The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-27
spIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS
There is not much in the papers tn
morning that we can get good grip OF
Their leaders are as slippery as the streets
The local columns, however, are uncom
monty sprightly. The local departmer
of the Enquirer in particular is approach
ing the standard of what it ought to be /
a city like Richmond--newsy, gossipy
chatty and witty. Give ug life in tina
part Of the paper, and it makeslittle differ
ence then how dull the editorials may be
It gives us pleasure to note that a nov
spirit has been infused into the "lecals
of the Enquirer, for that, after all, is tn
soul of the daily press. The peepl
want to know what is going on il
and around the town. The edtoria
is supposed to give tone aud character to
the paper, and the editor is the ring.
master, as it were, of the circus; but youl
live reporter is the clown he is the court
jester, sthe Yorick of the banquetting hall
the comedian of the theatrical company
Reporters are the young and ambitious
entered apprentices of journalism, seeking
to rise in the profession through merit,
and the applause of the public for work
well done by them is their greatest reward.
The reporter should know everything, and
be everywhere that anything is happening,
and he ought to be able to write anything
he knows, sees, or can vouch for, in
an attractive style. Flo should, in
fact, seek personal fame, desire to be
known and quoted id the commu-
nifty not only as good authority,
for matters of fact and taste in all things,
but as pleasing and elegant writer. He
must have energy, courage, industry, firm
ness, caution, good knowledge of human
nature, a full stock of politeness, an even
temper, and, above all, be too modest to
stand at the street corners, or in the
saloons, and read his own or somebody
else's illusions, which may chance to have
some merit 10 them, to people who can
formed that office for themselves, and then
have the vanity to say, 81 wrote that" II
he is worth anything, his merits will soon
lie discovered, without putting his modesty
to the blush 1t was not thus that Mark
Twain, Artemus Ward, Berte Harte, and a
thousand others we might name, made
their great regulations and their fortunes.
Your efficient reporter should be young
man fond of balls, parties, routs, theatres,
operas, murders, burglaries, highway rob-
berries, fires, foods, and calsmities, including
an acquaintance with the tiger "poker"
and "seven-up"--in fact, he should be an
accomplished gentleman, but with soul
above both larceny and lying. He should
be everywhere on week days, and on Sun
day teach poor little children in the
Sabbath schools, lead the choirs in the
church, and criticize the sermons of
the Pharisaical Sabines in Mondays
paper. There are many other things
we would have our live reporterial
apprentice, eager for reputation and
for advancement in journalism, perfect
himself in, that when the time comes
for him to settle down into dull and stupid
editorial life, and pass his days 10 writing
long leaders that are never read, he may
have the proud satisfaction Of looking back
upon well spent life, conscious that it is
not for his crimes that in old age he has
been driven from the green pastures of the
local meadow, and exiled to that grave
yard OF journalistic hopes, the leading
colunm,-which nobody, but vete-
rams and old fogies like himself, or
broken down politicians, ever reads. The
reporter is the life of the paper--we mean
live reporter--and he has the best op-
portunity to make reputation, if he will
only be industrious, ambitious and modest.
But hold whoa, old Peg that's " tho
Spirits pet name for his Pegasses) we
are getting off the track--wandering too
far from our line of business, and it's
about time we returned to our sheep-
meat--the leading articles of the editorial
thunderers. So ye winged Mercuries of
the local column. and ye blushing Hebes-
our fair correspondents and reception re-
porters-good-bye take our advice and
be as happy as you are virtuous.--
Soar--but not too near the sun; remember
the fate of that Grecian boy, who, for
all his wings, was drowned. You are the
light cavalry, the scouts, the franc-tireurs
of the press, and the advance guard of
civilization. A great responsibility rests
upon you. See that ye be vigilant in the
cause of truth, justice, Christian virtue,
and human progress.
AS we said, the Enquirer Is showing new
life in its local department, and we con-
graduate it on the marked improvement.
We have said so much about the re-
porter, that we will have to dismiss the
editor with half loaf We know all
about his troubles, his unrequited and I'M
appreciated labors. Poor fellow, he is to
be pitied and prayed for; but death alone
can relieve him from that terrible torture
of choosing o subject--thinking what he
shall write about. All ! there's the rub.
It is nothing to write--but the sabject!
A hundred taken up in day, and each in
turn cast aside. What will suit, or please,
or interest, or edify, or amuse the public ?
That's the question which racks his brain,
turns to snowy white his raven locks,
brings old age untimely, and sends him to
an unknown grave ere half his allotted
days be spent Heigho!
The Enquirer calls for convention, to
assemble some time next spring or sum-
mer, to re-organize the Democratic party
in this State, and put the old, leading
Democracy of Virginia in the leading
strings of Tammany. We hope SO. 1t
says:
We trust that the men of mind, scattered
through our State, who mean to cooperate
IL.