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

disposition is usually the accompaniment
OF a raw and unframed youth. A boy,
with large 'lmusculars 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. ---'--'-,~-'
! ! ylnY journalism we think we discern
traces of the same universal law Edu.
cation, with. oil it's Christening and re-
fning tendencies, often fails to repress
natural ferocity. A tyro, when he as
cends the editorial tripod, feels an
irresistible itching and inclination to
''pitchr into somebody" especially into
his rival contemporary. When we lind
that ono newspaper writer has published
his neighbor as "sneak," .tskunk," )"
"toad, "a spot bellied bloat,H we know
that Journals yet-in its adolescent
period. We know that writer, though
he may thrust with rusty bodkin, can
no. WELD a 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, a phantas-
masoria of miasmatic swamps, Islimy
allisators, and coatless men sitting on
barrels in coruer groceries shaking with
the chills. ~ - ". EEL -. a~, :
But notwithstanding the difficulties
incident to the pursuit, men must not
turn bees, and wound themselves or
their fellows with their stings. Solomon
says in substance that he who over
cometh his own spirit is greater thar a.
conqueror of walled cities. Moreover!
editors who value reputation should
remember that often single 'utterapcs,
reveals . mans lantecedents and gives;
sL- i-;e sa.s.ssss5, SID a. s.at.,l;
organization. DR.. Holmes contends that
even sdon innocent expressions Ias
'sprims,' 1tsfust- rate q aesuusrior piece
of goods" q Hgent IN a hoWefsd vest. 2,
are final. They blast the lineage of him
or her who utteis them, for generations,
up and down. Editors should never
forget they are the oracles of the people,
and twill never do to let the people see
that their Dephic Apollo is made of
common clay. ~ ~ q r 'a'o" Z
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 delicate light
that plays around the moors of thought
and surprises by unexpected flashes.
on it to make brighter light, that may
be seen aud 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 and American society than the
political power which, or our side Of the
Atlantic, Humor appears to exercise over
tic masses Of the people.
Probably tho inost y ;;;.;y E.a.srzpa-
editor who ever wrote in the United
States, was George d. Prentice, of the
Loui$sae Journal, but while he often
worried his contemporaries, he never,
we believe, INDUCED in vulgar abuse,
He fenced with a sharp rapier, but it
was fencing, not stabbing. Taglioui
plrouttcniug on the stage is picture of
beauty, but au awkward lout dancing on
hls 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 70 pick flaws
with our contemporaries. Hence we
bury the hatchet, and shall engage in
no moro newspaper controversies
snncn can hn used fnr q ottnr anrnoao .,