Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-10-03
EDITORIAL LTFE-A TRUE PIC
TURE.

J
reader that editorial lie is not an unruf-
hc1 sea2
Did you ever paise in loo ing over a
ne cxspaper. to think Of the ceaseless toll
necessary to provide for you the columns
you 81 eIsily scan? This editorial writing
what cclseles1 tapping of the brIin it
is, No matter how he feels-the paper
must he rot out at the app,interl time and
his uIuIl contributions must fil the aecus-
toned niche.
The limited space of a newspaper column
does not allow the editor to treat any sub
ject at large. He must not attempt to ex-
tend discussion. M matter what he writes
about; 50 tn 1t his readers may not b. wear
led by long articles. 10 write 4 long cs-
say or series ,uli s1m times be a great
relief. But if he does either. ten chances
t one he will hear of it One or twi e.
in long editorial service. We have ventur-
ed To do this dangerous thing Fortunate
" we heard no complaints. though We have
M doubts many were uttered. Now and
then. however we have been cOmplim9ntcd
by brother saying to US That wa
very good article of yours. in last weeks
paper as far as read; but it WAS So long,
| WIS called off before hId time to finish
it"
Editorial writing is pleasant enough, and
easy enough to on: who is accustomed to
it-whcn he has once determined what he
is to write about But this selection Of
topics is not easy. For a single paper or
two. any man will fni subjects at hand;
but when it comes to writing for the same
readers year in and year out-when onc
calls uP the subjects already presented,
s,me briefly. som, mnre elIborltely. either
by himself or correspondents. the difficulty
Of selecting so as to avoiI self repetition Is
quite embarrassing. As to waiting till
something suggests itself-till it comes to
you-that is out of the question. The re-
spectacle but ill-nlm.l boy is already at
your door. He is calling for copy. You
must sit down anl write at once What
if half dozen persons are in the Office dis
cussing church matters or politics? What
if some irrcvelant inteirnsatory is urged
with singular Indications Of o5liviousness of
what You arc about OF not? You must feel
your way through. like MN walking in
narrow piss during dark night: and hav-
ins cached the cnl Of your sheet. you my
pause AMI take i long breath. and turn A.
WY in search aft some other subject -
AMI there is no end of this. for as soon as
you have arranged for one number the bur
1cn Of another is upon you from the first
week in Janulry to the last week in De- 1
,emher.
But to the writing of e,litori1ls is TO be ,
aided tic aggregate ofother latie4 Here .
5 correspondence, well meant an full of
sensible sayings. But tits badly written,
perhaps bally spell d. Ierhaps poorly put
o.ge'her. You mast % overit You must
lash out an unnecessary word yonder. You 4
nut b, Il grammIriln for the writer. who
liS never learned IrImmlr. or has permit
cd himself TO W. i:c without revision. You
nust in short. preplre his irrC gul,r COM
D.'siti"n TOR the press; where you cannot
n ke out ex ,etly what he intended to write.
.uc>s at it. and let your readers have the 7
'encft Of our guessing
To read newspapers for pastime is very c
j asLnt employment. But here are twen
J received by the morning mail. You take
he scissors in hand and gl1nce over then. I
What treat would this be to some people I
people who have leisure to read them
trough. But your work is to scissOrizc. L
,ou are looking for scraps. Here is one. u
at it was in yOdr paper last week. Here G
) another. but it is too sectarian. Here u
) third, bu: it is one of last years crea- G
ion, that has lodged awhile on the shores W
forgetfulness, AMI is now on the tide of 81
cws, to h1at till it eau find another stand a
II pl1ce After an hour or two of search S
u gather up the result 1t Is your col d
mn Ofclipings from the exchange
! hat search for so meagre reward
icll, have you done? See. there is a roll Of II !,
roofs. The type is set, and the foreman -
ants to make up the form. Here is .
tier upside down-there is a word you y
ever saw before-here is 4 sentence with III
1t meaning. What are you to dO!'- u
oOi at every letter; read every line--mark -
rery intended correction-and send it back !!
the printer after your alterations shall u u
I'VE been made Delays are dangerous, I'll
III aust not take half dly for it. Drop ID
'erything before you and read the proofs. u
ne press will be waiting for you, AMI M " ;,
IS you are in time your place will be Ia :" !,
N by another, and your issue be delayed e
appy the editor who. when his sheet Is ~
It. does not find dozen errors which he m III
d not see. still glaring upon him, in all ~
eir deformity. aud proving earelessness'
spite Of all his care.