The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-23
Hos, the Ntsc Orleans Crescent.
ma. country Newspaper.


The editor of a city journal 10 necessarily COM
PEELED to look over papers from other cities before
soy others. He has to cater in daily 1850 TO inc
tastes fancy curiosity (cali it what you piease1
of those to whom city life ia chiefly familiar. IN all
it's roar hustle and multiplied variety OF incldents
70 whom fearful murders, immense reboeries,
large spcuations, lively spectacles, and things oil
a similar character are alone interesting. Inc
c,tv naper ia the repertory OF a thousand and one
Items not the least interesting OF which are to be
found in the local column or columns.
We must confess that we not unfrequently turn
from it to pick up some country paper, and feel
rsfreshed in the perusal. The ordinary city read.
err might not appreciate it, but we do. 1t has not,
is is true, large assortment of original items; in
fact, such an item is rare and highly-przed
thing. A murder, robbe, y, assault, or thunder
storm, dwelling burnt, pig-stye or eep-fold
or stable entered and fsIonioosly despoiled, hay
rick, cotton-gin, or sugar-mill burnt, a tavern
ball, Crossroads gathering, barbecue, an cleo
ton Of board of police, magistrate, &c., are all
curioosy wonderful incidents, 10 set forth which
properly, immense headings of big caps, little
cape, heavy italic, &c, used as freely as the
limited supply in the cases will admit OF. We have
often seen in the country papers captions which
occupied more space than the article they 30 mag
nifcently ushered in to the notice OF the reader
A big pumpkin, mammoth watermelon, an
oyergrown peach or potato, good days picking
of cotton, an unusual number of DOLLS on stalk,
tall sugar cane, also matters In winch the gen.
uine country editor hugely delights, and on winch
be extensively dilates.
And the varieties of style in which his paper
appears; one week, on a whole sheet, the next
on a siurls sheet; one week, on brownish yellow
paper the next on the best OF white paper, and
always with big and little type in the most Ia
miar and sociable neighborhood.
We speak, OF course, OF the genuine country
paper, not of it's fashionable cousin which, issued
in the ueighborhood of some large town or city,
or on the borders of some railroad or navigable
stream, dresses itself up finely and puts on pre-
tentious airs. We speak of the country paper
which has none of these advantages of location, of
the paper published in some little inland village,
at which county court or police board day 10
stirring event. the arrival of the stage an exciting
incident. the little tavern general headquarters Of
gossip, &c.
And your country editor is, withal, a right
clever, sociable fellow. He keeps nothing back
from his readers; he is on intimate and friendly
terms with them. Ii his devil runs away, he an
nounces the fact and-blows the devil up. If his
solitary jour printer takes lively holiday, ne
announces this fact, claims their compassion, and
apologies for "this weeks slender amount of
matter" II he presents only half sheet, be
patheticaly explains, that ne sent an order by
"tne wagon" ga long, long time ago" but that,
somehow or other, the paper has filled to arrive,
but will certainly arrive next week. He sets his
own type, handles his roller. works the press,
writes bis editorials keeps bis book Che never has
books,) and answers questions generally, besides
sometimes splitting his own wood, nursing the
baby, and carrying water All these facts he duly
lays before his readers in every weeks regular
issue. Regularly, too, he has pathetic duns for
hrartlessfy delinquent patrons, and offers ia Ike
pay in all kirds of queer articies-wood, potatoes
corn, &c. He has his eloquent thanks, too, for
presents of large pumpkins, earsof corn, peaches,
hams, boIniny, and an occasional bottle of some
thing anti-temperance. He is the embodiment of
all news, and with the clergyman, doctor, tavern
keeper, magistrates, one of the five great men of
the village HIS advertisements set uo like
handoills, and their queer mixture of every con-
ceiyable commodity draws from him glowing
puffs
He is, withal, right good fellow, and whenever
bis face dominates our sanctum we always gladly
lay down our pen, sure of pleasant half hour of
lively, sociable chat He is not like city editor,
IA gged out In daily treadmill of journalism; and
unfrequsntly his editorials have genial fresh
Eess, spark ling vivacity, cearness of common
sense, an originality of thought, and a quc kness
of conception, whi, h the ~earied and worn city
editor might well envy. Though oracle in his
neig hborhood he is not proud sury, but patient,
good hunored, chatty, fresh the pure air be in
hales far from the dusty, smoky city. He talks
what be thinks, and in his own way. He has his
holidays, too, and from them he goes back to bis
work, and sends forth many royal idea in the
Indifferent garb his paper is compelled to wear.