and think nothing at all about it. This
done every day by some people: | sould on
~ wish, sir, that, with all you talent--for yo
have a sort of talent | dom deny it--yo
could do the same thing. 1t wonld be MOI
ey in your pocket and great convenience t
me.
Ii is true you have written much; nevertht
less, as I say, there is a good deal of me;
upon You yet--a good deal of meat. Som
may think that o course phrase Of mine
don't. On the contrary, | think it signifcar
and original. Hook Upon authors simply
abutcher looks upon SouthdOwn mutton; vii
merely IN eye TO the number of pounds
be GOT out of'em. You know that uay cha
actey is frankness, | have lost a great deal
H-but I cant help that.
And now by ten tomorrow, | must hav