Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-15
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS.
Saturday, May Is, 1880.

The Wheeling Sunday Leader COM
ple,ed its fifth year two weeks ago and eele-
brated the event by q grand dinner at The
Mcclure House Iu the full list Of guests
published we fail TO find one West Virginia
journalist. There was a toast TO the West
Virginia Press, uut "a fellow would starye on
that We suppose the publisher Of the Lead
er is entitled 10 Ie regarded gcutlcnan Of
more than common consideration. lie knew
tho danger Incident TO West Virginia editor
putting himself around a square meal. The
sharp coroers might prove injurious to the
rotuudity Of bis physical conformation
Square meals is what is tie matter with our
friend Zittlc. The Toast TO the West Virginia
Press was responded to by Mr. Dana L. Hub
bard, tie Warrington correspondent Of the
Wheeling htelligencer. Hc soiJ
Mr.. President: The West Virginia Press
speaks Tor itself Like the voice Of Nature to
the individual who "holds communion with
ber visible forms, it speaks various language
For DELINQUENT subscribers IL has a voice Of
frequent eut5ea,y, aud it glldes into the mus
ngs of n man who pays up, with mild aud
gentle pathy that inds expression in loaded
notices. Il confines itself 10 no creed, poll
ties or race It's editors include Baplists
Duukers. Second Methodis;s, Republicans, De-
mocrats, Greenhackers, Caucasians aud Con-
iraLsnds. It's publications 1ow out upon the
world mou,hly, lortnightly, weekly, tri-wcek-
ly and daily, except when the month. fort
night week or day falls upon the Fourth Of
July. When this occurs, the busy hum Of
industry, 80 10 speak is stiilcG aud the editor
goes fishing.
1t is a charitable and kindly press, except
when its subscription lists are threatened. il
loves its enemies, blesses those tba: ouss it,
prints complimentary personals about mem
bers Of the Legislature who vote against the
public interests. and publishes culogisiic obit-
uaries of dead-head readers filled with the
same sorrowful tenderness that characterize its
iarewcls to first-class patrons
It's editors love Que another in proportion to
their distances from each other Where they
are widely separated they cultivate the most
enthusiastic affection aud refer to one another
in terms Of the most endearipg familiarity -
When the same county contains two OF Us III
business competition, We are more reserved,
and when the exigencies Of business have
brought US into one community and compel US
to fight for its patronage. we regard each other
with respect and admiration which cannot
be translated into words.
Nevertheless, Ike our brethren of the bar,
when their personal rivalries are laid aside,
there is no set Of people who can get closer
together than the editors Of this State. There
arc "good fellows scattered all through its
newspaper Offices. and while some Of them arc
cultivating literature aud publishing newspa-
pers on less oatmeal than the Scotch reviewers,
and have as scanty support as local preachers
aud no moro encouragement then coiporteurs,
neslec; does not seem to have repressed their
" Noble rage
AMI froze TIE genial csrren:, Of their blood.
Let US hope that when the Leader comes to
celebrate its next birthday that its effort sud
desire to promote kindly feeling, TO establish
independence Of thought and expression and
to further the material prosperity Of the guild
may be gratihed and that it may see its own
success reflected in the growing aud sulstau.
tisl prosperity of the State Press.
When our Senior celebrates his golden we'd
ding in September next, he will be careful to
invite every West Virginia editor. BE will
delight 10 their presence
mo pun intended.