Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-06-24
me Life Of an Editor.

& Colonel John Harrell, one OF the ablest
lawyers and politicians of Arkansas, has
for many months past occupied the edi-
torial chair (in-chief) of the Little Rock
Gazette. He iiuds that he is not travel
ing a path of roses, as the following truth
ful and graphic article from bis pen will
show:
As every one may know upon little re-
lection the life of an editor is not all sun
shine. II is tread mill business, If ever
there was one, but, as said young friend
who is applying himself to business Of q
different kind very sedulously, The
world is a tread-mill." Fame, which
men hunt after all their lives may
som etimes be to very able editors, such
as George D. Prentice, Horace Greeley
and few others, reward which COM
pensates in q degree for all they endure,
but few secure that in that wild and ar
duous "hunt." When the editor helps to
bestow an enviable fame on another,
which he frequently greatly aids to do, it
is regarded bpt thing of course, and no
thanks to him. The recipient of his
compliments, returns no thanks to the
editor, if he may occasionally feel CRATE
full TO that public opinion OF which be
deems the editor then but the mouth
piece. But when the editor is called on
to expose abuses, to point out an act OF
villainy from which the public suffers,
and at which all men complain, he is not
regarded as expressing public sentiment,
but venting his own private spleen; the
victim being the last one to consent that
other men viewed him in the light in
which the editor shows him to himself.
Again, if the editor is happy in having
accomplished literary feat of which he
may be justly proud, and receives the en-
comiums of those who first may see it, he
finds that others borrow it, quote it with
out credit, and pass it around as some
thing good like fruits and flowers which
grow in their season, for which no one is
to be thanked in particular, not even the
Author of all good, who giveth to his
creatures whatsoever ssemeth to him to
be best for them.
A few days since we met Radical OFF,
cisl, one of the few who speak to US. He
greeted us cordially and was actually not
ashamed OF being seen talking to us in
public view on the most conspicuous
corner of the street. We felt gratified at
his courtesy, and rendered him due
credit for such unusual msgnanimity. 1t
is true we found fault with his party and
had taken some pains to show mp it's mis-.
deeds. We felt that il was distinguished
generosity, which few exhibited, for him
to overlook it and greet us so graciously.
We thought for the first time that we saw
something superior in the man. Then
he remarked he had not seen US lately.
Asked if we had not been cut Of town.
We told him no. "0h, no." said be, i
believe you have been staying about the
| Gazette lately"
An honest looking farmer, apparently
well-to-do in the world, came to our sane
tum and asked to see the editor. We
told him that we bore part of the duties
of one. He then asked to see the press.
We went into the printing office and put
the different presses in motion for him.
"And what do you call that p he asked.
We told him that that was the form.
"And ia it that that you write upon z he
inquired. We told him that we wrote
upon slips of paper, which the compositor
set up in types, and they we're locked up
in the "form he saw, from which their
impression in ink was transferred to
paper. "And most of this you wrote
that 10 in the type Of that form 2
Precisely" "Chares," said be to his
companion, son perhaps, but man of
thirty, as be eyed as closely for few
minutes, ut don't take much of man
to be an editor, do it2' ga