Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-06

In the successful local editor an averag,
degree of talent is combined with gooC
business tact. He is properly yersed in tn,
history and politics of the country, car
write commendable editorial, itemize
readily and with point, and converse easily
upon current literature and the events o
the day. But his special excellence is hi.
superior faculty of observation and manage
ment. lie goes through the community
not listlessly, drifting from point to point
| but for purpose. lie studio; and learns
his locality thoroughly, knows all its bust
ness and professional men, farmers and
mechanics, understands their several in
terests, and when and how to help them
| He knows whom to commend and whom to
| censure, and has the independence to speak
according to honest conviction. He pays
| frequent visits to all towns where his
paper circulates, mingling freely with the
| people. studying their habits and Interests
and commencing improvements, public and
private. Anticipating the wants of diff
| ferent communities he is often found agita-
ting projects for village improvement, and
he keeps the agitation going until the pub
lie mind in that locality is walked up to the
importance of the subject discussed lie
KNOWS int bIiEli anu " lilt NdIlOuH
town and neighborhood cliques, social and
political, and with this knowledge
no person in the interests of such
cliques can secure the insertion OF
of an article tending to- increase bitter
ness, and stir up strife, TO the injury Of the
locality and of his paper. In one sense this
country editor is an inquistive, curious,
prying, omnipresent buSybody. with a
finger in everything, and knowing a week
beforehand what Is going to take place.
lie is interested in every political gather
ing, agricultural fair, camp meeting, horse
race, bear hunt, railroad and bank dividend,
every street fight, law suit, concert, circus,
accident, elopement, marriage, death, re-
moval, trade, every project of improvement,
every nuisance for abatement, and what
ever concerns the welfare, or threatens the
injury, or agtatcs the minds of the people
within the limits Of his circulation, this
country editor eSpouses As his own affair
In more proper words, he IS very attentive
to his own business, reporting truthfully
the current affairs of his own locality, and
seeking zealously to build up and sustain
its moral and business interests. And above
all should he be a man of truth, whose word
i a law unto himself, and whose reputa-
ton for integrity and square business deal
ings cannot be questioned.
The next point to consider Is his method
of
OBTAINING THE NEWS.
lfediting a local paper could be effectively
accomplished in the editorial chair. read
ing, thinking and writing, and reviewing
the world from the Office window. it would
be pleasing occupation, and the country
editor would be man to envy. But in his
position there Is more acting than thinking
\ few minutes each day with his exchanges
will keep him well informed of current
events. The items Of most value to his
paper are obtained by daily contact with
the people of his locality The system of
correspondence from the various towns Is
valuable, 50 far "a it goes. These helps are
gratefully received, but are not always to
be relied upon, except for reports Of general
and public Importance. People attend to
their own affairs first. Not one correSpon-
dent in twenty thinks to inform the editor Of
the various little incidents occurring
in his own town during the week,
and which really make part of
an interesting local sheet. The ordinary
incidents of every day life, which CORE
spOndents witness with their own eyes they
are apt to regardas of too little c0u~eq uence
for publication. In their haunt for homi-
cides. tornadoes, conilagratious and other
events of momcntous consequence, they
overlook small things, little happenings
mere and there. of no especial consequence,
but always readable as chapter OF '' mere
mentions" from the locality Hence the
editor who relies wholly, OF principally
upon correspondents, is often compelled TO
20 10 press with hgt few item, Of local in
terest
Every community appreciates mention M
the papers. Bat country villages seldom
furnish murders OF first class calamitie~ and
the editor who waits for them viii not
have frequent occasion TO CRAFTY his readers
with n mention of their locality.
Papers established in the interests of "a
town or county, should faithfully represent
those interests. Whatever they are Because
great events and great enterprises are rare,
is no excuse for the editors silence. lie
must saw something. and report the doings
ofhi- people. Every week there are little
incidents In the way Of new business, real
estate changes, removals. Improvements.
personals, Ac., which grouped under the
head Of town, make n chapter interesting
not only to the town itself, but % ac4uain-
tance- outside. These incidents il is the
editors business % get. But how that l.
the question. Il correspondents fail and
people DO not take the trouble to drop into
the Office and report the ncws-and they
seldom do-how does the editor obtain the
numerous little items which make the
reader look so anxiou>y for the paper? It
is much easier and plea,anter 70 answer this
question than L. follow the directions
Ii is on the principle Of knowing how 10
operate the force pump. which the editor is
supposed to have in his possession during
every moment OF his travels lie meets, for
instance. a man from Jonesyi.e, where he
has good list OF subscribers. Anxious
for items from that locality. he ap-
proache> the man hopefully. with
" Whats the news in Jouc~,ille ?''
With the utmost Indifference TO business he
replies, well, about 50, 50 ; how are your
fllk-?' Now, it Will not DO to stop there.
for every man he approaches Will have sub
>tantially the same answer. lie must cover
his disappointment. rally again and say,
There must be something in your section
this week worthy Of mention in the paper
But he replies, "Oh, no folks are Jogging
along as u~uai-no runaway, OF accidents,
or anything out of the ordinary course. ."
~ he starts 10 20. without impurting a
single item from his locality. the editor
holds him and applies the force pump,
having learned how to use it by a thorough
acquaintance with the interests and people
of the man : locality. The operation pro-
ceeds A. follows go
ed -
No; nothing a: all. "
ANY runaways, fights OF accidents2'
"No; there's no excitement ofany kind.
Are there any real estate trades ?'
Not one, that know of"
Are there any removals from the place 80
mo; our people'can't get money enough
to move with
Are your people discussing any new i'm
proyements in roads, bridges, churches OF
school-houses -
"Well, there is little talk about repair
ing the village school-house. and sub
scription Is out for money to repair the
church.
The editor has now broken the ice lie
notes down the projects, with remarks,
commencing the public spirit of the enter
prises, and, as the man observes the interest
taken in his town, he warns up in the con-
yerSation. and talks familiarity about home
affairs lie mentions a little contest going
on about opening new road through the
valley. and how Cherry Hill people OPP
pose the project. He iavors the valley
route and enters earnestly into the discus
sion Of his side of the question, giving the
position of his various neighborS, incidents,
&c, from which the editor gathers the ma
terial for a good article on the subject,
being always careful to give the influence
of his paper to the side of Improvement and
progress, which, Of course, makes friends
Of the enterprising class, and is soon over
looked by the old fogies. Having exhaust
ed the question of the new road few more
efforts with the pump produce the follow
| ing -
"What is doing in the neighborhood of
! Brown : Mill?"