Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-12-10
UNSEEN WORKERS.
The Reality OF Journalism Compared
with she Popular Conception OF the
Calling and IFS DISCIPLES.


with She Popular Conception OF the
Calling and IFS Disciples.
Newspaper editors are personages with
| whom, in the mind OF the public at large
[ there has always been associated certain
degree of mystery. There is no class OF
men whose work passes so directly and so
constantly before the public eye; yet there
are few with regard TO whose real position
and functions more vague, confused or err
rO1eOus MOTORS are entertained, even on
the part of persons otherwise well inform
ed. This is no doubt largely due to the
anonymity which'is preserved in the news.
paper press OF the country. Readers come
to identify the opinions of particular or
gan more with the sheet OF printed paper,
and with its distinctive name and features,
than with the individual or Individuals by
whom il is directed, and Of whom, it may
be, they know nothing.
The power and influence, with their at
tendant responsibility, exercised by the ed
itOrs of our great newspapers, are enOr-
nous. Thomas Carlye once described jour
nalists as the true kings and priests OF the
nation. The Office so described is most
attractive one for young men IN search of
career, especially if they be fairly educa-
ted, and believe they are imbued with the
fire of genius. The COmmoncst mistake OF
Ov.oI, ~St-:-~s.ts In the edieor;~l "G~'r - that
they greatly underestimate the attain
ments requisite for such position They
speak of taking 10 journalism as II 1t were
a very simple matter, to be accomplished
without much personal trouble or incon-
venienCe. and never thinking OF the long
wears of patient work and varied expert
ence which will have 10 re undergone be-
fore they can reach the point they have in
view. journalism il now, and is becoming
more so every year, a profession Tor which
a special training is required. There have
been instances in which men OF brilliant
parts and profound erudition have proved
signal failures in the editorial chair; while
men of inferior education and meaner in
tellectual powers, but with those indispen-
| sable qualiiiCationS-tact,l Judgment and e1-
perience--have succeeded admirably under
| the same conditions. 1t IS, therefore, 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 jour
nalism and surmount all difficulties, as 1t
were, With pair of seyen'league boots.
Some years ago young man wrote to an
American paper that he wanted to be an
| editor: and the reply which he received IS
we'll worth reproducing here. "Canst
| thou" asked the editor, draw up levla-
| than with an hook thou lettest down?
! Canst thou hook up greater ideas from the
| depths of thine intellect, and clean, scale,
| and fry them at five minutes notice?
| Csnst thou write editorials to measure?
| Csnst thou write an editorial to tit in q
| three-uuarter column of the paper, which
! shall be in length just twenty-five inches,
| having three inches of fine sentiment, four
| inches for the beginning, and nine inches
| of humor in the middle, and an outburSt
of maxim and precept, six inches long, at
| the closer -.
This will, OF course, be regarded as bit
of facetious exaggeration on the part OF an
editor, and no doubt it was; but it really
| reflects certain necessary phases in the
verk OF q Journalist. Important intel
| ligence frequently arrives at the newspaper
Office within a short time OF the paper go
ing to press and, il the editor wishes TO be
inside or ahead of his contemporaries, as
most editors do, he must have leading
article ON the subject in the same issue as
that in which the news appears. There is
noI a moment to be lost; indeed, there
may he scarcely time to perform the mere
mechanical operation of writing what ha:
10 be said, not to speak OF hunting about
for an idea, al appropriate quotation, or
| choice form OF expression. THESE mus
all, in the language of the American editor
be hooked up, cleaned, scaled, aud trlee
without delay.
of some of the difficulties against which
the editor has to contend, none but practi
cal newspaper men have any conception
Take, for example, the question, OF space
II is a common fallscy among the genera
public that it must be a very difficult
matter to find news to fill each days paper
So far from this being the case, the ingenu
ity of editors and sub-editors is continually
on the stretch to find space for even
selection of the most important news
their disposal. In the office OF leading
daily newspaper there is often more matte
thrown into the waste-basket, or struck on
of manuscripts, than would suffice to I'll
the paper: while interesting kilograms
for which not only the postotfice, but tn
correspondents who have sent them, vii
have to be paid, are consigned to the sam
receptacle almost every night, simply DC
cause it is impossible to find a corner. 10
them. The calculations Of the editor
moreover, are liable to be upset in hun
dred different ways. Some great crisis
storm. crime. or disaster occurs, or an i'm
portant political question suddenly arises
or some great man dies, or there is an eE
traordinary and unexpected influx OF ad
yertisements-perhaps combination o
tbese-and all the arrangements OF tn
office are correspondingly disturbed.