The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-09-14
The Country Editor.


press.
Who can adequately describe the
labor of the country editor who is
deyIeted to his profession? His work
is never done. His mind is never
at rest. He is constantly ON the
alert for material for his paper. He
wears his nerves on the surface, SEN
sitive to every move about him.
He works where other people play,
and the luxury of absolute rest,
with freedom from worry, is, alas!
all too rarely experienced by him.
Do you think it an easy matter to
collect seven or eight columns of
local news and to put it in readable
shape within week? Do you re-
alize that for almost every one of
the hundreds of different statements
of facts the editor has had to walk
a considerable distance and I'd mike
personal inquiry? DO you realize
that the matter thus laboriously
collected, bit by bit, when written
out, makes more lines in type than
the sermons of any minister in the
community? Do you realize that
the editors writings would make
score or more of good sized volumes
every year?
But all the work thus imperfectly
described is the least of the labors
of the average country editor. How
easily, how joyfully would he do all
this if it were all he had to do.-
All, friends, the real work, the real
anxiety of the country editor are to
the world an unwritten book, but to
him an ever present, ever torturing
actuality. Some parts of this hid
den work we cannot willing write
about, for they are too painful; but
let us glance at some of the things
referred to. The country editor has
to manage his business. He solicits
advertisements, and spends hours
l in the work of convincing men
against their wills that it is to their
interest to keep their names and
wares before the public; he spends
days and days talking with men to
induce them to become subscribers,
and slowly builds up a list of names
for his, paper; he doubles this work
when it comes to collecting the mon
ey for his advertisements and his
subscriptions, tramping miles and
miles and wasting many precious
hours trying to get hold of few
| dollars with which to meet obliga-
tions that are pressing him, wolf
like, and racking his mind with per
plexity and fear. That is the work
which makes the country editor old
before his time, that oftentimes puts
/ him in a humiliating attitude before
business men and fills his heart with
the bitterness Of despair.
4 And the influence of the country
editor-who can estimate it? 1t is
the greatest force in any community,
The work of all the ministers can
not equal the influence of the coun-
try editor. The spoken word will
never equal the written one in eff
fectiveness and permanent value
and all the congregations in a town
cannot equal, in number, the audi
tors of the editor He speaks week
ly to thousands of people where the
ministers talk to hundreds We
bring the ministers into this discus
sion, not to belittle their work, but
to make comparison that will be
generally understood.
The influence of the country edi-
tor is nearly always helpful; a good
newspaper will do more for a town
than any other one influence. Is
there a hospital to be builts The
editor presents the necessity for it
: kindling in every mind a desire tt
see the institution established
points out the way for accomplish
|. ing the object desired, and helps
along every scheme for furtherins
the cause. Arc selfish men planning
I to line their pockets with scheme
that will injure instead of benefit
the town? The editor exposes the
plot and awakens the opposition ol
the people. Is there fair in prog
ress for the benefit of a church or {
town library? The editor booms it
gets everybody interested and il
sympathy with the matter and turns
the golden tide in the proper direc
ton. He helps along the local char
tiles and all worthy institutions; ht
keeps the people informed abou
each other and alive to the interests
of their town; his influence il
. strong, constant and for the well be
ipr of lic tovn