Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-12-23

use, BIVht anu
In many respects there is no
more unsatisfactory business than
that of conducting a newspaper.
The editor may be the most amis-
BILE man in the world, and yet oc-
casiou ally be obliged to play the
scold on public questions. He may
be filled so full of the milk OF hui
man kindness that, in heaped
measure, it flows DER, and yet q
chance line, paragraph or article,
may appear in his paper, with per-
fectly innocent intent, that may
permanently ALLEVIATE some over
sensitive, old time friend. He may
frown down sensationalism, and
yet may find that two-line item,
which legitimately crept into his
paper, has had all the effect of a
designed departure from his well
known policy. The editor may
have written thousand pleasant
things, inspired by genuine good
will, and yet not all these genial
outgivings are held to counter
balance one splenetic word, or
word uttered without design, w hich
be printed either on extreme pro-
vocation or through inadvertence.
He may have been for years the
staunch and uDshrlnking advocate
of a party, and yet find himself
de nounced by some mousing poll
tician who thinks that he has not
received his due need Of public
and partizan recognition. He may
have given many Of his best years
to the jealous and spirited advo-
cscy of the interests OF his section,
and yet f1nd himself the victim Of
q momentary mood or caprice of
the people amongst whom he.lives.
Not the least of the annoyances to
which the hard-working and COM
petent editor finds himself exposed
is the ingrained belief amongst q
large portion of his readers that, II
they were only in his place, they
could run his paper to much better
advantage; the probability being
that, if ninety-nine out of a hun.
dred of these sapient gentry got
possession of his types and presses,
they would wreck the institution
in a month, and leave it encum-
bered with half dozen libel
suits. WAile 1t appears to be less,
the difficulty of running a news
paper in a small city is intensified
many fold by the fact that the edit
or knows personally every man OF
any note In the place; and that,
when antagopized on some public
issue, these latter regard the atti-
tude of what has once, perhaps,
been their favorite journal, as q
persona! assault. 1t is fact that
the infinite tact which many jour-
nalists have learned in handling
papers in country communities has
frequently been the reason why,
when translated to the con-
troll of metropolitan dailies. they
have achieved u phenomenal sue
cess. Notwithstanding the cease
less we ar and tear of country ed
itor's life, and the alterations and
Misunderstanding which are con-
stantly springing up, If he has
been manly and consistent, he
ends by winning the respect of the
community and enlisting the sy M
pathies of warm and devoted
clientage. But the hSrd worked
editor, who wins this tardy recog-
milton, must often be tempted 10
ask whether the play is worth the
candle. Were be not embarked In
a regular business, by which be
earns his livelihood, he would uu-
hesitatiDgiy answer that it Is not
But the man who is really adapted
to the busin ess In which he is en-
gagged, makes q pecuniary success
of his newspaper. He makes ii
meet expenses and o little more,
which achievement is q test of his
competency. AS to the unnum-
bered vexatiOns which encom pas G
his path, he soon learns to make
light of them, aud to pass them by
with contemptuous smile. Dur.
ing his daily avocations he has
had occasion to learn too much oil
The vanity, capriciousness aud un.
reasoning egotism of the average
man who engages In public life to
attach much importance to their
temporary displeasure. Thep,. over
all, he is encouraged by the fact
that he has repeatedly had the op-
portunity OF doing abstract good
aud of doing concrete good natured
things, and Of contributing his
mite to the enlightenment and ele-
vation of humanity.