The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-10-03
AN EDITORS WORK.

earn their brea'., none is more luborios than n,
calling VI i.uitJr. We are aware that the member
"i tho several vocatiuns and einpluymeuts l.pu
tlieir dutes the nost iaborious. Tho LAWYER con
tends that he works harder than tho I,,,iur
Willie the latter pronnunces the assertion an i,lt
boast. The minister of tho Gospel is cont,en
that ho ID abundant in laburs beyond his brethren
OF the learned profession while tho several craft
| that drive the plough, smite the anvil, push a,
pane, and all whose occupation develops the nils
onlar tissue, scan the idea { It meh who wo,l
WIN tue hraiti, are III any measure worthy TO b
compared with them. We loavo these contestant
for the highest place of honor amoug workers t,
contend with one another, while wo assert will
| unbuunded confidence that the ,lnlies lcyo,v;n.
upon tho Editor Of daily paper arc of all mannc
OF duties the most cxl,austiuE, irving and diff;
cult
Wo think we can make good tlhis assertion, an,
1t the rea'ler will hear ,la with IL mind iroe from
Dlas--fear ns with dspassiuuate and randit
Judgment, We are confident ho will he forced {,
aumil We have Bubstanlinted our claim.
The Scissors are indispensable IN the making III
OF paper. rs we'll may mason attampt to build
a house without trowei, or a blacksmith work in
IRON without aledgc-hammor, as for oil Editor Ia
got mp his scet Without the scissors The extract
cd articles i'll journal have as much to do Will,
It's Character, as ts leaders. Those extracts most
OF divers sorts, embracing vast variety of sub.
tects, and whilo comprohcnding large circuit.
their length must Lo proportional to tho interest
OF tho topic discussed. An article NAV contain
valuable anu important information, anl vet the
subject may be stale, or but limited number may
feel any interest in it; or it may possess intrinsic
interest, but there is other subject of greater
interest that should occupy the space.
An tHla1 i'll.
selections. Tho scissors must be unLer ttc'con
troll and direction OF tho mind A great deal i,
read that must be passed over. II ia necessary 10
reduce the length of many items and to add II
word by way of explanation, or protest to MANY
Others
In order to make The scissors do good service
the Editor must read with care aul minis the
large pilo Of exchanges That every mail brings. He
must 500 everything i'll all of them. We do NOT
say no must read every paragraph but his eve
must take III everything they contain. He cannot
lot the least important lie unopened for even that
stupid sheet may contain an item OF value Ho
must open, and run his oyo through the columns
Of scores OF papers every day, with his mind con
centrated Oh the toilsomc work. Tho attention
must be maintained. He must tako care that
nothing of worth is overlooked that nothing i.
repeated that Will not bear reproduction that
nothing occupies moro space than il deserves,
He cannot afford to edge. to grow Indifferent. to
relax severe attention. When the eye aliehts on
an acceptable paragraph, it must first be resd-if
selected, it Is cut out and set aside. Paper sfter
paper Is gono through, until the attention faes
Tho mind is weary. The toll has exhausted the
htorest fflt Mt the beginning, and il requires an
'iiort to maintain attention. But tho labor has TO
DO performed, and that day after day, from year
n to year out
Ihe paragraphs that appear do not convey an
'uequto iaea OF the amount OF labor bestowed ON
my Journal Ihore is space but for a limited
iun'per OF items. The others are crowded Out by
elegrams, advertisements, communications. and
10 VINO did his utmost to produce an interesting
'apor, has tho modification the next morning TO
oe dull sheet and pila of returned copy, yory
title OF which can he turned TO account Wing ON
'ls desk. While the reader consures tho ipdustri
Lull sheet, accusing him of stupidity and la7i-
loss, hut q small portion OF his toilsome labor is
'feotual; the other portion goes for nothing.
But though the work that ia wrought with the
SCISSORS is Of 30 toilsome nature. thai involved
the preparation Of editorials is even more labo-
ious. variety OF topics, many OF which possess
10 interest for the editor, have to DO touched upon
u every issue of his paper. while somc subjects Of
greater importance must be discoursod upon every
lay. No mattor what the theme of the leader,
1is readers will not look with any degree OF allow
lnco on commonplace material, or lack of point
Ind vigor in oppression The editor Ia always ex-
'ected to wIite with clearness, force, and frosi-
1883, to say something new and striking or il tho
opic is OF such nature as to make original views
Ind ideas impossible, he ID at least expected to
present the subject in such form aa to give his
'iows tho appearance Of novelty.
When subjec is agreeable to ones taste, when
mind and heart receive it with warm embrace,
is both easy and pleasing. But whom
here is no sympathy between tho theme and the
mind when mind and heart turn away from it
With aversion; or when the body is weary AMI in
disposed, the brain hoavy, and the spirit sluggsh
inc cannot be required to do harder and more Ia
POROUS work than to writo. It is worse than oat-
ng without an appetite, or trying to slcop whilo
I'll the powers OF tho mind in lively operation or
alking while the uttersnce of every word Iccy cyres
removed and special effort. But the oditor cannot
consult his mind, and is often denied tho liberty OF
selecting his subject. He is obliged to write, and
not seldom obliged TO write on topic in.which he
'eels no interest
person OF great conceit once attempted to
9reach.s sermon, and failed mserabIy, On being
auShed at for his failure, he said, !" If auy one
links it easy to preach let him try it," So We
'ay ill regard to the work OF editing ilnily papor
If any one esteems the work easy, lot him try it,
Ind like the would-bc-preacher, lle will be con-
Tinced Of his error.