The Portland daily press., 1879-01-25


labor is performed under the strain produced
by the knowledge of this searching public
inspection. His editorials must be well di.
gested, truthful, timely and original. A poll
tician may get up reputation on pair OF
steers, but never an editor on pair of shears.
But the local depends less on brains, and
more on legs; and while the leader may oc-
casionally be dispensed with, the hungry
public is clamorous for news. 1t demands
local news, every day, whether anything hap
pens or not. So great is the strain upon the
mind of the sensitive local that we have
known him to have desire to 60 out and
kill some one, that his columns may be filled.
He is criticised most, because what he does
and what he fails to do, is constantly exposed
to the public eye. All his errors are pointed
cut by troops of kind friends, who are afraid
he won't see them, while nothing will be said
about the column after column which appears
without single error.
The true newspaper man is no drone. He
who misses his meals at his comfortable and
cozy home table, for the sake of sitting in
cold hall to report dry oration-who denies
himself the delights of his own Preside for
the sake of sitting transaction, the details
of which the great reading public demand.
who learn not to be alarmed at threats OF
korse-whipping. and gets licked occasionally
that he may become accustomed to startling
incidents of that character,-requires good
deal of activity and patience. and vast
amount of courage. You can't go into town
meeting and find every other man you meet
competent to fill the place. Whether
as the maker of daily newspaper,
with its tread mill round of duties, or sail.
ing over smoother seas, sitting at the
helm of a craft bearing the motto-"Be it
our weekly task to note the passing tidings
of the times'-the enthusiast who hopes for
the model newspaper which he has never
seen, need not reckon the work of the news
paper man among the boyish pastimes of life.
1t is a place in which perpetual motion is
personifed, in which omnipresence is needed,
and where fault is found if omniscicnce is
not possessed. No lover of his kind may
seek for wider fields of usefulness, for none
invite to toll.
The posm ettitled "The Newspaper"
Christian Mirror, was read by that gentleman.
Its great length of three hundred lines forbids
Its reproduction in full. The following e1-
tract will give a taste Of its quality:
Up yonder stairs remote from idling men,
Behold the sanctum of the types and pen.
Two dDgy pictures grace the dingier wall,
Twelve ancient cobwebs from the ceiling fall;
rabies ana chairs STAND r0unQ IN OIL array,
rewn with the various journals of the day:
The desk with piles of manuscripts o'erspread,
Books aud reviews still waiting to be read,
Paste-pOt and scissors smeared with inky stains,
Sometimes an ei itor's chief stock of braios
A well-thumbed Webster lying on the floor,
And waste. basket 'ull and running o'er,-
Hither the Master thoughtfuly ascends,
And to his wonted task assiduous bends.
With eye long practiced to reject aud choose,
F BE- o ss the norg the ans
In the last daily circuit of the sun;
What was the holy text the parson named,
When last his sacred message he proclaimed;
What patriot Congressman consplre to do
To save their cOuntry-and their office too;
How speeds red-handed war its fendsh WORK
Twxt cross and lesceut, barbarOus Russ and Turk
Aud how, triumphant DER his numerous foes,
The juggling jew leads England by the nose;
Report of who has died and who has wived,
What Cook has said and Edison contrived;
What noble youths have won imm Jrtal fame
As vic ors 10 the latest baseball game;
Whose calf is born with snperduous leg,
And whose gray hen has laid The biggest egg;
| What fashions newest freak the far obey
In cut and color of their soft array.
Rules for the fan, and patterns for the veil,
The inch of bonnet and the ard of trail;
What crime has met within cold prison walls
The due desert for which stern justice calls,
And who, by vengeful Nemesis pursued,
Has left hi. country for his cOuntrys good.
Communications, uext, his notice claim,
Papers OF every sort and size and name;
The inssiraiions of the village muse,
Sermons ana speeches, stories andreviews;
Grumbiings at all things that we hear or see,
Or akings Ger ills that are or are to be;
Reports of n arvelous events and sights,
Disputes on doctrines politics. and rites;
Essays profound on topics fathomless,
VIVA savants know and spectators guess
All these, in turn, the much-enduriDg man
Must read with patience aud what skill he can,
Must punctuate, correct, abriage. condense
And find in each some CLEANS at least, of sense;
Put wit in speech and poetry in poem,
Till one may wonder if their authors know 'em,
Yet one more task awaits the Masters will,
Demanding all his praciced power and skill,
For news and essays SATISFY but few
If there be not the editorials too,
Where he his own opinions may proclaim,
And speak, oracular, in his own name.
see him now. with aspect grave and sage,
Drive his swift pen across the glowing page
With wit and logic skiliful TO debate
The deepest problems of both church and sta te.-
Why fires and pestilence the and distress,
And why hard times the laboriDg poor oppress;
Whether the ballot,-weapon of the Free
Gift and defense Of sacred Liberty,
Right of each citizen throughout the land,
Shall be protected in black mans hand;
Whether the States accommodating ill
Does or does not demand DOCTORS skill;
Whether by some financial juggery
just fourscore cents may good dollar be;
Whether, in short. there be road 10 wealth,
To comfort, honor, happiness, and health
Better than that ia which our fathers trod
OF virtue, labor, and the fear Of God.
1t was decided to make the annual excursion
the latter part of September, aud that Niagara
be the objective point.
In the evening P. o. Vicksry, ESQ. :, gave
the members of the Asso citation and their
ladies q right royal reception at his elegant