The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-17
Woes Of a Virginia Editor.

John Pheuix's experience as an
editor can never be forgotten. NJ.
Tartine's troubles in attempting to
conduct the Cigarre newspaper for
day in Paris during the siege are fresh
in the recollection of the reading pub
lie. But neither Tartine nor Phoenix
was subjected to SO peculiar an out
rage, upon his sensibilities as once be-
fell Virginia lawyer who tried to
play political editor in the brave old
DAYS of slavery and unterrided Democ-
racy.
chad succeeded" says he, beyond
my most sanguine expectations. MY
friends were astounded at the capacity
which SO suddenly displayed. The.
circulation of the paper increased, my
editorials were copied far and wide,
while compliments poured in upon me
from every side. Within month ]
had become power in the land. The
local politicians were in awe of me,
and I fancied, not without reason, that
1 was shaping both State and national
Legislation. What pleased me most
WAS the fact that the real editor of the
paper, having employed me temporari-
| ~, in order that he might spend few
weeks in the city of Washington, was
so charmed with my performance that
he not only offered me large interest
in the paper, but announced to me by
letter his intention of resiging in my
favor. The truth was, had quite
collapsed him. He knew it, and knew
the public knew it.
"All thought o returning to the
practice of Law being abandoned, lap
piled myself with increased energy and
ambition to the paper. The effect was
immediate and unmistakable. A great
career opened before me.
i Everything was going on swimm-
ingly, when / was annoyed one morn
ing by the entrance of the fo1eman,
just as was in the midstof one Of my
most brilliant articles.
"WelI, siri' said l sternly, as I looked
up from the foolscap on which l had
been writing,
Il Captain said he nervously, fol
my temper, never the best, was equiv.
ocally fierce at that moment-sCadtain
there's an auction going on ont here il
street.
I "sWhat the devil have I to do will
that. siri am not in want of second
hand furniture
Il "'Some of the likeliest young mig
n gers, Cap, you ever laid syes on =
t "'Do you take me for a nigger-trade'
you internal scoundreli'
! "No sir; but you had zbetter stel
ont and buy five or six Of them. Fou
mightdo, if they were all apt scholars
but some of them might not take to tn
business readily, and you had bette
buy six of the smartest. Them 20
: don't want, You know, You can sci
again most any time, and may b
make a right sharp margin on EN-"
q "Six Diggers! Buy six of them I"
"'Yes, sir, certainly. There's n
ifs nor ands about it; you've got to d
g it, right away" s-<s
"a suspicion crept over my min
II that the man was drunk, but resisting
J. the temptation to kick him out of til
F. office, I contented myself with a ques
/ ton: Got to buy them-for what
3, "Why to learn the business
/ "'Business 7 what business ?
J, "'Why the printing business
d "Anger~ was lost in amazement ,
e this monstrous proposition, made I
;, cody and calmly, Dropping my pei
L l gazed at him~fo some moments
/ silence, and at length said. Are &c
: drunk, sir, or crazy, or both /! Do 20
!; seriously proposesto me to go out an
!, buy six raw negroes off the block, IN
is set them to printing this paperi'
"I do sir. Every hand but one
the Office is tight, they are on a bus
S, and good for week before they'll g
e. over It. And there's not a printer
i. be had within hundred miles of til
town. He paused, but, as I sa
nothing, he continued: Gap, listen
C. me. You are new to this business.
amt. I've been in it all my life. No,
just as long rs you are in this bnt
r ness you will be liable to this trout
70 from drunken printers. have thong
to a good deal about it, and the more
es think it the better I am satisfied tn
I'd the only way to get along comfortab
If in the printing business is to buy 70
70 printers and own them. They cal
= strike they can't run away, and
they get drunk you can whale (
=. like. Then you don't have to p
! them anything; just feed and clot
III 'em-that's all. Depend upon it, CT
it's the best plan. Go out now, Ca
and buy, 'em.'
ne "Wait for me here.''
ed "He evidently thought he had CO
or vinced me, and that l was going
II, attend the negro auction. l did
- such thing. Putting on my hat,
.