The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-19
4 Good Editor.

The requ sites OF good editor seen
70 be the topic, Of general discussion
which 10 gradually moving like storii
center. through the press of the coun
try. Ii seems TO be a discussion q
which every paper Is expected to adj
its mite. So ght treatment Of thi
topic will be in harmony with the cur
rent newspaper fashion.
A guest once entered the dining
room OF hotel and asked for "esery
thing" The waiter brought him hash
This aet shows lhs walters knoWl.
edge of the composite and inultifari6u.
nature III this mysterious compound
Now what hash is 10 the world Of food
50 Is i good editor I'd the world OF fhefi.
Pursuing the analogy Of the dining.
room; il may be remarked that The
good editor Is as infrequent as good
hash. There Is OF can be no perfection
in either; and by Their can only ap.
proximnte excellence be attained.
Doubtless Mrs. Parloa can give q re-
cipc for preparing this favorite susten-
ance of our dyspeytic nation; and so it
is easy TO give the component ingredi-
snts Of good editor; but there is often
scf.ous mistakes made Id M king:
A good cd tor. first Of all; should be
a lin tless reservoir for receiving i'd
vice. Into this all-rsceiving tank will
be poured. in copious streams, the
suggestions of cranks OF sill degrees of
insanity; enthusiasts OF large hearts
and small heads will deposit their long
cherished. but mpracticable schemes;
hamlet autoerats and village PHILOSOPHY
ers #Al send id their messages that
seeii almost like an inspirat ON to the
wotshipets of their neighbor6ood. but
which would appear very crude and
fallble when placed before the eyes of
the nat'on. But the editor should
take all this advice. as the ocean takes
its rivers, and still retain his own
sal ne and individual flavor
An ed tor should not be 50 very pro-
found. A man about iowa should not
dress in full evening suit An editor
whose business Is to talk to everybody
should not betray the accent of the
school and the subtle intonat:on of the
salon. "He was friend of man and
LIED In house by til, side OF the
road wrote Homer many centuries
ago An ell tor should be friend OF
man and live in a house By the side Of
the road and not attempt the inaccess.
ible mountain peaks of thought to
commune with clouds and lightning.
An editor should am to be understood
rather than admired. and should de-
sire reputation for sense rs'ho, liam
Wisdom Is doubtless de-
sirablc. but effects its purpose quicker
when clothed in the garb of wit
Ho should know how TO say things.
An editor must be o word.artist. a Gu n
ming moulder of phrases. He must be
gothic and not classicsin his word struc-
lures. with sharp cornices and friezes.
with a jagged and unsupported towers
he must be interesting or he content
with small subscription list A read
err enjoys shock better than a sopor-
ific; mud i is u nice question for ethics
to settle whether it Is not better 10 in
loxicate than to drug man. Tho
American people read too much; aud
over-readers, like over-eaters. require
much spice, pepper. and condiment
An editor is necessarily q sciolist
He should possess superficial knowl.
,dge Of all things. and should be able to
nse that knowledge at all times, without
\ moments warning and without special
effort His pen should transcribe tho
mage Of his thought rs quick as the
sun casts shallow. Rap dity is the
golden virtue. The firstlings of his
heart must be the firstlings of his
hand; and ne has no time to transform
MS thoughts in the alchemy of reflec.
ion. Lack OF time must be his spur
md the cry for copy" his lsnpiration.
He must be as healthy as an immortal
rod. - Yankee Blade