Connecticut western news., 1871-07-28
MO-. 3.
The Night Editor.

The office of morning paper during the greater part of the day is as dull and quiet as a school-house on Saturday afternoon. About eleven o'clock the reporters generally stroll in to get their assignment and instructions from the city editor, whose duty it is to look after local news, the courts, meetings, and every thing relating to the city and its suburbs. The exchange editor is also on hand toward noon, to look over the files of exchanges, cut out and prepare whatever may be of interest, and mark such articles as should be seen by the editor ill chief, or any of his assistants. But the real work of the office begins about seven o'clock in the evening, when the night editor comes on duty. Then there is hustle every where. In the city editors apartment score of reporters are busy at their desks, writing out their notes the exchange editor, scissors in hand, pen over his ear, and paste-pot within easy reach, is boring over files of newspapers from every quarter of the land, carefully arranged by their locali- ties. The facility of a good newspaper reader is something astonishing. With one glance of his eye he takes in the contents of whole page, and with un- erring instinct always lights on the one item, perhaps, which is worthy of his scissors. The only quiet rooms in the establishment are those where the edito- rial writers are at work, fashioning arti- cles on the various topics suggested by, the news.
 The busiest man of all is the night editor on whom falls the responsibility of receiving ard arranging the news as 1t comes in from every part of the world His position is no sinecure. It is, in fact, most laborious and wearing. If fit and accurate information, of large intel is responsible for the whole paper Every line of print, except the advertis- ing columns, passes under his eye. As the te,egrams come in he glances rapidly over them, writes in tho proper head lines, make note or two, perhaps, for the benefit of the editor in chief, and then sends them to the composing-room to be "-set up." There is no order in the telegrams as they arrive. They are sent from the office of the Associated Press in envelopes containing from one to dozen sheets, and the dispatch on each sheet may be from different quar ter of the world, and incomplete in itself. The same envelope may contain news from Washington, St. Petersburg, Paris, London, San Francisco, aud China and it requires experience and skill to ar range them properly. ..a..4...t
 Between eleven and twelve o'clock the night editor makes up the first side. of the paper, which, if it be an eight-page journal, consists of the 2d, Sd, 9th, and 7th pages. On this side are generally printed most of the advertisements, the market and law reports, book reviews, and letters and articles of general inter- est which do not come under the head of news. This done, he returns to his desk, where he sits till about half past one, arranging dispatches, and looking over the proofs of the matter he and other editors have sent up to be put in type. These proofs are taken on strips of paper generally about the length of a column. It is now time to commence making up the second side-the 1st, 4th, 9th, and 8th pages. He gathers his proofs together, taking in their contents with rapid glance, and mentally decid- ing on their arrangement. He thinks tc himself, perhaps, "This news from Paris Is the most important it must lead the paper with Q big display head. This will make about two columns and half I will lead the fourth column with the great Pittston disaster, with display head. Washington news is unimportant and may go on the last column, or, per haps, on the fifth page" And so he goes on "making up'. as he glances through the matter, so that before he goes to the composing room he has the arrangement of the whole paper clearly in his mind. Telegrams are perhaps arranged by an assistant, and sent up to the composing-room.
 It is in making up that the necessity of clear head and quick judgment is most evident. Dispatches that must be printed together may be; scattered over half dozen proofs, and places must be re served in the forms for others not yet in type. The foreman and his assistants make up all the pages at once, placing the matter as the night editor directs. When there is too much, he is obliged to cut down or omit what is least impor. tant. All this occupies less than an hour. By half past two the pages must be ready to be stereotyped, and by little after three they must be lowered into the press-room. The weary night editor goes home, turns into bed, and lets newspapers slide for the next seven O, eight hours.
 Such is the routine of night editors life. Wearisome as it may seem to out siders, it has a charm and attraction fol the genuine editor which never wear off The constant variety, the excitement the responsibility, keep the mind con tinually exhilarated and on the stretch
 and few night editors ever settle con tentedly into more quiet pursuits.