The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-02-11
From the Athens Messenger.
The Newspaper.

mere Is noJhlDB OF Which the
public knows 80 much, and 10 the
same lime so little rs Of the news.
paper. The reader knows where,
when and by whom published, its
terms Of subscription, and oitcner
than otherwise, the name OF its ed
itor. 10 this reaches tho lcnowI.
edge Of outsiders, but beyond this
is utter darkness TO them. Tho
number OF "ems" and squares in
column, the nahe Of the type Used,
the number Of printers necessary
to its publication, tie mysteries Of
the topographic art, the duties
and responsibilities Of the editor
and publisher, are all unknown to
ninety nine ont Of every hundred
readers The most intelligent cili. /
zen in other respects can convey no
correct idea Of what is necessary
70 the printing. the publishing Of a
weekly or daily paper. Every
body knAws that type, ink and
presses are used, but how they
know not. How are type ''set''?
how. put in forms?-how is the
ink distributed over The type?I
and now does the press make
the impression? may be asked,
but no answer WILDE received.
II is not tho object Of this arti
Gle TO convey information on these
points, for the effort to be Success
ful would be difficult. and consume
more space than wcare willing TO
devote to it. .r
But there are errors in the
popular mind we wish 10 correct.
and dispel, ifpossibIe The casual
reader is often led astray by the
belief that newspapers are pub
Iishcd by their pIoprietors for the
qualification Of a desire to see their
name "in print'-that the editor
is man who lives off of the fat OF
the lan1 and passes his life serenely
without labor, toll and disappoint-
ment. Neve= were errors more
gross. No man ever yet attempted
to publish newspaper with IDEAS
different from other men. when
they plan and engage in commerce,
viz: TO make money. As many
men, too, fail in the publication OF
newspapers, in proportion to mum.
bers. as fail in any ether enter
prise. A few grow rich rapidly.
and so do many merchants and
farmers. A few grow rich gradu
ally. SO do many merchants and
farmers. A lew make barely
living, so do many merchants and
farmers. Many losp money, and
so do thousands of every trade and
profession The man who believes
there is untold fan and amusement
in publishing newspaper il he
will take our word for it, We will
tell him just how much fIn and
amusement there is. He will en-
| Joy daily he amusement the man
does who grubs for a living. The
printer must toll six days out OF
s+vnn. whether tina sun shines or
the rain falls. Not only that, his
lamp must often burn until mid
night or daybrcak, when misfor
tune or accident has caused delays
He must come to time. His subscri
bers will desert him if he pnD fishes
on Thursday one week. Friday the
next, and Saturday the next. II
sick he must still toll or employ
another in his stead.
Does not the editor though lead
an easy lite, and feed on all that is
good /? asks the reader. Well. the
editor does sometimes, ike others,
enjoy streaks OF good fortune, but
with every streak there is toll
toil and responsibility. Time
refuses to wait for the editor as.
well as others, and he must write,
condense, select and correct proof,
whether in the hnmOr or not-con.
scious too, when he has done his best
yes, done well, if you please
somebody will growl ard say he
ought 10 have done better. This
puff ought 10 have been worded
differently or contained something
more; that paragraph is out of
place, and that editorial is in
shocking bad TASTE. This is the dark
side of the picture.
When the grocer wishes the
public to know that he has fine ci.
gars for sale, the coniectiOner that
he has 'the good things Of this fife
in the market, and the farmer
that he has been fortunate in far
ming and exceIlcd his neighbors,
these gentlemen then member
the editor, and forthwith he is pre-
sented with something, which Is
always acceptable. 1t is under.
stood, however. that the present
is a good fec for good notice OF
the cigars, conIections or products.
He knows it is purely business
transaction, advantageous to both
parties. Sill, he never fails to ex
tend a cordial greeting to the
bearers OF such fees. To hint
through his columnsf for others to
do likewise is bad taste in an
editor, and is IN unfailing sign OF
inexperience. XIII. ....
The poiEt is, although the edi
tor gladly receives such presents
still hc knows that he is not only
expected, but that he is duty
bound to give quid pro quo in an
editorial notice. What others
think good fortune is a business
transaction, which is certain TO DO
profitable to all interested.
The public is accustomed to
| Justly esteem every manufacturer
Il benefactor, because he gives en-
ploymcnt TO the laborer OF me.