Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-03-20
Editors.

Editors.
The Boston Evening Gazette has the follow
ing view fthe tolls Of the editorial profession
Notwithstanding these tolls, and others which
might be named, we think the "lights" Of edl-
torial life predominant over the .'shades.' The
very ceaselessness ofits toll is a source OF happ.
ness for there, is, after all, no such fountain OF
content among the things Of life, and no such
balm Of trouble, as occupation. II is IN sick
ness, however, that the Circumstance weighs
most heavily, and the public ought to make this
allowance for editors, that they often write up
on compulsion, and not with the free, elastic
spirit Of voluntary effort:
ut has been stated that as regards talent, the
editors of America are inferior to Their cotem-
poraries in England and France. It ls true
that we have no Douglass Jerold or Emile de
Girardin, but the amount OF talent winch the
American newspapers exhibit will compare very
favorably with the journals Of any county
That profession is chosen by men OF talent
which pays the best and soonest leads to honor;
and though many men Of the most eminent abb
lities daily and weekly contribute to make the
newspaper in this country, there are few who
willingly enter the harness and assume publicly
the irksome duties attached to the situation OF
editor. Editors themselves often allude to their
trials, and with good reason, for there Is no
task which requires such dogged perseverance,
snch Job-like patience, such equanimity OF dis
position, such tread-mill labor, as that which
falls to the editors lot There is no end; it is,
like the stone of Sisyphus, an endless repeti-
ton; Or, as Maryatt says, 'itis something like
the walking Of q thousandmiles in a.thousand
hours.-We forget who it was that said that
had the art Of printing been known to julius
Caesar, heo would have been an editor, for he
possessed the happy faculty of debating to four
different secretaries, different subjects, at the
same time. There are few who can accomplish
this now a-days. The Roman senator has no
imitator, though the editor of daily paper
would find that, even with this gift, he would
have little time left To himself. A certain
amount Of work is to be deae. There is no pro
crastinating in these days. Of composition. The
editor cannot, if he be i'll, relinquish for q day
his duties. He must drive along, often writing
when his mi,d is morbid. and when his brain is
overtasked, and almost refuses to lend it's add
In the hour Of sadness and Of Joy. he must be
ct his desk. He must forget the troubled which
are gnawing ct his heart; be must shake of all
personal fretfnlgess, ,and write something cheer
full, encouraging, and readable. fhe is bitter:
then does the reader complain; but could they
who take up the nicely printed sheet, which
they read without effort, but be initiated into
the hard labor, the anxiety and care attendant
on itsproduction, they would be more sparing
Of their censure.. The editor Of newspaper,
to make itssuccessfnl, mnst be man Of tact as
well as talent. Theres are some men who are
the nominal editorssof newspapers, but never
write : line They have men il their employ
who can writs, and by their tact they get along
most swimmingly. Their title should be con
ductors Of newspapers, not editors. They know
nothing, in reality, Of the tFials Of editors.
aLetit not be thought, however, that there is
no sunshine to this picture. An editor who has
adopted the profession con e,nore finds much
that il esAtnying and agreeable IL his daily
walks. Thrown into the society Of men d
mind, there Is eradication TO be derived hom
the acquaintance. Il i ID his power, also, g
do much good, md many thanks are nturned
to him for his kindly aid. Without forfeitinG
bis right to speak freely and truthfudly q al
things, many fayors Ire bestowed ppon hin
which though of small amount crafty tht
! feelings and though often the object ofcensure
there d pleasure III iaing others testify tha,
his missiqn IS moi 80 Auit1ess, but tha1
what he writesis res what y fead u re,
mennbeytd. s5sSs s.s s. s