The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-17

Tue LOCAL REponTER.-At q printers festival,
held not long since in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. W. H.
BUs1Ey of tho State Journal, in responding to the
toast of the Local Reporter" made very charac
terstic speech It is 80 much to the point that we
quote some extracts:
'sSome years ago, when it was proposed that I
newspaper man, tho simple question: What are the
duties of local editor? Ho answered bluntly, I
cannot tell you. local editor is always badly
scattered. He is the bushwhacker of newspaper
establishment. He works on the high-pressurc
principle, always ready to blow up or to be blowed
little Of everything. The question repeated in
earnest but always came the same answer. 1
thought the man unkind, and was so untavorably
impressed with the duties of a local editor that
lodged them, and commenced my newspaper
career in another department.
''Snce that have been compelled to admit that
the man was right. Experience has taught me
that the duties of local reporter learned and
not taught. His department is, in truth, the
sslrmsh line of the establishment. It is his duty
His battles are on the guerrilla plan, but must be
fought with broken lines, and so skillfully manag-
cd as never to bring into action the heavy forces
of tho reserve. reporter Of local events becomes
necessarily peculiar person. He seems to the
world very mercenary individual. He goes
to see u man who has broken his leg, not to
sympathizo, but to question him. He runs to
q fire, not to give assistance, but to get par
ticulars. He wishes no man harm, but when
harm befas, ho calls it good luck. He has an
item OIL the brain. 1t is his business to ask ques-
tions, his duty to answer none. A burglary
with him is simply business, something horrible,
sensation. Ills receiving capacity is very great.
In one hour he will have been in the dark hell
n ,lc to look upon q murder, will have joined The
bright circle Of Christian festival, have listened
to the eloquent words from q pulpit, have heard
| the sweetest strains from al opera have glanced
at the hest scenes OF drama have possessed him.
self Of the important news OF the capital and,
having greeted and questioned one hundred
people, be in his scat telling for the reader dozen
different stories i'll as many minutes.
Seriously, the local editor is often msunder-
stood. He is no less gentleman than others of
mankind There is Us little OF the morcenary
about him as any other man Of business. He can
not have the elaborate politcness Of the man OF
leisure and hence is often misunderstood. The
lady from whom he hurries away, with half
framed apology, TO shake hands with rough look
ing man, pronounces him boar. Instinct teaches
tho local that the rough man has IN item, and the
lady would excuse his mpolitencss did she know
that the stirring romance of the next day came
from the rough individual who supplanted her in
the locals attentions. The aristocrat thinks the
local fool when hc turns fl ON him to shake hands
with laborcr, the poor man that he is swell
when he meets linn arm in arm with tho rich man.
On every hand he is liable to be misunderstood
His motives are questioned himself accused. But
he has friends that rightly understand him. who
know that local editor is often man with warn,
| heart"