Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-10
HOW THE EDITOR READS HIS
PAPER.
HI. weekly Agony and sunsr,ng. Dir,

His Weekly Agony and suhsrings Dire.
She sensations of an editor on first glanc-
ing over his paper and detecting errors in il
are somewhat different from those experience
ed by the reader on making like discoveries.
The latter is either amused at the blunder
or ncensed at the carelessness which caused
it, aud in both cases arrives at the conclusion
that the trouble is avoidabe, and that the
editor is to blame for not avoiding it. He
never saw an editor take his FIRST glance
over a copy of the edition. Perhaps the
edition is worked off when this opportunity
is afforded to the weary man. He has ell
Their trusted the proofs to some one else, or
read them himself but the feeling Of dread
is Just the same in the latter as in the for
mer case. The proof reader may neglect to
consult the copy, aud so perpetuate the blum
ders of the compositor, and perhaps the
compositor ueglects to undo the job he has
done, although his attention is plainly called
to it on the proof When about to make
this preparatory survey, the editor does not
take a cigar in his mouth and elevate his
heels to the desk, as is the popular tradition.
Dying men don't do that way, you know,
and we have come to the conclusion that an
editor examining his paper feels very much
like man who is about to pass into eterni-
ty. He reads along carefully and slowly,
like man feeling his way across a piece of
doubtful ice. Suddenly his face becomes
distorted with an awful pain. He doesa't
cry out he doesn't rant; the anguish within
him is so broad aud deep, and intense that
l.. !. l. "a
just simply reaches up and takes handful
Of his own hair, aud tugs at it until the
tears come in his eyes. Then he picks up
the paper, which he has taken the precaution
to kick across the room on discovering the
error, and resumes the torturing search for
after all it is but 4 search for errors aud ag-
ony and not an agreeable and instructive pc.
rusal. Suddenly he grosns-not an expect
ant groan like that from one who hopes for
help to reach him through it, but the groan
Of one who is beyond the reach Of hope
who feels that the warm sunshine, the kind
glance of friendship, the beautiful flowers
and the song Of the birds are gone forever
and forever from him. Ii is u smothered
groan, accompanied by kick of the leg, as
Il the party had in that moment taken an
eternal leave of all things earthly. There
is still asother search with aching eyes
and throbbing brain, and then the paper is
smashed down on the floor and the infuriat-
ed man bounds up from his chair and catch
es both hands into his hair, and dances
around like mailman He doesn't call
heaven and earth to witness what he is going
to do, and blight him if he should not do it.
He doesn't go into the composing room and
scorch the men with his wrath Even this
slight relief is denied him. The paper is
worked of, aud the scrutiny that would
cheerfully attack a needle in a haystack
would fall paralyzed before a search for the
author Of the great wrong. He doesn't say
anything at all-not single Ineligible
word escapes his ashen lips, as he holds his
hair and Frances about in the dingy solitude
Of his room. Aud when he is done, he sits
down and groans, and afterwards puts on his
hat and rushes forth into the street, rushes
anywhere to get away from the face of man.
to get away from himself aud everything
belonging TO himself-EE.