The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-16
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Oh coming together at stated times
and meeting each other face to face
has salutary effect. 1t tends to mod
ify those asperities which sometimes
characterize illusions to each other
when we were strangers personally
Editors, of all others. should shun thaI
belligerent spirit which unpleasantly
marks the forbidding man, let his po'
sition in life be what it may. an
fully persuaded that there should bt
no incompatibility between the editor
and the gentleman.
1t seems to me that our proper stat
us is not that of prophets though g.
times in the ardency of our zeal fol
promulgating favorite theories or adj
vocating certain measures, we may in,
dulge in the spirit of forecasting the
future-in imagination rather than il
fact-what evils will betide the state
if our plans are not carried out, OF
what favorable results will follow
certain other schemes of policy. o.
course it is a privilege we may in.
dnige in, to certain extent, of utter.
ing our ideas as to what is or is moi
to be in the coming future. The ap.
-parently. most philosophic and far
seeing are not unfrequently deceived
in their Vaccinations.
But if we cannot be prophets we
can be the antithesis of this class-we
can be historians. The records we
make all contribute to furnish those
who come after us as to what is trans.
piring in our day. Some fifteen OF
twenty years ago. Mr.. George w
Bungay,. the essayist and poet, in
pointing to the traits of notable men
then living, in the earnestness of his
enthusiasm, and perhaps indulging in
little poetic license, said that Hor-
ace Greeley was the recording angel
of North America. No doubt Mr..
g. has contributed a fair share to-
ward transmitting to posterity the
sayings and designs of the times, but
it seems to me that he is not the only
angel entitled to commendatiou for
the success which has attended his ef-
forts as q recorder. Our Journals,
Reporters, Chronicles, Gazettes, and
Presses, all aid in making history our
Heralds, Republicans, al Democrats,
Tribunes, Independents, Statesmen,
&C., may help to elucidate the myste-
ries of government, while the COM
mercial, religious, scientific, literary
and hundred specialties are taken
care of by-their respective organs Of
thought. ea7ae. .,
This is a point to which we cannot
pay too much attention. "A publisher
of paper who is so careless as to
pay no attention to preserving one or
more complete files of the same is Gull
pable of inexcusable negligence. If
so much Importance do deem this
idea of preserving papers, that should
suggest law be enacted by our legis-
lature, which should require of every
publisher of a paper or magazine of
any description in the state to send q
copy of every issue to a state Librari-
an, or other proper officers fofrthat
purpose, at the seat of government !,
and that it be his imperative duty to
take particular care of these papers,
and have them filed and bound every,
year. True, many of them may not
seem to be of practical utility in this
way, at first, but there is no periodi-
cal so Insignificant bnt that it may be
Of value to posterity. Had something
ike this been done from the Begin
ming, in Ohio, what wealth of histo-
~ would now enrich our. State! To
prove this is only necessary to advert
10 the fact that we are all eager to get
bold of those little, old, dingy, yellow
sheets, put through the Ramage press
IS of long ago; and those who are
he fortunate possessors of such rel
cs will not willingly part with them
without a very tempting considers
ion. .@4ss - ~ -.
AS we are met together in a social
ind business capacity it may not be
lmiss to afrleast refer to an important
point, one which interests us all, and
hat is order. [ do not allude to
t with the idea that any here are lack
ng in this regard, but there are de-
yrees i'll the grace, if it may be styled
uch, which should command our at
ention. Some will say that order is
leaven's first law. In a printing Of
Ice, where there is such variety, if it
s properly conducted, this precept is
Indispensable. A place for everything
md everything in its place, is a motto
o which the careful printer pays much
iced. Our business embraces greater
'ariety of tools-so to ospeak-perhaps
han any other. Carelessness cures
'lunders. Our mistakes go out to q
discriminating world, a large portion
# whom have no idea of the thou
and contingencies and liabilities un-
Ter which we labor-often especially |
or lack of time. Our dish must be |
N. hand at stated seasons, whether |
veil cooked, half done, or rare, or
lse scolding will be done at our ex-
'ense. The lawyer is expected to |
Mss his aim half the time because he |
las but, one side to work for; the |
may err in trying to instuct
lis hearers, but his mistakes are soon1
orgotten the doctor Qucky fellow) |
is said, often hides his errors under |
he ground. Not so with the printer,
specially the newspaper man. A
housand critics scan his work, and |
erhaps not one in ten can spell the |
Vord chestnut or February correctly
but they can tell when the letter A
J upside down. To all these the |
rinter weekly submits, and tries to
o better. Keep everything in it's
roper place, and these carpers will |
ave less to do, ea.l.H Z u,,i
The position of country editor is
nything but sinecure, il he does his
uty well. If faithful he scarcely
nows what rest is-his work seems
OF done till death comes with his
agger and writes finis to his career.
n the good time coming it may be
ther wise--for this consummation it
] our duty to labor and to wait.
In this desultory and very imperfect
ssay, gotten up at odd times, not
7ithout hearing the word copy pro-
ounced at intervals. have attempt
d to put together such ideas as occur
ed to me during their preparation,
nd if they serve no higher purpose,
1ill answer to while away few mia
tes in ther reading. We have come
ogether for business, not amusement,
D bring this piece to close.
A PROFESSOR of a leading college
4 l. - sk.x