Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-01-02
AN EDITOR,s DREAM.

bN NCOTI WAY.
Tread by the author before the Peninsuiar
Prg,s Assoclation during the literary exer-
sises OF tue Annual Convention on steamer
Once upon q time a village editor sat
In his quiet sanctum industriousiy pc
rusing the political editorials in his
daily city exchanges. At length that
which he read began to have It's legiti-
mate effect; the editor nodded once,
twice, thrice; his eyes closed, the city
daily fell from his nerveless fingers,
and three lies lit upon his bowed bald
head aud balanced all. and swung cor
ners. aud swung corners and crossed
over. and promenaded all around, to
the music of the rythmical editorial
tnore. The village editor was asleep:
and sleeping, the village editor
dreamed:
He sat at his desk with weary fingers
and aching head. The last local item
had gone into type. the last inside read
Ing notice had been set up, and she
youngest apprentice stood grimly by,
with lines of impaiience upon his
brow and n daub Of ink under his left
eye, waiting for more copy. Suddenly
there was q stop without, the door
opened, n man entered, and taking the
vacant chair in front Of the editor's
dc <, to which the editor had politely
called his attention. he said:
"Aly dear SIR; NV name Is John w.
Smith. i am subscriber to your pa
per. as you very well know. and being
in town Today thought l would take
the opportunity to call and tell yOu t,>at
j like your paper, all but one thing: yoN
don't print emo Jgh matter on the tariff
question. Poetry and stories and funny
paragraphs and local items may do well
enough TO NIL up = paper with in ordi-
nary times, but Just now the country is
awake To the tariif question. and 4 yo
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 col
umns OF extracts OF the tariff every is
sue. That's all I've got to say, and
hope you u bear il in mind. By the way,
owe you for two years su scription,
and one of these days I'll call in and
pay H. Don't forget TO let yourself
loose on the tariiT; good bye"
As the man who wanted more light
on the tariff passed out. a little nerv-
ous-looking person came in and took
the vacant chair.
"Ah" he said, with a smile that
didn't look strong enough TO be out,
''ah. my dear man, see you are alb
sorbed in thought, as an editor ALWAYS
should be-. And that reminds me that
you are neglecting Almost totally neg.
letting science. Too much Of poll
tics, too much of politics, my dear
man: your pa er will never grow in
,tr 81.
for politics. You should devote not
less than four columns a week to- sci
ence. That Is all | came in To saw. Be
In some day and pay you for my sub
scriptiOn. TODD dav; don't forget to
give us plenty of science"
The footsteps Of the man who wanted
science had not gone be, ond the edi-
tors hearing, when n third visitor en-
tered and took the vacant chair as II
he were accustomed To sit in It.
al am sorry To note that you are neg
lertinx politics lust at this important
period. y he said. kindly. but gra,ely.
"YOu should strive To keep the vital
principles Of our party constantly be
fore the people.
81 like your paper in all but its lack in
this respect, aud some day. perhaps ut
the beginning of ne>t year, / will sub
scribe for II. I see Il now every week
at Browns Office. II Won would write
about live columns OF fresh political
editorials every week. you'd see your
paper going right up IN cir ulaiIon.
That's what | told brown YESTERDAY,
and be agreed with me. A story and
an article on science occasionally,
with little local matter and few
marriage and death notices to please
the women are all well enough. but
can tell you that q country paper to
amount to anything and nave influence,
has got TO DC full Of political matters.
Jlat Is all want to saw. when you
want any points on politics. IN be glad
To help you out. And, by the way;
don't forget that / arp candidate for
the lie stature. Good day"
The neNt visitor that took the va
cant chair which sat IN front 0f the
VILLAGE editors desk spoke as follows:
81 sioppcd in to-day. sir. TO tell on
that ! do not want Your paper anv
longer In some respects II l. a good
paper. but you do not print emo ,0h
news matter. You should print At least
tn page If news. I don't care any
thing about your protective tariff and
tAriH Tor revenue only, OF. ANYTHING of
that sort. want the news when 1
take paper. IwSnt full account of