Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-06-28
EDITORIAL COURTESY.
From the Marshall Progress

An editor-What is an editor = Simply one
who edits or publishes thought. He is pro-
ducer of something that will interest his
readers-Or he ought to he. He talks about
things. and people who wish to hear him
talk, read the editors remarks. If they wish
otherwise they can shut him up by laying the
paper down. Now how should he talk
Like gentleman. The style of an editors
references should be Addisonan in spirit.
Ofconrse they cannot be so in polish. That
should be kindly. The reference to other
editors or persons conducting newspapers
need not be altogether devoid Of such Attic
salt" as he can sprinkle in. but should be In
the style OF good d-humored banter rather than
bitter fnvective. You might stop ON the
street to hear two men abuse each other in "a
vitriolic interchange Of Billinsgate, out OF
mere surprise or curiosity. hut YOU would
turn on your heel and walk off AZ soon as the
hrsi shock was over, not particularly proud
itors allow themselves to be pitted against
each other too often. as boys do dogs or fight
Ing cocks. This is humilating to the profess
sion. How much nicer to he good humOred
meaning. and not in its modern shoddy sig
nitfcation. The beau ,eal of the editor 10
these matters should be that noble. hearted
editor of the old Spectator. Joseph Addison.
The Spectator should be OH every editorial
table. Young editors, and everybody Young
in the business, or in any misunderstanding
mistakes. They are too bitter. They try to
catch flies with vinegar, a. it were. We like
to see them ripen. They are often sharp and
acid in their green state like green apples.
ana then they get mellow flavor after
whie-that does not make them insipid
either, sometimes. There Is the ideal-to
| rlpen without becoming insipid. The great
antidote to insipidity IL thought. not passion
spirit of humor and wit, IL SO be one can be
visited hy the god with that divine spark oc-
casionally.
Now urbanity Is hard to preserve If every
body treats you roughly. your tendency
natural. and -God-givel1is. to strike hack.
try to put yourself In the place Of the writer
of the 'squib' and always read your temper
that golden rule for everyone who would
be gentleman. ~ ,3J5ss y 15i
There can be no duels withnut rude anger.
There cannot now be duels of any sort
thank the higher tone Of our cIv,lization-but
| we mean that in old times gentlemen submit
| ting to that savage custom. gilded even the
bloody code with good nature, and prfded
| Themselves on their courtesy ON the green
| swar,i, even rs they raised their weapons to
lake the deadly aim. @.ldi
The best rule is 10 say nothing that you
| could not say face to face, and with ease to
| the other editor. or whatever person IL refer
| red to. Let US all recognize that force, bru-
betray either u lack of the brain power to use
the higher and kinder tactics Of modern cul-
| ture, or q feebeness of will and sell command
| 10 control passions which obscure reason ,and
dethrone decency. Dignity of the soul Is the
shield of the modern warrior in the battles OF
the brain. and his keenest weapon Is that de-
scribed by Moore in speaking of Sheridan:
| Ne'er carried heart stain away ON its
| blade"