Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-08-17
NE WSPAPER EDITORS.
Answer to Observers Article Which Ap-
peared in the Beacon Of August
3rd, 1889.

Ord, 1889.
Communicated
Mr.. EpIToR:-In week before last
BEACON, there appeared an article on
Queer Journalism, or UPS and
Downs Of Newspaper Life" by an
Observer" should you allow me
space in your BEACON, l would like
very much to answer said article, al
experience in the newspaper business
but not being capable of running a
newspaper, l drew out, and thank
God, too, because there is too much
responsibility in it. If Observer
would take my advice he would never
become a newspaper editor.
In the first place, Observer. to be a
successful editor, would have to be a
practical printer, and he must not
allow the printer to run out of copy
and furnish himself (the printer with
copy unless he allows the intelligent
compositor to put his name at one
corner Of the paper as publisher and
associate editor"
No, Observer, you must never at
tempt to bring yourself before the
public in a newspaper, no, never!
Take my advice here; should you at
tempt to run a newspaper and you
wanted to support friends for Office
besides yourself your hackers would
want to draw straws," and you might
get the longest one.
Maybe you do not know that the
ticket is made up by others, and you
request your name put at the bottom
for constable and John Brown or VIM.
Smith would want the same Office and
then you would have to support the
"big guns" to get ahead of Smith or
Brown. No. don't you try that,
never, never.
If you have never been in the news
paper business stay out Of it. When
l was in it l paid my printer off,
whenever l could collect enough to
do it with. He had more money than
I did always, and made a better show,
and when l supported certain can
didate for Office the printer made him
promise (the printer) a position,
should he get elected. The candidate
got elected, the printer got his gov
eminent position, and here am
"Wishing l was an angel,
And with the angels stand"
Having rothing to do with newspapers
And IN appointment in my hand.
Observer, why do you wish to be-
come a newspaper editor? If you
wanted to become an editor just to be
popular you should never have told
it, but gone ahead. get out your
prospectus. raised your tent, run your
paper long enough to swear vengence
on either patent outside" or "all
home-print," one or the other, it does
not make much difference which, and
then either sell out or take your tent
down and move away during the
night. and I will assure you every
body in your parish will want to
know what had become of you and
your newspaper, and they would all
sympathize with you il your ead hour
Of bereavement, and say: May he
rest in peace"
But by all means, Observer, sell
out if you can, let some body elseIs
head bump against the cealing, allow
somebody else to face the world and
say "here l am, great l am" and say
when you write your obituary, may
my successor please the people. etc,
ETC."
Now. Mr.. BEACON Editor, I have
told Observer, through the columns
Of an old time, tried and tested pa
per, and if he should not heed to nv
warning woe be unto him, etc.
Wishing Observer a successful life
in his present occupation,
I am, very respectfully,
An OLD TIMER.