Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-10-08
How I Became Famous as an Editor

How I Became Famous as an Editor.
John Lamar was an editor; John was also
my friend. Many were the discussions we had;
for always insisted that Johns editorials were
not spicy enough that he was not radical
enough; did not keep up with the spirit OF the
age was little " old fogyish," ," in fact, And
so these discussions invariably ended IN some
remarks like the following Now John, Il
1 were an editor of tho UniOntown Bugle
could make-wcll-at least as good sheet as
any in the State"
That well, dear readers, I will tell you
privately, meant that thought could beat
any man in the State editing paperl p
met John one day--in fact, that meeting
Is one I au likely not to forget for more reasons
than one, as you will see if you will follow me
through the following thrilling adventure, as
Sylyanus Cobb would say.
was fastening down town" one day N
August, my eyes fixed upon the pavement, my
thoughts upon-but that's a secret even from
YOU. readcr-when John came rushing round
the corner and the bystanders witnessed
scene of grand and lofty tumbling" that was
not down on the bills. at last succeeded in
gaining my equilibrium and my breath, while
John recovered his beaver, not improved, most
assuredly. by contact with the dirty gutter.
You are Just the man Pm in search Of
"Wcll, you succeeded in running against me
quite soon enough for practical purposes" |
answered, wiping the dust from my clothes.
Il tell you was in a terrible hurry to see
you.
Il think 5ou was" dryly responded
Il want You to edit the Bugle for week
| have to 90 to - on business"
This announcement would have taken away
my breath had not the previous encounter al
ready done so; for in an instant imagination
pictured the long editorials" the spicy " To-
Gals" and the laughter provoking " funny
ism " that should render the next Bugle the
ne Plus ultra Of newspapers.
hastily assdred John that was ready to
acccde to his proposal and following his foot
stcrs. nountcd three pair stairs to the sanctum,
where John wheeled around the big chair and
thrust a pair Of scissors into my hand, pointed
to a pile Of exchanges, and then rushed down
stairs. I called to him, but received a reply
from The second landing:
"You will find eveYthins-ask the fore
man ;" and his voice died out in the distance,
while re-entcred the sanctum humming /
am rlona-ch Of all ! survey" l was settling
my miud whether l should he'd M first "edi-
torial" " Our Country as it is, The Great
Rebellion, or French Interference" when
" Copy - sounded in my ears, and the " devil
stood grinning at me, evidently enjoying the
start with which had greeted the first sound
of his voice
hastily cut out the first item which my
eyes chanced to light upon, an snecdote Of
Charles V. and returned to my writing. !
had hardly finished my first line when the door
opened. and this Zine the foreman entered.
We want copy for the inside" he said
" the outside is already made up" and handed
back the anecdotc that had just sent to the
compositors.
I think ] must have looked blsnk,-I know
| felt so-for the idea that a particular kind
Of copy was required for particular side of
the paper was something entirely new to me.
hesitated moment, took up paper and cut
ont an article headed "Our Country and
her wants" not noticing that the paper was a
rank Republican sheet, and the article one
abusing the Democratic party in general.
I had hardly reached a paragraph in my
"leader" ero another call came for more
COPY" and 20 it was for the next six hours.
The day. closed but could not say the same
Of nv leader. Alas it had only reached its
fourth paragraph And allow me to say right
here. that was all It ever reached. had the
modification Of seeing the paper 90 to press
without 'long leader in my best style !" in
fact, there was not a line Of my writing in its
columns
The chagrn which this thought caused was
nothing, however, 70 what was to follow. ]
leave it to the reader to depict my feelings
when, upon the damp sheet, read the different
articles had selected. The first, as / have al
ready said, was an article against the adminis-
trstion the next an equally abusive one
against the Democratic nominee for Congress
"a favorite man Of the party, and a parhcu,
lar friend Of mine, as the numerous stump
speeches Of last summer would prove.
There was paper most intensely Republi-
can If one could judge from its contentsl IS
sued from Democratic Office, I laid down
the paper, end as a sense OF my ridiculous Po-
sition over-baanced every other feeling, |
burst out laughing but my laughter was cut
short by the entrance of the would-be NJ. G.,
whose countenance betokened anything but