The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-20
Our @lio.
Newspaper Writing.


The majority of the people imagine that
it is the simplest thing in the world to edit
newspaper. A man may have grave
doubts about bis talents for public speak
ing may freely admit that he cannot turn
a tune or recognize one when turned by |
anybody else; may confess that he is no
poet, not much Of q scholar aud nothing !
Of an artist; but there is no creature so
poor spirited as to avow his ineapaeity to
edit newspaper. On the contrary, this
is work to which every man seems to
have a manifest call No matter what bis
actual business in life may be--preacher,
lawyer, physician, butcher, baker or can
dlsstick maker-he has a secret fancy that
II no only had chance he could make a
newspaper little bit spicier and liyelier
than anything in the shape Of public
journal that has ever come in his way.
This is one of the most amusing and uni
versal weaknesses Of modern times. The
number Of people who are infected by it is
known only to publishers, Just as the ex-
tent to which opium eating is pranticed is
known only to druggists aud physicians
The drawers and waste baskets Of every
leading newspaper Office 10 the country
overflow with evidences Of the ambition and
harmless vanity Of the vast public who
scribble by stealth and patiently toll over
reams Of composition which nobody can be
induced to print.
1t must be admitted that there is some
thing enticing and enyiable 10 editorial
life, as it appears to the outside world,
The delight of getting into print for the
first time is one Of the keenest enjoyments
What, therefore, both men aud women
reason to themselves, must be the pleasure
Of that happy man who daily feusts the
public with his wisdom, and whose small
est scribbling finds its way into type with
out criticism or delay? But this reason
ing is altogether uusound The editol
does not look at things exactly in the sam,
roseate light. The bright colors seen b,
other eyes have become to his a lipl,
clouded. The freshness, the exquisit,
charm Of seeing bis reflections 10 print ha
long since vanished. He writes some
times painfully aud under pressure, ofter
harrassed by thousand petty yexntions
aud not uufrequsutly with aching hea,
and weary hand His work is, Of all work
the most wearing, the most akin to tread
mill drudgery, and the most exhaustiu,
both TO body and brain. The call 70
copy is inexorable and cannot be refused
He must write. lie must also cndur
the most contemplate and continue,
criticisms-but bear patiently "to b
esteemed dull when he cannot be witty
aud to be applaudod for wit whe
he knows that he has been dull" Ey
cry blockhead who buys his paper feel
that he has purchased right to dictat
the manner in which il shall be conducted
to eritieisc sharply everything that az
pears in il, and to "elevate its tone" wit
his own carping lugubrations, fairly write
out aud enclosed 10 note for immediat
publication signed "a Subscriber" "A
Old Patron or "An Earnest Well Wish
sr." If you were to ask this modest frien
to cut you a coat, or measure you for
pair of boots, he would Indignantly repl
that that was not his trade, that he kne'
nothing about it and would not attempt i
Bat the dilidence which shrinks from III
shears aud coyly draws back from the nv
and the lapstone, boldly grasps the pei
and undertakes to illuminate and instrut
the world Breeches and shoes rcquir
art, experience, reflection, in their maxim
political essays flow spontaneous fror
the most added pate, or can BE- pumpe
out of it by sheer hand labor, without th
vulgar appliances Of study, thought an
knowledge. Such is life - Balto. Ga-ett
I