The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-09
Our Exchanges.

IernapS there could not be more IN
teEesting chapter written, than upon IL
subject OF the country newspapers. In
point OF energy there can be no compari-
son substituted between the country edi-
tor and he of the city. While the one is
often necessitated to turn himself into the
trinity of editor, compositor and devil, the
other is kind of nabob, who writes off
his "leader" and leaves the balance of his
great sheet to the labors orhalf a dozen
sub-editors. 1t often happens that while
the country editor is pulling away at his
press, or busily sticking types, that the
city editor is supping with his friends or
else slumberlng away the time.
We each day receive some thirty or
forty exchange papers, from every section
OF this wide spread Union-from Maine
to. Florida, and thence to California;
There is nothing which gives us greater
pleasure than to skim over these papers
for reading them is out of the question:
to note the tune of their various editorials
The city editor writes like one who is aware
OF his hold on the community, of the sta
blllty of his paper and the wealth of his
office, while the country editor words his
editorials like one who is still suspicious
OF future success, but received boldly to
push his little bark onward till she reaches
the glorious haven of success, or swamps
in the trial. The country editor has none
of the aids to success which attend the city
editor. lie has no presses propelled
by steam and which work off ten
thousand copies per hour. He has no
corps of hands who can set up a column
of matter 'in eight minutes" almost
SOLITARY and alone" he is ncccsSitated to
drudge away in his little office till his work
has dragged its slow length along" and
his little form is on the press. He alone
has his selections to make, his editorials to
whip into shape (and oftentimes his ad-
vcrsaries tOo) his types to set, his press to
pull, his papers to mail and all through
the assistance of one or two inefficient
devils. And then his own failure depends
upon contingencies which the city editor
does not experience. Almost every day
we receive half sheet and the first edi-
torlal we peruse reads somewhat thus :
Owing to the unprecedented fall of the
river we have been enable to receive our
stock OF paper, and are therefore obliged
to issue the Journal on half sheet" &c.
Again one of our valued little exchanges
which has weekly came to us greeting our
eyes like an old friend, suddenly di.ap-
pears from the galaxy of newspapers like
the lost pleaid. But just as we begin TO
mourn the lost paper, again it appears
(more fortunate than its analogous este.
roid) with the following editorial in large
letters at the top of the column: 1--WE
congratulate our readers upon our reap
pearance, and we are now happy to state
that the late unprecedented frcShcts hav-
ing subsided, we are now in possession OF
fine stock of paper, and the Gazette will
be interrupted no longer"
This, readers, is the p&J!ic reason, but
the true reason probably lies in part with
yourself, for the poor editor has toiled dav
and night to make both ends meet, but
the dilatoriness of his patrons to remit the
Plttance due him, compelled him to sus-
pend his little paper till he could ride out
and collect enough to begin again.
How little do you know of the tolls and
vexation attendent upon the publication of
country paper! But there is one thing
which it gives us pleasure to say, and
which is that many Of our little country
exchanges, some Of which are scarcely nm
'eight by ten" often contain editorials
which would do honor to the best leaders
of the mammoth city papers. We often
get in their columns more genuine wit,
more good, hard sense, or philosophical
views of matters and things in general
than we can find in the mammoths
were we to search year in the task.
And then it is from these little papcrs
that we derive our ideas Of the bustlina
thriving life, and the wealth of this teem-
ing country of ours. We find that in the
middle of Illinois or Kentucky or Tennes-
see or Arkansas, there is an endless re-
source of wealth, and that talent of the
highest order is as Indigenous there as in
the cities amid the "Lyceus" "Institutts"
and "Collegcs"which SO pI"ntifully abound.
Long life and great success to our country
brethren say we.-Nemphjs Express.