The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-10-17
From the Home Journal,
An EDITORIAL VISIT.
BY THEODORE 5. FAY.

] was passing from my office one day, to In
duge myself with walk, when little, hard
faced old man, with black coat broad brimmed
hat velvet breeches, shoes and buckles, and gold
headed cane, stopped me, standing directly in my
path. looked at him. He looked at me. |
crossed my hands before me patiently forced my
features into a civil smile, and waited the devel-
opement of his intentions not being distinctly
certain, from his firm, determined expression,
whether he was "a spirit of health or goblin
damned and whether his intents were wicked
or charitable that is, whether he came to dis
continue or subscribe to pay a bill or present
one to offer a communication or pistol, to shake
me by the hand, or pull me by the nose. Editors
nowadays must always be on their guard For
my part, ! am peaceable and much attached to
life, and should esteem it exceedingly disagree
able to be either shot or horsewhipped. | am not
built for action, but love to sail in quiet waters
cordially eschewing gales, waves, water spouts
sea-serpents, earthquakes, tornadoes and all such
matters, both on sea and land My antipathy to
! a horsewhip is an inheritance from boy hood. 1t
carried me across Caesars bridge, and through
| Virgil and Horace | am indebted to it for a
toerabe understanding of grammar, arithmetic,
geography, aud other occult sciences Ii enight-
ened me not little upon many agebraic processes,
which, to speak truth, presented, otherwise, but
slender claims to my consideration. IL disciplin-
| ed me into a uniform propriety of manners, and
instiled into my BOSOM early rudiments of wis
dom, and principles of virtue. In my maturer
years, tn e contingencies of life have thrust me,
rather abruptly, if not reluctantly into the edto
rial fraternity (heaven bless them mean them
| no disrespect) and in the same candour which
distinguishes my former Acknowledgements con-
TESS that visions Of this instrument have OCCASION
ally obtruded themselves somewhat forcibly upon
my fancy, in the paroxysms of an article, damp
ening the glow of composition, and causing GER
tain qualifying interlineations and prudent era
sures prompted by the representations of memory
or the whispers of prudence. The reader must not
fancy, from the form Of my expression, that |
have ever been horsewhipped | have hitherto
escaped, for which heaven be praised y although
my horizon has been darkened by many cloudy
threat and laundering denunciation.
Nose-pulling is another disagreeabe branch of
the editorial business To have any part Of one
pulled is annoying but there is dignity about
the nose impatient even of observation or remark
while the act of taking hold of it with the thumb
and finger is worse than murder, and can only be
washed out with blood Kicking, cutting, being
turned out of doors, being abused in the papers
&c, are bad but these are mere minor considera-
tons Indeed, many of my brother editors rather
pique themselves upon some Of them as a soldier
does on the scars obtained in fighting the battles
of his country. They fancy that, thereby, they
are invested with claims upon their party, and
suffer indefinite dreams Of political emnence to be
awakened in their bosoms ] have seen fellow
draw his hat fercey down over bis brow, and
strut about, with insufersbe Importance, on the
strength of having been thoroughly kicked by the
enemy
This is long depression, but il passed rapidly
through my mind the little, hardfaced old gen
tlemsn stood before me, looking at me with a
=. A.,
unlike ghost, be spoke first.
You are the editor 2D-&c
slight motion # acquiescence with my head,
and an affirmative wave Of my hand, little lean.
ing towards the ma estic announced TO my unknown
friend the accuracy of his conjecture.
The little old gentemans face relaxei-he took
off bis PREDETERMINED hat and laid it down with
his cane carefully ON the table, then seized my
hand and shook it heartily People are 50 polite
and friendly when about to ask a favour.
My dear sir,o said he, this is a pleasure
have long sought vainy You must know, sir,
am the editor of theatrical weekly neat
thing in its way-here's the last number lie
fumbiei about in his pocket, and produced red
covered pamphlet.
81 have been some time publishing il, and,
though it is admitted by all acquainted with its
merits, 10 be clearly the best thing of the kind
ever started this side Of the Atlantic. yet people
do not seem TO take much notice Of it. Indeed,
nv friends tell me that the public are not fully
aware of It's existence. Pray let me be indebted
TO you for a notice. wish to get fairly afloat.
You see have been too dfident about il. We
modest fellows allow our interiors to pass US
often. will leave this number with you. Pray,
pray give it a good notice"
lie placed in my hands the eleventh number Of
the North American Thespian Magazine" de-
voted to the drama and also to literature science,
history. and the arts On reading over the pros
pectus, / found it vastly comprehensive embracing
pretty much every subject In the world. IL 80
extensive plan were decently filled up in the
details the North American Thespian Maya
zine was certainly worth the annual subscription
money which was only one dollar. said 30 I'M
der nv licrary notices. in the next impression
of nv journal and, although had not actually
read the work, yet 1t sparkled 30 with asterisks,
dashes and notes of admiration, that II looked in
teresting. | added In my critiqne, that It was
elegantly got up that it's typographical execution
reflected credit on the publishers that its failure
would be a grievous reproach to the city, that its
editor was a scholar, a writer and gentleman,
and was favorably known TO the literary circles
by the eloquence, wit, and feeling OF his former
productions What those productions were,
should have been rather puzzled to say, never
having read, or even heard OF them. This, how
ever, was the cant criticism Of the day, which Is
30 exorbitant and unmeaning, and so universally
cast In one mould that was In some tribuiafion,
on reading over the article In print, to lind that
hal omitted the words " native genius" which