Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-03-01
Editorial Felicities.

Many persons labor under the impression
that there is nothing in the world so pleasant
as the life ola newspaper man, especially one
connected with the editorial department. They
little dream Of the cares and ills Of his life,
and the perpexiies and anxeties that disturb
his mind al the very time when be may be,
apparently enjoying some Of the richest favors
bestowed upon him by the liberal and shrcwd
business man. The pleasures Of an editor are
too numerous to mention in detail but,
from our experience Of them, the following
may be taken as fair samples of the whole lot :
If his paper contains any considerable amount
OF political matter, some folks find fault If
it contains but little, they will have nothing
to do with it, but TO abuse it.
If he publishes anything that presents the
claims of particular individuals TO political
preierment, he is charged with belonging to
"wng,' ring, " "clque," or some other in
vidious thing, and is soundly berated by the
rival Of that individual and his especial friends
If the type is too large, his paper does not
contain a sullicency Of reading matter for
some. If the type is too SMALL others cannot
read it.
If he publishes something funny, some folks
say he is a rattle-pate. Ifhe don't, they say
he is mn old fossil
II he is in a moralizing vein, there are those
who say that he is sicliy sentimental. If he
don't moralize they say his paper is as light
MS penny novelette,.
If he publishes original matter, they bless
him for not giving them selections. If he
makes selections, folks say he is too lazy to
write more, and gives them that which they
have read in some other paper, and sometimes
that which is at variance with the principles
he processes to advocate.
If he gives a living or dead friend COM
plimcntary notice, he is censured for being too
partial. If he don't, others say he is an nm
feeling unsrateful, selfish hog.
II he inserts an article that pleases the la
dies, the men become jealous.
If he finds il necessary to be much to him
self in order to attend to his business properly
folks say he is too proud TO mingle with the
common herd. If he goes much into company,
they say he never attends to business
NNtlt.1 NdAAlAa a ptltl - SNCtSullSi ~ pltdS-
ant as business.
Heaven bless the poor editor who imagiues
he can dodge censnre by trying to please every
body II such an individual ever succeeded,
we should be glad to know how he did it for,
no one ever tried harder to do it than our
selves, and yet we have fallen short of the
mark. II may he that our failure to please
everybody has been owing chiefly to our great
desire and effort 10 do so, and, if we had
been less solicitous about it, we should
have been more successful Not that we have
been brought TO the bclefthatan editor should
go recklessly ahead, trying TO find beams to
knock and thump his poor head against, pay
ing no respect to other mems opinions, fight
ing and Glowing and crowding all who differ
with him. That, again, is another extreme
But our lahors us an editor have fully convin-
ced us that the most cffectuGl way 10 give gen.
eral satisfaction is, that the editor pursue the
even tenor Of his way, guided by his own judg-
ment and the light that shines from the lamp
ofexperience. Other people have right TO
their opinions as to how paper they patron
ice ought TO be conducted, so has the editor
and, as his position and experience give him
peculiar advantages in the determination of
this matter, he should, with due Difference to
the opinions and respectful consideration of
the suggestions Of others, exercise his own best
Judgment in this regard and practically follow
its dictates.
1t is great error 10 suppose that sensible
people will respect an editor less for main
tanning his opinion and practice of what he
ought 10 lie the best judge; or respect him more
for yielding to the suggestions Of those who
have no experience in the business. An editor,
who would have his influence for good felt
within the sphere Of his operations, should
wear his own eolors in spite of wind or wealth
er, storm or sunshine. 1t costs the vascillating
and irresoute ten times the trouble 10 wind,
and shuttle, and twist, than it does honest
manly Independence TO stand its ground.