Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-04-17

1
What Newspapers Do for Nothing.
The t.lowing truthful and sensible article
is 1sorthy Of being seriously pondered by
egefr newspaper reader. To person not
familiar with the internal workings of news
nspg establishment there is great deal oil
mystery connected with the art preservaiivc
of lrts," but to the familiar worker in the
sawtum, there is nothing 50 mysterious as
the morbid demand for editorial services as a
mater of course, or in the way Of friendship.
As "man cannot live by bread alone," so q
newspaper cannot sustain itself solely on
god wishes. 1t must have substantial pabu,
lun. 'Rrad, mark, learn and inwardly di-
get" the following;
My observation enable ME to state, as
Grt that publishers of newspapers are more
poorly rewarded than any other class Of men
intbc United States, who invest an equal
amount of labor, capital and thought. They
ar expected TO do more service for less pay,
toStand more sponging and ' dead heading:"
topuI and defend more people without Ice
0rllopc of reward than any other class
They credit wider and longer, get o(tener
chatcd, suffer more pecuniary loss, arc oiieEer
IL victims Of misplaced confidence than any
oler calling in the community. People pay
a,rintcr's bill with much more reluctance
TIM any other. 1t goes harder with them to
epend a dollar on valuable newspaper than
to on needless gew gaw; yet everybody
aails himself of the use of the editors pen
ad the printers ink
How many professional and political repu
ltions and fortunes have hccn made and sus.
lined by the friendly, though unrcquited pen
{ the editor? How many embryo towns
nd cities have been brought into notice and
uif into pro perity by the press? How
lany railroads now in successful operations
'ould have foundercd but for the lever
,at moves tie wor!d2 In short, what branch
industry and activity has not been promo
d, stimulated N / defended by the press?
abe pittance for its services? The bazaars
fashion and the haunts of dissipation and
ppetite arc thronged with an eager crowd,
caring gold in their palms, and the commudi-
es there vendcd are sold at enormous profits,
lough intrinsicaly worthless, and paid for
'ith scrupulous puncuality while the count
hg room of the newspaper is the seat oil
wing, cheapening trade, orders and pennies.
b is made point Of honor to liquidate n
Irog bill, but not of dishouor to repudate
Irinter's bill.
Aye, and more; the editors Of daily
'urnal are expected to give their morning
eaders the latest items of intelligence. TO
b this they must do without the natural
eep Of ordinary morsals. The small hours
the morning find them away from their
omes and families, reading proof sheets,
ipping items from exchanges, preparing
legraphic dispatches for compositors to set,
I'd endeavoring TO coin small pttance
lich many narrow minded pubic besrudge
I'm, and when, vo:n out by incessant toll,
ey 8" shake off this mortal COLL if they
We enough Of this worlds goods to pay
cir funeral expenss, their brother editors
~ we'll cxc'aim, "wel done coed and
thful servant"-cf an ungrateful public.
It is generally believed that editors and
Intcrs can live on air, or that they have
inexhausible mine of wealth always ut
cir command.
They need no money, and hence they can
put of until convenient season, while
mlliner's bill must be promptly liqudated.
Nemben Journal ,