The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-08-18
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BY w. j. SLATER.
EDITORS AND THEIR DUTIES.

writes editorials for a newspaper
cl ps extracts from others, sets type
works the press, folds and marks pa.
pers, carries them to the post office
carries wood and water, milks the
cow, editors have but one,) and rocks
the CRADLE"
Can't say that we come up to the
scratch entirely, if it requires all this
to constitute good editor, especially
in regard to rocking the cradle. We
do set type sometimes, and write on
papers, and fold them, carry them to
the post office, bring water, &C.. and
in tight pinch we would milk the
COW; but to rock the cradle with a
baby in it-ooh that would never do
Let those whose hearts can bear more
trouble than ours, engage in that de-
HghJul task.
But there are some things that we
know an editor must, and a few that
he must not do. He must write
something every week, or subscribers
will say they had better take the pa
pers lie copies. He must give them
the general and local news, but then
if in giving that news he mentions
something in which a subscriber is
involved, he must either puff him, or
if his conscience should be too much
taxed in the performance of that kind
office. must cautiously ly avoid the men.
tion of his name, lest on coming into
his sanctum he find this la"onic note
Stop my paper.' He must be bold
in what he writes, and advocate every
thing for the benefit Of his town, yet
if truth compels him to speak dispar-
agingly Of any thing in his town with
a view to effect a change for the bet
ter, the editor must be condemned for
it. Those who are read to cry that
he never tells the truth, are the first to
complain and get mad when he does
tell the truth. He must put his name
to every paper brought to him by a
subscriber, and give money to any
cause he may ask, lest the paper he
stopped. And perhaps that very
subscriber has been taking his paper
three or four years and never paid a
cent for it, and living in the town
where the paper is published. lie
must treat with courtesy and kinds
ness all who may honor his sanctum
with their presence, (this we do with
a great deal of pIeasure,) lay down his
scissors, wipe his pen, and push aside
his half.lnisbed manuscript, though
the composiior cries "copy." Discuss
the weather, crops, the canvass going
on, and above all, the pleasures and
comforts Of he life editor al. He
may pursue other occupations, if he
will, to gain subsistence, bat he must
beware, in the pursuit of that occupa-
ton, how he crosses the path ola sub.
scriber, lest his subscription list num-
Der one less. He must write on poll
tics occasionally, in order to give his
readers the full benefit of the current
political news-bnt in order to retain
one class of subscribers, he must not
attach himself to either of the politi.
tical parties, for political papers tell
such lies" TO retain extreme parti
zans, he must espouse their cause, OF
the other side, lest he incur the charge
of "holding with the hounds, and run
ming with the hare
But don't think that in the above
remarks we are portraying our ideas
OF what an edi or ought to be to be
right, or of what ,re try to be. In oul
career we expect to meet with grum
blers and people who will talk about
US, and to all such we would say &c
on, you are beneath our notice.
Don't take our paper if you do It like
it, and if you don't like it, it is none
of your business what is in it, or what
we say, so as we do not talk about
you. Your money does not support
US. With truth as our guide, well
follow, be the result what it may.
An exchange paper gives the fol-