The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-19
We Editor MAN

that ut Is easier to get twenty good writ.
ers than one good editor" If the Bos-
ton Transcript said that, then the edu-
cation of the Boston Transcript has been
sadly neglected, especially in that chap.
ter OF political economy which treats OF
| the relation of values for every Yankee
man, now days, writes Yankee English
and 'eyentuates,' God forgive him, and
the breakers of Priscian's head (his fcl-
low sinners, in book, pamphlet, or a
lecture. Fossil remains of the English
tongue are now and then found in the
mud and ooze Of this word -deluge, which
show s'raugely enough by contrast. Now
and then Shakesperian vertebra turns
up gigantic; or Daniel Defoe's bic toe
sticks out above the slush, like the foot
of a mastadon in a modern museum of
promiscuous trash For the rest. these
later voices are kind of witch dance of
lungtailed words, and Johnsonian and
Websterian denominations. But, sessa :
let the world slide. If the time be "out
Of joint" no such Ncursed spite" is on us
Ias being "born to set it right"
This, and nothing more, is now for us
to do-rideltcet, to take shy at the
transcripts apothegm. This, and moth
ing more, is our syllogism. Every Yam
keenan, writes now-a- days. But to be
an editor is to be one man picked out of
ten thousand Therefore. 1t is easier to
get nine thousand nine hundred and nine
ty-nine writers than one editor. Q. T.. d.
For what, in good sadness, is it to be an
editor? Look not to have US answer with
brilliant novelties What it hath afore-
time been said and sung in Ia belle France,
and mcrrie EngIande; and exc in witty
America, so touchingIy that rather our
memory than our fancy will labor in the
definition. Whose, therefore, nndeth
scrap Of his own in our aims basket of
words, let him not growl or grow angry !;
but, with the benevolence of one truly of
an atiuent wit, pass it cheerily along to
poorer brother.
Ibe editor, then, is the last of the mar
tyrs lie is that pitiablc creature, the
most ill-used man OF his day He inher-
its literary estate, mortgaged for twice
its value The laurel wreath of his day
dreams turns to a own of thorns in dai-
ly realities. His power Is a practical
joke; his pride solitory impers5ualiry,
and his pleasures what other men esteem
pains. He labors in vain, and spends
his strength for naught The empty echo
of every popular faliacy, he affects to gov
ern public opinion. From his labors 9th
er men get power and profit; his unsu-
truct is the risk, the responsibility, and
the hourly chance of having the hardness
of his head tested by slung shot, or his
thorax perforated by bullet. Whatever
Is bad IN his paper, no one doubts is his
own; whatever good, is credited to san
able contributor" He is popularity sup
posed to do nothing more than mechan-
ically divide the work of cleverer fellows
than himself into paragraphs, and read
proof for erratic genus.
An editor pufs the empty bladder of
political, artistic, financial, literary, social,
and ecclesiastical regulations, till they are
full and rise above the heads of the null
titude, who fall back to gaze on them"
with awe and wonder, as they shoot sky
ward; but he never gets lift in any of
the gay balloons his plenteous gas initiates
He spends his life in making other men
great, but never adds an inch to his own
public stature. Like Dame Fortune, in
old Dekker's play of ''Fortunatus, he
can cry:
" paint ten thousand images of loan
In gaudy siken colors; on the backs
OF mules and asses ! make asses ride
Only for sport, to see the apish world
Worship such beasts with sound idolatrv!" "
His paper is the common vehicle in
which ambition rides to fame, whilst he
sits on the box at monthly salary, which
is commonly less than footman's wages,
and drives for them those well broken
roadsters, the public. Half the world
abuses him for what he puts in his paper,
and the other half for what he leaves out
of it. A good judgement is popularity
to be the first requisite for his
trade; but no two men ever agree that
any one editor has common sense enough
''to 60 into the house when it rains. -
Author, actor, literateur, office holder,
get jolly good puff Next day, betimes.
they rush down to the Office to find out
what contributor wrote it. They get
their deserts and an honest scoring, and
lie awake all night, revolving in their
anxious minds whether they shall cow
hide the editor or blow his brains out -
~ T. Sunday Times.
EScape--HEan Car