New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-13
ExAcrIoNs OF EDITORIAL WORK.

The address before the Michigan Pub
lishers' Association at its last meeting was
delivered by r. d. Bingham, ESQ, of the
Detroit Advertiser and Tribune, and was de-
voted 10 o careful consideration Of the re-
lations Of The Press and the People We
append an extract bearing upon &; point
that is TOO little understood and appreciated
both by the public and the most Of publish
ers-the exactiOns Of editorial work, which
are, as a rule, greater than those Of any
other profession, and which bring less re-
ward to the great majority Of those in edi
.orial employment than any other class Of
intellectual labor. We quote from the al.
dress:
As a profession there is none who have
more work to perform or to do it better
than the editor. Those who have followed
it, but are now engaged in other and mere
ccngenal labor, will agree with us in test
flying shat for wear and tear Of body and
mind; for its constant demand upon the,
brain and nervous system; for it's often TN
seasOnable as well as unreasonable hours;
for its thousand annoyancee and response
bilit;es, it cannot fail to Intensity life, and.
therefore. shorten It. Few there are who,
a: Ire threshold Of manhood, took the pen
II hand in this field, either as an editor or
reporter. that pass over the valley of middle
lie and reach the hills where the golden
sunse. makes bright the childish happiness
Of old age. Bryant. Greeley, Bennett and
Weed are left: but Raymond. Prentice,
Halpine, Demers, Hosmcr, al! of whom but
one laid down the pen for the STROUD when
tie sun was III mid heaven, and ten thou
sand others tina. might be named, proved it
I. shor.Hved profession. Nor IS this
fac. surprising. The mos: excellen: abor
Ui the editor still Goes not reach the posi-
bic. and like Oliver Twist, soupbow! III
hand. the eXpectant public stands ever
wishing for more. And as there is 10 beadle
20 .eprove or punish the culpri,, there is
nothing to do bat to comply with the &C.
nand at the sacrifice OF life itself. An,: no.
alone the public, but the publisher is also to
blame for the loss, in the prime of their in
tuence. of many Of the most brillian: Writ
ers of the age. The young man seeks this
profession as the field for the exercise OF an
honorable ambition, be; its ranks are never
SO full bu: he finds competition Oh every
hand. As q student ne has written
essays flashing with TIE h1l;Hancy
the use Of logic and argument. lie
seeks 70 I'LL the place OF one whose influence
has spread far and wide. and both iivel.
hood and reputation are at stake. He may
.Link the task an easy one, but learns at tie
outset the large measure OF its duties as
wei! as its responsibilities. On the metro
poli:an daily he may be required to write
from three TO five columns daily. and
usually the salary affords living but no:
competence. Ii he objects to the amount Of
labor required. as well as the unreasonable
hours when it may be called for. he is told
that there are :. dozen applicants who viii
undertake the work for the same pay.
They prefer his qualifications. and he III.
.!er.akes the task. Fresh and vigorous. for
a time he peforms all tina: IS required. and
daily does thrice what his physical and
mental stamina can endure. Then comes
the reaction. The brilliancy. vi: and
pangency are less AND less apparent IN tie
.read-nl.ll where there is no rest
and ought to have stood in the
from: :ank OF his profession. had the
measures OF his labor TO. been beyond his
ability 70 accomplish. is showed aside. after
I. wear or two. 10 make room 1Or another
victim. who. ten 70 one. shares the SANE
ia:e. Or. Il he remain. !: j. "a: tire EOS; o.
the active. broyan: step. ana The red :idc If
no longer the fountain OF health and yigor.
W.-hou: time for exercise. lie takes none.
and soon .he aching brain Or tie hectic flush
marks him for .hc hand .: death. This IS
nc- an oyerdr..wi p!ct..ie. And III conNec-
ION with this pom: compare :or :. moiuer:
The writers Of leading English and Amer
gan journals. and !: VIII be IouE'. :La. he
General excellence q. Tie first : due. no. 10
s:,er.cr :alen:. but 20 he Tag: tia: r.,tEsL-
,.> .ncre are satisfied with quality and fin
:>r. While here both qualify and quantity
..r. deemed cs sen: Ia requisites. AS the re-
>u!.. we DO 70: Know u :. aCZeE writers
,poH lie leading papers Uf New lc.k City
=" 80 rave reached liGC.e HE. Wh!-c great
aioritv OF those who maintain he power
o!' re press. IL The fac o. a. competition.
are Young men from .weEty-ilv. - -L.::y-
i've Wears O. age. '-I.i4.t.Hc EG-.tt..