The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-07
Newspaper Editing.

The clerical wit. Sydney Smith, used to
say that there were three things which every
man thought he could do. One was. ITO
manage Il small farm the sec md, Ito drive
Q gig; and the third to edit a newspaper -
Without questioning any oue's capacity for
the latter, we would merely ask them to re-
member that although a newspaper NAV be
edited by an individual, it is not edited for an
individual; and as different persons have va
r.Ous, often opposite tastes, what displeases
one may please hundred others while, on
the other hand. what pieases one may DIS
please a thousand others Finding fault
with a paper is much easier task than con-
Quoting one so As not TO incur csDsure.
We have lately seen some remarks on this
subject by leading English Journal. which
no less deserve consideration by readers in
this country. The writer combats the error
of those who think the selection of suitable
miscellaneous matter the easiest part of the
business, when IN fact IL is the mos, difficult.
Ii is no easy task 20 look daily over hum
dreds of exchange papers from which to Sc
lect enough for one-especially when the
question L., not what shall, but what shall
not be selected? Our contemporary over the
water justly observes that "to an editor who
hss the least care ab Ut what be selects. the
writing is the easiest part OF the labor
We do not believe, however, that any of our
ST. SsC ribers are As unreasonable as come be
complains Of, who look over the deaths and
marriages, and actually find fault with the
editor IL but few people have been SO FORUM
ate as 10 get married, or so unfortunate as to
die" But it is as true here as there. that.
Just a. many subscribers as he may have. SO
many different tastes has the editor 90 con-
sult. "Oae wants stories, another wants DO
cry; another abhors all this. The politician
-. l. =
something smart. another something sound -
Ons likes anecdotes, fun. aud frolics and bis
next door neighbor wonders that 9 man OF
sense will put such stuff in a paper" IL is
an Englishman's universally recognized priv
ileSe to grumble: vet there is sense in his
concluding wish, that every man. woman
and child, who reads the paper. were COM
PEELED, but one single week, to edit one they
would then fad that it is not quite 50 easy a
matter a. they suppose
Our suffering brother lin whose troubles
we can fselinGly sympathIse) had not heard
how an oshcious lay deacon was once curei Of
his longing to preach, or he would certainly
have related il. The good man was rather
disposed TO undervalue the duties discharged
by his minister. particularly those of the pull
pit. Preaching was a very easy thing to do:
In fact any one could preach that tried -
Such remarks having often come to the min
listers ears be called on his parishoner one
Saturday, and said, well, deacon. thew tell
me that you think preaching Is so very easy. !"
Yes 81 IL seems to me-" Would YOU have
any objection 20 try 10 morrow None
in the world" Accordingly the next morning.
to the surprise of the congregation, the dea-
con was seen ascending the pulpit; and all
anticipated a rich treat from one who regard
ed preaching rs such q very easy perform.
auce. But sadly were they disap pointed; and
= very short trial convinced the deacon of his
mistake. After bungling and stumbling for
awhile, he abruptly finished his discourse
with the following honest and eloquent peror.
rtion: We'll, my friends, | thought. until
noIc, that preaching was a very easy thing
All / have got to say is. that if any of you
think 20, Just come up here and try it -