Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-22
AN EDITORS DREAM.
BY SCOTT WAY.

Once upon time village editor sat il
| his quiet sanctum industriOusly perusins
the political editorials in his daily city ex
changes. At length that which he rea(
began to have its legitimate effect; the ed
itor nodded once, twice, thrice; his eye.
closed, the city daily fell from his nerveles
fingers, and three flies lit upon his bowet
bald head and balanced all, and swung cor
ners, and crossed over, and promenaded al
around, to the music Of the rythmical edi
torial snore. The village editor was asleep
and, sleeping, the village editor dreamed.
He sat at his desk with weary fingers ant
aching head. The last local item had gone
into type, the last inside reading notice hat
been set up, and the youngest apprentice
stood grimly by, with lines of impatience
upon his brow and daub of ink under his
left eye, waiting for more copy. Suddenly
there was step without, the door opened
man entered. and taking the vacant chail
in front of TIE elitor's desk, to which the
editor had politely called his attention, he
said:
"My dear sir, my name is John W
Smith. am subscriber to your paper,
as you very we'll know, and being in town
to-day thought would take the oppor
tunity to call and tell you that l like your
paper all but one thing: You don't print
enough matter on the tariff question.
Poetry and stories and funny paragraphs
and local items may do well enough to fill
up paper with in ordinary times, but just
now the country is awake to the tariff ques.
ton, and if you want to keep your paper
alive you've got to give your subscribers
light on the tariff. You should not have
less than three columns of editorial and
five columns of extracts on the tariff every
ISSUE That's all I've got to say, and l
hope you'll bear it in mind. BY the way,
l owe you for two years subscription, and
one of these days I'll call in and pay it.
Don't forget to let yourself loose on the
tariff; good-by.''
As the man who wanted more light on
the tariff passed out, little nervous look
ing person came in and took the vacant
chair.
eAh,'' he said, with little smile that
didn't look strong enough to be out, "ah,
my dear man, I see you are absorbed IN
thought, as an editor always should De.
And that reminds me that you are neglect
ing-almost totally neglecting science. Too
much of politics, too much OF politics, my
dear man; your paper will never grow IN
circulation while you neglect science for
DOllClcS. Ou uO'OeO hOo iOoo oAe~--
four columns week to science. That's all
came in to say. Be in some day and pay
YOU my subscription. Good day; but don't
forget to give us plenty of science" i,
The footsteps Of The man who wanted
science had not gone beyond the editor s
hearing when third visitor entered and
took the vacant chair as if he were accus-
toned to sit in it.
81 am sorry to notice that you are neg
lecting politics just at this important peri
od,' he said, kindly but gravely. "You
should strive to keep the vital principles OF
our party constantly before the people. l
like your paper in all but its lack In TINS
respect, and some day, perhaps at the pe-
ginning of next year, l will subscribe for 1t.
I see it now every week at Browns s Office
If YOU would write about five columns OF
fresh political editorials every week you d
see your papers going right up in circula-
ton. That's what told Brown yesterday,
and he agreed with me. A story and
scientific art icle occasionally and little TO-
cal matter and some marriage and death
notices to please the women are all well
enough, but can tell you that country
paper to amount to anything, and have any
influence, has got to be full on pohtlcal
matters. That's all want to say now; V,;
When you want any points on politics IN
be glad to help you out. And, by the way,
don't forget that I'm a candidate Tor the
legislature; good-day. I"