The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-01-21

whose opinions are to influence men by tb'
hundreds of thousands, to lead parties and
to control States. Such is the Master
Journalist Of the London Times, lie Moni
teur, of Paris, and the World, of New York
lefty,
| These men seldom write line; they can
write, and have written; they have attained
their positions by regular gradations; but
when placed at the head Of the editorial
Icorps, their business, like that of com
manding general, becomes dire Glory one
altogether. They superintend and super
wise they give tone and consistency to the
many columns filed by many heads whilst
the writers of the various departments sup
lply the matter.
Of these there are always employed upsn
a wealthy, well conducted newspaper, quite
a number; one or more may write the lead-
ing editorials, one or more the miner edi>
torials, one the monetary and another the
commercial articles, one the literary re-
views, one the musical and dramatic critic
cisms, and so on.
Besides these regular corps, in London
and New York, is an army of Bohemians,
or strolling writer's They are usually men
Of crotchets or hobbies, Of erratic genius, Of
"infnite jest and most excellent fancy"
The BOhemians write; pretty much as they
live, by fits and by starts, as their fancy
liSteth. They are useful, and even pOccs-
sary appeHdages, but not very reliable as
regular attaches. They are paid for what
they write, and the price allowed them
varies from guinea to f2 in England, in
| New York from five to ten dollars, per
column. Many Of the ablest and most
spirited articles we read are by the Bohe
mians brilliant, philosophic vagabonds J
who give literature and journalism halftheir
| life, zest and racipess,
With its permanent staff, and lbs "vol-
untaries," perfect daily-and to be per-
feet it must be very mirror, retie citing
+" the age and body of the time"-becomes
an essential to all classes, the politicians
read it in tho cetfee houses, the "heads of
families" reeitc it round the fre-side, the
blaze droBes over it and his breakfast at
the same time, the fine lady skimsit before
her looking glass, the financicr studies it 10
his counting room, the statesman in his
library, whilst the musical and dramatic
world drsam down its criticisms from gargcs
to green-room all, in werd, seek the
great journal for news, fer ideas, for amuse-
ment.
journalists may be said to be, as Shak-
speare has described the players, 'sthc ab
stracts and brief chronicles Of ths time.
Their opinions are usually the first notions
we get Of the events Of the hour, outside Of
our own brain the index, as it were, to our
thought. They arc our constant com.
pauons and references Unlike most hour
ly associates they never bore Wis, for they
are slontunless we address ourselves to them
and then they speak out softly to our eye
from quiet columns and clear print. They |
look us full in the face, and we heed them.
They see, but are unseen, except in parallel
and upright lines. They are always agree
able visitors but especially SO in the morn
ing, for whether they come in shape, wicked
or charitable, who does not hail the CON-
ing Of fresh, readable newspaper, at the
breakfast table? We glance over them,
and sometimOs devour them---we either copy
the views they express, or are highly pleas
cd at the compliment their anticipation OF
cur own pre-formcd opinions, conveys to our
vanity.
What would become Of AS il all the editors
were suddenly to dieY What would be-
come Of London, Paris and New York, if
all the journals were suddenly to stop?
s-.---a--4----A s.ac