The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-22

The LIFE OF AN EpIToR.--A contemporary
marks that but few emp!oyments are so unfavor-
able TO careful reading, mature reflection, and
elegant composition, as those of an editor, esPe-
Cialy editor OF a daily paper. This fact, even
where understood, is but rarely acknowledged by
the reader. The public has no mercy for the
short comings of editor. He is expected to be
wise, yet witty; learned, yet eloquent; profound,
yet brilliant He must always be accurate, yet
never delay his judgment If a bill is laid before
Congress, he is looked to for an opinion before the
telegraph has finished reporting the provisions.
liza railroad is projected, he must Immediately
point out its advantages, its cost and its dement's
If olu ion break. out abroad, he Is Questioned
as 10 its probable consequences, and condemned,
in the end, if he has not foreseen every contin-
gency. When he Is right, be scarcely receives
credit; when he is wrong, he Is censured without
end. The pulpit orator prepares his sermon IN the
quiet of his closet He may refer to his library Tor
doubtful fact. and revise his composition in after
hours. Even the lawyer has usually the respite of
n night, in which to collect his thoughts and ar
range his arguments. But the editor must speak
on the spur OF the moment. lie cannot stop either
to fortify his memory, TO digest his opinions, or 10
polish his style. He filings of his sheets OF manu-
script ss the news comes IN, or the claDors OF the
compositor increase, and like a thorough bred III
desperate race, he is under whip and spur from
the starting point to the goal
But this is not the whole The editor must write,
not merely before he has maturely reflected, but
often when anguish sorrow prevent his retec-
ting at all. His bones may be racked with cold,
his head may throb with pain, his tongue may bc
parchcd with fever; he may be unnerved by ex
cessive labor, yet he must write, write, write he
is as il were, chained TO a wheel that whlrls and
whrls forever. He must leave the wife Of his
b som a sick bed, even when uncertain whether
or not he shall find her alive on his return. lie
must come from the coffin of his child, from the
tears and agony OF the bercaved mother, and while
his heart is hlnts breaking and his brain recling
in the effort TO think, he must write, write, write
OH if the public but knew with what suffering 1t
lie often served. If the secrets of but single day
If II. in one pf OF or
blaze in letters OF fire behind the ordinary type,
what revelations there would bc-reyelatious OF
mental torture and physical pain, OF falling nerves
and wearled eyesght, often oil peculiarly distress
and even positive went. For the editorial profcs.
sion, alas does not always requitc it's foowers.
There is no time, perhaps, when our great cities
do not contain one or more editors who struggle,
with failing hopes and empty purses, 10 establ5h
a newspaper lor themselves, or who are compelled,
by savage NECESSITY, TO write for o mean salary
that cannot always be paid.
The lie OF an editor IL comparatively short. lie
wears out before his time. The exac,ing toll he
pursucs, which is rarely or never broken by soil.
tary day of rea ration skaters his nerves cnhausts
his vital energies, and makes him grey haired al
most in mddeage. To him the course OF nature IL
reversed, and night is turned to day. lie lsbors
when other men sleep. Nothing tells sooner on
the constitution than this. The close room in which
he usually sits. the sitting odors OF damp nevepn'
pcrs from the mails and the binding glare OF the
gasligbs, increase the wear and tenr upon bic sys
ten. that he 10 fortunate member ofhs profession
If lac does not give out entirely before hc IL MY
years old. Nothing but distinguished success, and
the consequent ability 20 lighten bis toll by en-
ploying substitutes, can save him from this ire.
eistible doom Some live indeed, TO drag on a
mis- cradle old age in poverty and mental labor;
some become de- rcpid in intellect; and somc-God
knows, too many-by seeking IN stmulanis aids TO
labor, 20 down TO drunknrd's graves or live de-
graded menials
Happy the editor who, by strict economy in The
nom Of life, or brilliant talents IN his profession,
secures for himself n comfortable old age. Bot
from what know OF our brethren In the craft,
fear that the majority fall sacrifice, either to
their errors to their want Il ability, or TO mis-
fortunes beyond their control. IL is n hard lie
there is none hardcr.-Phil Euming Bwi'fin.