The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-04
Editorial Life.

Editors have so frequently ex.atiated
upon their trials and difficulties, that but
little mole can be said on the subject that
could engage the attention by its novelty.
The aphorium is true, that "one half of
the world does not know how the other
half live" and with equal truth we can
say, the unacquainted are entirely igno-
rant as to the difficulties, annoyances and
troubles of an editor. An easy time, saws
one, to sit in a comfortable room all day
and read newspapers. What is the diff
Guilty! All one has to do, is occasionally
to clip out piece of copy, or scribble of
few lines. Where is the trouble or an
noyance in this And then, editors talk
about correcting proof. Nonsense any
one with half an idea can do this. Now,
hold on friend; you know nothing about.
it. Let us look into some of the grievan
ces we complain of. In the first place, it
Is business in which we are required to
please every body. Some like political
articles, Others in tales of fiction, others
news items, DC, and too much of one, or
too little of the other gives offence, or is
the cause Of dissatisfaction 10 those inter
ested. 1fan editor should favor the prin-
eiples Of one class Of men, he may be ap-
plauded sky high; but, then, he gets the
i'll will Of the opposing party. Ifbyscme
unforeseen accident the paper should not
appear one week, there is no end to COM
plant. A merchant might get out of
sugar, or coffee, or tea, or molasses, and
the customer says nothing, but should an
editor get out Of paper, or unable to
make roller, or should some of his
hands be sick, or any accident befal his
office, no excuse is allowed for him. A
says, he paid for his paper and expects to
get it every week. B. will stop his, for
he reckins it will be so all the time, so, as
his time is out, he will save two dollars.
But, again, an editor is obliged to be al
ways at his Office. It is business which
confines him at home. The doctor, during
a healthy period, might enjoy his pleasure;
the lawyer, after Court, can seek his; the
school teacher even has his vacation, but
the poor devil of an editor has to stick to
his office like "death to dead Niger"
If he does not, business will ll,cease.-Now,
all this might be possibly endured If the
business paid, but we actually believe it
pays, in less proportion for the duties
than any other. An editor is
less remunerated than cobler or black
smith, and yet either of that class meets
with fewer annoyauces. An editor loses
more Of what he earns than any other
class. Why subscriber, the other day,
was indignant because we sent him dun,
the jac<ass, we presume, thought papers
were free. We lose, annually, a large
amount, IA large amount to us) by men
neglecting to pay for subscriptions, &c.
In another matter are editors much an
noyed, viz: in being accused Of negligence
in the transmission of their papers. They
are less to blame in this than anything else.
If a subscriber receives his first paper, he
may rest assured that every succeeding
number is sent to the Post Office.
IL would be tedious TO enumerate Gift
could be done) all the trials an editor is
subject TO; suffice It to say that the con-
sideration should prompt subscribers 70 be
more charitable towards as both in opin-
ion and the ncedfui.