Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1868-09-18
The Country Press-some Truths
about Editing.

We make the following extracts
from an able address delivered by
Marcus Il. Rogers before the New
York State Editorial Convention hsid
July 25th, 1868. Mr.. Rorors speaks
words Of truth and bobsrnsun which
every soVutEy editor win appraoiats-
II any suppose che lahore and rosR0n-
sibllities Of the weekly any less ouor-
Gus orresBonsible than those Of che
daily journalist theywill be here unde-
eeived Dir. Rogers being himself the
editor Of a country newspaper speaks
that which be knows. BE says
There is, probably, 20 profession or
7 occupation in this country, requiring
! so mGch mental and manual labor
4 sucn careful management and cOuin-
ual attention, which Is generally so
I poorly rewarded, as that of publishing
q country newspaper. Demanding the
eE2e9rtlon Of all your facultes,and COM
/ peilIng ceaseless vigilance and care it
becomes the stone Of SisvDhue-an
1 endless repetition of drudgerv and TOLL
i know that upon all condition.
! presses down one impartial law"-that
man must eat his bread by the sweat
I of bis brow but the primal curse. I
| think, has double force, when pressed
down by the iron hand of cifoum-
stance, an editor is compelled to write
carelessly and lightly, not only 10 tha
hours that shine" with the ioyg Of
life, but as well in the gloom Of dsa-
pOndenoy, when calamity or sorrow
| have placed 3 burden on the heart.-
And / presume there 10 not an editor
within the sound Of my voica-thouqh
L more particularly allude TO those
whose journals, like my own are cos
dacted by one man pOWer-Who has
not, IN such times, felt and mOaued
over the alavsry and hardship Of bis
treadmiil existence. There Is nothing
lu modern literature, says recent
writer, more toUohinG than She aad
story Of the gifted but unfortunate
Laman Blanchard, who was Obliged
70 write special article for some per-
lodical while his beloved wife lay dead
IN the house, and who, driven TO mad
ness by this cruel necessity, laid violent
hands upon his own life and went
down to the suicide unhon0red crave.
To make a successful weekly is far
more difficult than to manage q daily
journal ; and the editor Of q country
weekly has far more responsibility and
a larger duty than an attache of q oitV
paper This may seems strange at
first Thought, but the assertion 10 war
Tanted by the facts The city editor
not on y shirkB all responsibility To
the public, By having his individuality
lost in the paper, bat he has some sim
gle department assigned him, 60 which
he can devote hls undivided care.
while the country editor By having
hls personality known and read of
all men, must not only shoulder the
responsibility Of all he writes, but of
all he publishes; and this too amid
thousand perpleIitie8 and discourage
menss, Of which the public have little
conception, and award no. indulgence.
lie must read all his exchanges, write
articles On any and every topic, read
proof, oversee, and frequently work In
his Office, keep books, collect his dues
aud pay his debts, talk to all who call,
expected to be at the editorial table,
every exhibition, auction, fight fire or
show, and gets censured If remiaa Ia
any of the multifarious duties which
the reading public thus places
upon him. And in the daily journal
AANA = 40 fA4 w APDAAAs 4AA AAlas AAAAA GOT
ind reports, & he lOng-draWn speculo-
lions and sensations Of the day find
each their place, and like hot rolls
from the bakers shop, each suocs5d-
ng day brings a new batch. But Co
make up acOuntrg paper requires con
-tant care to WinuOW the wheat from
he chaff Of the weekly harvest; TO
,ull that which is worth preserving,
md to select that which is really new
ind reliable-these arc tasks which
'equire some genius aud talent, and
more than all the ability which comes
rom patient and laborious training.
But I would not be understood as be-
ittling the duties of the city journal
ST, for I have been there, and know
Omething Of its tolls, yet II know from
that the country editor has
he most difficult place to fill.