Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-02-23
What is to be Expected Of an
Editor.

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Has it ever occurred to you that an editor is
expected TO know every thing. and all at one
time. toof 1t is his duty to be thoughtful,
vigilcnt, watchful, aud withal judnnatical: but
we deny that any one has right to regard him
as infinite. He is brought within the sweep
Of almost every variety of,subject. and upon
most Of thom is expected to say something.
II the good ladies' of blessed husbands go too
often to the auction, and spend more dollars
than Judgment. Just because they have pen
chant for strife, as their ugly lords say: then
the editor is expected TO write Icarnedly on
the subject. Ifthey think we'll Of an evening
party, and expend hve dollars in extra pre-.
pnrations- Tor it, the evil Is crying owe. chow
unreasonable cSs,is@e arr.Ss and editors arc
called upon, of course,to deliver long homly
on adapting means to ends If fashions get a
tritiins ascendancy over economy and good
sense, and some of the ladies happen to sweep
through the streets. trailing their satins
over the side walks, of course nobody but edi.
tors can correct it. If on the other hand, the
men (they are naturally exceedingly vile) oc
casionally puff segar, take pinch Of snuff
90 unshaved for day, or what is worse, wear
a wig or moustachios, then the editor is called
in to correct these evils. If street is ncglcc
ted. he is abused soundly for not knowing it &
calling upon the marshal 20 do his duty. Ho
is expected TO be everywhere. know everything.
and never be out of time. What he don't un-
derstand he is sure to be abused for, and what
he does understand and writes about, that of
course, is all wrong. He is mark for every
body; and that is right, for he expects to be
abused, ought TO be abused, and always is
abused. Politicians talk Of the obloquy which
is heaped upon them-but it all occurs during
the election; while an editor takes his quota
every morning, for breakfast and comes in for
growl or two during the day. If the Tele-
graph, which seldom says anything worth
knowing, breaks the 'thread of its DISCOURSE"
then the paper is week behind the age. We
see but one way in which we can please any
body, and that is to be very sure to please our
humble selves; and even that is pretty hard
work. This is an age, they say, in which no
two men agree; aud as we have two editors of
the Free Press. of course, we have a mons,rous
hard job on hand. Meantime, we shall go on
talking just as sensibly as we know how We
| shan't succeed in seeing every street and griev-
ance in town. that is certain; and IL we did we
| should lose in character more than we are now
abused for no man can wander 'all about town ;
aud keep his name up for good habits, and
keeping good company" Those who believe
that the North Pole was ma 10 of hickory, and
the South Pole of Royal Palm, will be slow 10
credit editors with bard work and good intcn
ifti~~s,zN, siih ss.sv@ lass We cannot argue.
But with another and better sort OF men who
regard editor as no better than he should
be, and so neither infinite or semi-Infnite, we
have word to say, an expostulaton If you
please. We want you to underttand that our
business is conducted very much like yours
except that we are more industrious and pain.
taking than you. We work more hours and
more intentiy. We try hard to do we'll We
arc in situation to be talked about, abused
and criticised-you are not, Think of this
difference in your positions and ours.-Detroit
Free Press ~
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