The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-04-23
An Editorial Visit.
BY TnkoDonr S. FAY.

was passing from my office one day, 10
indulge myself with walk, when little
hard-faccd old man, with black coat, broad
brimmed hat, velvet brooches, shoes and
buckles, and gold,headed cane, stopped me
standing directly in my path looked at
him. lie looked at me. Iciossel my hand.
before me patiently, forced my features into
civil smile, and waited the developmeni of
his intentions; not being distinctly certain.
from his. finn, determined expression, wheth-
or he was "a spirit of health or goblin damn
ed. and whether his n,cnls were wicked
or charitable "-lha, il, whether he came to
discontinue or TO subscribe, to pay bill or
present one, TO offer communication or a
pistol, to shake me by the hand, or to pull
me by the nose. Editors now days must
always be on their guard. For. my part, /
am pcaceabe and much attached to life, aDd
should esteem it exceedingly disagteeable to
be either shot or horscwhipped. | am not
built for action, but love to sail in quiet wa
iers; cordially cschcwing gales, waves, wa.
ter spouts, sea serpcnts, earthquakes, lorna
does, and oil such matters, both on sea and
land. VI, antipathy TO horsewhip is an
Inheritance from boyhood. II carried me
across Cesar's bridge, ard through Virgil
and Horace. am indebted to it for tol
cradle understanding of grammar, arithme.
tic geography, and other occult sciences. 1t
enlightened me not little upon many alge-
braic rJcesscs, winch to me presented othci-
wise but slender claims TO my consideration.
1t disciplined me into uniform propriety Of
manners, and insiicd into my bosom early
rudiments Of wisdom, and principles Of vir
tue. in my maturer years the contingencies
of life have thrust me rather abruptly, if not
reluctantly, into the editorial fraternity,
(heaven bless them, ! mean them no disre
spect,) aud in the same candor which dis
ilngushes my former acknowledgements, 4
confess that visions Of this instrument bavc
occasionally obtruded themselves somewhat
iorcibly upon my fancy, in the pmoxysm nj
m article, tlampcning the glow of compost
tor, and causing certain qualifying interim
catiou> and prudent crasurcs, prompted by
he representations oil memory, or the whs>
pers ol prudence.-Ther he reader must not ian-
cy, from the form of my expressions, that ]
have ever been horsewhipped have hith
erto escaped Qo' which heaven be praisedl) ,
although my horizon has been darkencd by
many cloudy threat and laundering denun-
citation.
Nosc-puling is another disaerccablc branch
Of the editorial. business To have any part
Of one pulled is annoying; but there is a
dignity about The nose impatient even Of OBJ
servaion 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
OF doors, being abused in the papers, &c.,
are bad, hut these are minor considerations.
Indeed, many OF my brother editors pique
themselves upon some of them, as 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 dreums Of
political eminence to be awakened in their
bosom. have seen fellow draw his hat
dercely down over his brow, and strut about
with insuiIerablc importance, on the strength
Of having been thoroughly kicked by the
enemy. aHrf .t t,...t...
This is long DEPRESSION, but il passed
rapidly through my mind as the little, hard
faced old gentlemen stood before ME, look.
ing at me with piercing glance andn res
olu.e air. At length, unlike a ghost, he spoke
first. '." fN
p. g You are the editor ?'-&c.
A slight motion Of acquescence with my
head, and an affirmative wave of my hand
a little leaning toward the majesty, announ
eed TO my unknown friend the accuracy O
his conjecture. a-.i..
The lttls old gentlemans face relaxed
he took of his broad -brimmed hat, and laic
it down with his cane carefully on the liable
then seized my hand and shook ii heartily
People are so polite and friendly when abou
10 ask favor. -
. My dear sir" said he, " this is pleas
ure have long sought vainly. You mus
know, sir, am the editor of theatrica
paper-a neat thing in its way-here's ih
last number" lie fumbed about in hi
pocket, aud produced a red>covered pamph
let. r.HH frf t.
| 81 have been some time publishingit, an
though it is admitted by all acquainted wit
its merits TO be clearly the hest thing of tn
kind ever started this side of the Atlantic
yet people do not seem to take much motto
of it, Indeed, my friends tell me that tn
public are not fully aware of its existenc,
/, Pray let me be indebted to you for a notc
| wish to get fairly aaoat. You see hay
lbeen too diIident about it. We modest fe