Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-13

YE LoCAL.-At printers festival held
not long since in Columbus, Ohio, Mr.
W. H. Busley, Of the State Journal, in
responding to the toast of the Local
Reporter" made a very characteristic
speech. 1t is so much to the point that
we quote some extracts Some years
ago, when it was proposed that I become
a local editor, 1 asked a friend, an old
newspaper man, the simple question,
What are the duties Of a local editor
He answered bluntly, 1 cannot tell you.
A local editor is always badly scattered.
He is the bushwhaeker Of q newspaper
establishment. He works on the
high-pressure principle, always ready to
blow up or be blowed up, but his position
is not defnable. He does a little Of
everything. The question was repeated
in earnest, but always came the same
answer. I thought the man unkind,
and was so ~unfavorsbly impressed with
the duties Of a local editor, that l lodged
them and commenced my newspaper
career in another department. Since
that time I have been compelled to ad-
NIT that the man was right. Expert
ence has taught me that the duties of a
local reporter are learned and not taught.
His department is in truth the skirmish
line Of the establishment. 1t is his
duty to meet face to face with the
world about him. His battles are
on the guerrilla plan, but must be
fought with broken lines, and so skill
fully managed as never to bring into ac-
ton the heavy forces of the reserve. A
reporter Of local events becomes necesss-
rily a peculiar person. He seems to the
world a very mereenary individual. He
goes to see 8 man who has broken a leg,
not to sympathise, but to question him.
He runs to a fire, not to give assistance,
but to get particulars. He wishes no
man harm, but when harm befalls, he
calls it good luck. He has an item on
the brain. 1t is his business to ask ques-
tioBs, his duty to answer none. A " bur-
glary" with him is simple business,
something horrible, a sensation. His
receiving capacity is very great. In one
hour he will have been in a dark
he'll hole to look upon a murder, will
have Joined the bright circle Of a chris
tian festival, have listened to the elo-
ouent words from q pulpit, have heard
the sweet strains from an opera, have
glanced at the best scenes of a drama,
have possessed himself Of the important
news at the capitol, and having greeted
and questioned one hundred people, be
in his seat telling for the reader a dozen
different stories in as many minutes.
Seriously, the local editor is often mis-
understood. He is no less a gen.
tleman than others of mankind. There
is as little of the nercenary about him
as any other man of business. He cannot
have the elaborate p~oliteness Of the man
Of leisure, and hence is misunderstood.
The lady from whom he hurries away,
with a half framed apology, to shake
hands with 8 rough looking man, pro-
nounees him a bear. Instinct teaches
the local that the rough man has an
item, and the lady would excuse his inn
politeness, did she know that the sterling
romance of the next day came from the
rough individual who supplanted her in
the locals attentions. The a~ristocrat
thinks the local q fsOl when be
turns from him to shake hands with a
Iaborer, the poor man that he is a swell
when he meets him arm in arm with
the rich man. On every hand he is liza
BILE to be misunderstood. His motives
are questioned, himself accused. But
he has his friends that rightly under
stand him, who know that q local editor
is often a man with a warm heart. Army
association, without eorrupting, made
some of our staid and retired men jolly.
So this front line contact with the world,
without lessening his manhood, gives
the local editor q careless, worldly man
paFp