Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-02-03
A Chapter About Editors.
hambers's Journal,

Chamberss Journal.
Newspaper editors are personagcs
with whom, in the mind of the public
At large, there has always been a,.o-
ciated a certain degree of mystery.
There is no class of laen whose
work passes so directly and so con-
stantly before the public eye; yet
there are few with regard to whose
real position and functions more
vague, confused or erroneous notions
are entertained, even on the part OF
persons otherwise we'll informed.
This is no doubt largely due to the
anonymity which is preserved in the
newspaper press OF this country.
Readers come to identity the opin-
ions of particular organ more witt,
the sheet of printed paper, ard with
its distinctive name and features, than
with the individual or individuals by
whom it is directed, and of whom, it
may be, they know nothing.
The power and influence, with their
attendant responsibility, exercised bv
the editors OF our great newspapers
are enormous. Thomas CARLYLE once
described 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.
especially if they be fairly educated
and believe they are imbucd with the
fire Of genius. The commonest mis-
take of such aspirants to the editorial
chair is that they greatly undcresti-
mate the attainments requisite for such
a position. They speak of stalking
to journalism as il it were a very
simple matter to be accomplished with
very little personal trouble or incon-
venience, and never thinking of the
long years of patient work and varied
experience which will have to be un-
dergone before they can reach the
point they have in view. Journalism
is now, and is becoming more so every
year, profession for which special
training Is required.
There have been instances in which
men of brilliant parts aud profound
erudition have proved signal failures
in the editorial chair, while men of in
ferior education and mcaner intellect
ual powers, but with those indi,pens-
able qualiications-tact, Judgment
and experience-have succeeded adj
mirablv underline same circumstances.
1t is therefore quite erroneous for a
young man to suppose that because
he has had the advantage of a good
education, writes with facility, and
has notion Ct such work, he can
stake TO journalism and surmount
all difficulties, as it were, with pair
of seven-league boots.
Some years ago man wrote to an
American paper that he wanted to be
an editor, and the reply which he re-
ceived is we'll worth reproducing here.
''Canst thou asked the editor, ''draw
up leviathan with an hook thou lettast
down? Canst thou hook up great
ideas from the depth of thine intellect,
and clean, scale and fry them at five
minutes notice! Canst thou write an
editorial to fit in three quarter col
ume 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
outburst Of ma kim and prccept six
inches long at the close:''
This will of course be regarded as
bit of facetious exaggeration on the
part of the editor. and no doub. it
was; but it really reflects certain nee.
essary phases in the work of jour-
nalist. Important intelligence fire.
quently arrives at the newspaper office
within a short time ofthe paper going
to press, and if the editor wishe, 10 be
upsides, or ahead of his contempora.
ries, 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 a moment
to be lost; indeed there may be
scarcely time to perform the mere me.
chanical operation Of writing what
has to be said, not to speak Of hunt.
ing about for an idea, an appropriate
quotation, or choice form of expires.
sion. These must all, in the language
Of the American editor, be hooked up,
cleaned, scaled and fried without the