The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-04-06
Editorial Amenities,

Il
OF raw and unframed youth. A boy,
with large muscular development and
small brain, cannot help being bully
unless restrained by education. He will
be tyrannical to his interiors, 'iusolent to
his superiors, and his chief delight will
consist in standing at corners, hurling
offensive epithets at his fellows, and, if
they retort, furnishing them with his
fists for their temerity. -----s:-.'
] In + journalism VIC think we discern
traces of the same universal law Edu.
cation, with all its, Christening and re-
fining tendencies, often fails to repress
natural ferocity. A tyro, when he as
cends the editorial tripod, feels an
irresistible itching and inclination to
''pitch into somebody" especially into
his rival contemporary. When we find
that one newspaper writer has published
his neighbor as a a'"sneak," 'tskunk,"
"toad, spot bellied bloat," we know
that journal-is. .yet-..in its adolescent
period. We know that writer, though
he may thrust with rusty bodkin, can.
not wield flashing scimetar of Damas
Gus steel. We know the society that
applauds such utterances is raw and
primitive. We smell the prairie flowers;
or rather we see prismatically, phantas-
maSoria of miasmatic swamps, Islimy'
allisators, and coatless men sitting on
barrels in corier groceries taking with
the chills. '-g q. VI, a- 81 .su q
But Notwithstanding the difficulties
incident tc the pursuit, men must not
turn bees, and wound themselves or
their fellows with their stinss, Solomon
says in substance that he who over-
cometh his own spirit is greater chan u,
conqueror of walled cities. Moreover.
editors who value reputation should
remember that often single 'utterance.
reveals mans Fanteesaents and gives
ti-. sf H.: .a-s.ssisz. fs1issl "A q. ~,
organization. Dr. Holmes contends that
even l sidn innocent expressions Iass
/ sprinie, y sInst rate, ?, 81 ataBuuerior piece
of goods" Hgent IN a HcWefsd vest. =
are final. They blast the lineas of him
or her who utteis them, for generations,
up and down. 10 Editors should never
forget they are the oracles of the people,
and it will never DO to let the people see
that their Deiphic Apollo is made of
common clay. y - ''~' q 's'd#
Many of the abusive personalities
that disgrace American journalism
doubtless spring from mistaken notion
as to what constitutes wit and humor.
All Americans appreciate humor, but
unfortunately all American writer's are
not humorous. Wit is a delicate light
that plays around the moors of thought
and surprises by unexpected flashes.
Humor is wit. with kerosene thrown up
on it to make a brighter light, that may
be seen and comprehended by common
understandings. Both contribute to
pleasure, aud through mirth tighten toll
Humor, however, in America, is more
than an amusement, it is an effective
political agent. A late writer in the
London Spectator admits that he kaows
of no moro striking difference between
English aud American society than the
political power which, on our side of the
Atlantic, Humor appears to exercise over
the masses of the people.
Probable the most witty newsnaner
editor who ever wrote in the United
States, was George D. Prentice, of the
Lom;ssae Journal, but while he often
worried his contemporaries, no never,
we believe, INDUCED in vulgar abuse.
He fenced with sharp rapier, but it
was fencing, not stabbing. Tagliobi
pirouttening on the stage is picture Of
beauty, but au awkward lout dancing on
his partners corns, is quite another
thing.
We notice with qualification grow
ing disposition among the reputable
members of the American Press to
abandon personal vituperation, and we
trust they will not forget it during the
fever of the coming Presidential cam
paign. The editor of the Ne,ceN Times
somo time since proclaimed, at is far
more noble and becoming to try to
build up the interests of our new and
beautiful country, than 60 pick flaws
with our contemporaries. Hence we
bury the hatchet, and shall engage in
no moro newspaper oontroversies--our
space can be used for letter purpose" /"