The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1882-12-23
A Chapter About Editors.

Chambers journal.
Newspaper editors IRE persouages
with whom, in the mind of the public
at large, there has always been associa-
ted certain degree OF mystery. There
is no class of men whose work passes so
directly and so constantly before the
public eye and yet there are few with
regard to whose real position and func'
ton more vogue, confused or erroneous
notions are entertained, even ON the
part OF persons otherwise well inform
ed. This ia no doubt lagely due to the
anonymity which is preserved in the
newspaper press of this country. Read
ers come to identify the opinions OF
particular organ more with the sheet Of
printed paper, and with its distinctive
name and features, than with the iiidi
vidunl or individuals by whom it is di.
rected, and Of whom, it may be, they
know notling.
Thopower and influence, with their at
tendaut responsibility, exercised by the
editors OF our great newspapers, are
enormous. Thomas Carlyle once de-
scribed journalists as the true kings
and priests of the nation. The Office
so described is a most attractive one for
young men in search of career, es-
pecially If they be fairly educated, and
believe they are imbued with the fire
of genius. The most common mistake
of such aspirants to the editorial chair
is that they greatly underestimate the
attainments requisite for such po-
sition. They speak Of taking to jour
al ali ~ IA IL utV In -.
mer, to be accomplished without much
personal trouble or Inconvenience, and
never thinking of the long years of pa
tent work and varied experience which
will be undergone before they can
reach the point they have in view
Journaligm is now, and is becoming
more so every year, profession for
which IL special training is required.
There have been instances in which
men of brilliant parts and profound ed
ucNtion have proved signal failures in
the editorial chair, while men of inferi
or education and meaner intellectual
powers, but with those Indispensable
qualifications tact, Judgment and OK
perience --have succeeded admirably
under the same conditions. 1t is there
fore quite erroneous for young man
to suppose that because he has had the
advantage OF good education, writes
with facility, and has notion of such
work. he can take to journalism" and
surmount all difficulties, US it were, with
d pair of seven-league boots.
Some years ago a young man wrote
to an American paper that he wanted to
an enitor, and the reply which he re.
ceived is well worth reproducing here
"Oanst thou" asked the editor, draw
up leviathRn with an hook thou lettest
down. Canst thou hook up great ideas
/ from thine intellect and clean, scale and
fry them NJ i've minutes notice2 Canst
thou write editorials to measure? Canst
thou write an editorial to fit in three
quarter column Of the paper, which
shall be in length just twenty two
/ inches, having three inches OF fine sem
timent, four inches for the beginning
and nine inches of humor in the mid
| die, and an outbnrst Of maxim and pre-
cept, six inches long, at the closer
This will, Of course, be regarded az u
[ bit OF iaceuous e1aggeration on the part
Of the editor, aud no doubt it was but
IL really reflects certain neces AIRY
phrases ~ the work Of journalist. In.
portaut intelligence frequently arrives
at the newspaper Office within short
time Of the paper going to press, and ii
the editor wishes to beupsides or ahead
of his contemporaries, as most editors
do, he must have leading article on
the same subject in the same issue as
that in which the news appears. There
is not moment to be lost; ind cd,
there may be scarcely time b perform
tho mere mechanical operation OF writ.
ing what hast to be said, not to speak OF
hunting about for an idea, an appropri-
ate quotation, or a choice form OF ex-
preston. These must all, in the Lam
/ guago Of the American editor, be hook
ed up, cleaned, scaled and fried with
out delay.