The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-03-23
1unalosonbille Chief.
Editing a Newspaper.
Experiences of a Substitute--Remark-
able Scenes in French News
paper Office.

From the Pail Mall Gazette
The editor of the Cigdre is obliged
to leave Paris for four-and-twenty
hours; the sgib-editor selects this pre-
else moment for being ill, and Nj. Al
istide Cram, the Nestor Of the staffls
absent canvassing a provincial con-
stitueney in his own and the Liberal
interest. SO the editor sees nothing
else for it but to ask NJ. Timoleon
Tartine, before starting, kindly to
discharge his functions for II single
day; and NJ. Tartine, who would
have undertaken the command OF the
army of the Loire at five minutes no
tice. consents with pleasure. How
ever. the editor feels some slight mis-
givings: not thatrhe mistrusts NJ. Tar
tines head. but he knows his heart
NJ. Tartine is prone to enthusiasm.
Wherefore, the director of the Cigdre
points out to his chr0nigueur, who has
come to see him off, that after all there
will not be much to do, that he has
given the main directions for the next
number, and the principal thing will
be to watch that nothing creeps into
the leaders or the notes likely to hurt
the feelings of General L'Admirault,
an awkward person to offend by rea-
son of the state of siege. NJ. Tartine
promises. Then the editor conveys a
counter warning against insidious
Government Secretaries who prowl
about seeking admission for semi Off
cial paragraphs in influential papers;
but at this NJ. Tartine protests with so
much warmth that he would recog-
nize u Government Secretary even
disguised under a bear skin, and per-
ceive the drift of his prose though it
were couched in Sanscrit or Carribee,
that the editor feels treasured. In
another moment the train has disap-
peared, and NJ. Tartine's walks out OF
the station with four and-twenty
hours kingship of the most popular
organ in Paris.
Having about sixteen hours to
spare before he need commence his
duties-for this evening, and the CT
qare does not appear till five on the
morrow-M. Tartine goes and dimes,
and thence to the play and, being OF
communicative mood, he tells what
friends he meets that it is he who for
the nonce rules the destinies of the
Cigare. The result of this is that by
midnight the report has been flashed
down the whole line of boulevards
and into every newspaper office of the
capital that M. Tartine has been en-
trusted with post which he will fill
not for day-for runner is fond OF
additions for month, and some
even says six weeks; and at Ill O'Clock
the next day when he comes down to
the office, NJ. Tartine finds whole
throng of affectionate friends, who,
knowing his benevolent disposition
shake him by the hand, offer him theil
assistance, and meanwhile would be
much obliged if he would render them
some little services which they will ex-
plain if he will just give them five
minutes in private. Truth to say
NJ. Tartine has slept as soundly as die
the great Condo on the eve of Rocroy
Intrepidity is his characteristic. He
accepted the functions delegated tx
him, expecting nothing and fearing
nothing; and the lecee of suitors tax,
him little aback. Nevertheless, ht
rattles on recognizing in one a popu
lar novelist, in the other fluent de
batter, in the third an enterprisins
money man, and he CALAMITY lead
the way into the editors room, width
er the novelist follows him, shutting
the door. to exclude the other two
He has not much to ask the man 0
fiction; he simply wants the Cigare tt
announce novel of his that is comm.
out. sob, certainly, with pleasure,
says Tartine what is the title?
sob, there's not much in the title );
answers the author, modestly. 1t
Les Cheraliers do Boudoir; but tn
scope of these works often need to b.
explained to the public beforehand, IS,
that they may not go away witt
wrong impressions. This is realisti
study of life. Perhaps something il
this style would do" and he draws
paper from his pocket. ~ didn'
write the paragraph myself, it was
friend did it. Thank you; / know
may rely on you good morning." an,
he vanishes, leaving NJ. Tartine t
read: :" 1t is with immense satisflc
tion that we announce a new worl
from the pen of NJ. A, the gifte,
author of Les Peches Roses IL
Scandale de la Rue X, and othe
delightful books. anything more pig
uant in style, more interesting in plot
or more Thoroughly artistic in concep
tion than this new novel, into whic
NJ. A has thrown all his minutel
realistic powers of description, his
" Yes, but stay" cries NJ. Tartint
.sThis reads like an advertisement,
however, he has no time to move, 70
the door opens again, and in rushe
the fluent debater, distancing til
money man by head. "My dear N
Tartine, look at this y he calculates
displaying yesterdays Cigare; g her
is the Parliamentary report, and, t
begin with, my speech, as you observe
is most humiliatingly curtailed ; bu
I shouldn't complain if it We're not fo
this passage. See, | have a discussio
wifi, n member of the Left, Radical