Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-02-05

Whlle others sleep, not given 10 lrfllaOlnty,
and possessed of the happy faculty Of
throwing off his cares when the hour of re-
taxation comes. For such man there is
future in country journalism, especially
bright at this time, and for him there are
rewards with which other professions
have nothing to offer in comparison.
This statement may appear at variance
with What has been said, yet | affirm
sultmnly and will to the last maintain that
a man who does honest work on country
newspaper is sure to be rewarded. Art
itself always satisfies the true artist. His
rrcnnpenSc may not assume the form OF
wealth, but tor all that 1t is n reward
it Sati>iit What Is true of the artist is
true OF the country editor Tie would
rather issue particularly brilliant number
than cheat a man out of a hundred dollars.
This may Sonnd like eXaggeration but, re-
member am speaking of one who possess
r> Il natural aptitude for his calling, who
'"ve> evrrythin. pertaining 10 his business.
and who i never happier than when he Is
Immersed in it. A man of this description
may not get rich out of the publishing
business. but he will earn comfortable
living, and will enjoy countless pleasures
that are unknown I" t"iierS in other pro
fe>siun~ He will not he heard blowing
his own trumpet in "A hraZen attempt to
drown the announcements of deserving
contemporaries. He viii not be found coax
ing one man to take his paper, or >coidng
another because he n"gleCt> to advertise III
it. In small communities it is possible to
make Il ncN >paptr thnt people will come
to the cllicc for and where this is the
case advertisers follow subscribers as
eagerly a> ladies follow the fashions.
| ndrr snch circumstances the editor is
likely To receive II reward more or less
substantial 1t may not bc a> great is
bestowed upon other men for less arduous
and valuable >rrk ice. but reasonable
man wiil not le>pi>c hi> trade on that
account | know that lawyer is better
paid FIR writing a six line dunniug letter
!hau am for preparing a sixty line notice.
that for shaking his head at sprained
ankle doctor gets a bigger fee than is
offered me for sympat hiLlng with the
sufferer t" the extent of halt column
that "A singer or dancer Will get more
money in night hy twi~tin. his tongue
or h> toes than you. or |, or any writer
present shall be able 10 get by exercising
our brains for a fortnight. | am aware of
all this, say. Vet the know ledge does not
distress me. We cannot help these differ
enCcs IN pay mcnt; We know that high and
low prices must prevail even in our own
bu> >ine>s that there must he giuts of the
market and over production; that there
must hc successful machinery and rivals
that there must be hands out Of employ and
trihulntiun Of workmru But these Ill
winds which affect Us are by no means
confined to our own trade centre; they are
natural evils, common 10 all men engaged
in all manner Of occupations. Let Us not
fooli>hly imagine, or teach others to be
lievc. that we ave undIly oppressed.
The benefits resulting from 4 recognized
connection with the press are not to be
reckoncd IN dollar, and cents. don't be
licse there is to-day in Maine an editor Of
the slightest merit or the slightest marx.
who has not greatly advanced himself by his
lahor> | see before me gentlemen whom |
have had the honor of shaking by the hand
gentlemen whom | should never have
called my friends but for the humble news
paper work have been engaged in;
"Aui doth not a meeting Ike this make amends"
for the triting annoyanceS and disappoiut
meut> a III II may have experienced while
doing that work which he loves best:
tell Won gentlemen of the press, that our
calling affords US advantages, personal
social and fraternal, such a. are enjoyed
by the followers of no other profession
within my knowledge. We may be un
mindful of our privileges at times, but we
would miss then sadly were they denied
us.
But with all our forgetfuness let us
ever remember the Importance of the task
we have undertaken The power of the
press is to-day everywhere recognized
The newspaper approaches people at times
when they are indiSposed to attend To any
thing else 1t fills up those odd moments
of life whose iniiueuCe for good or evil
can scarcely be over estimated 1t pos
>e>>e> natural attractions which no lntclll-
gent man or woman can resist. Poetry
may kinde a loftler fire, the drama may
riyet attention more firmly, science may
open a wider horizon. phi osophy may
touch a deeper spring, but no work is so
penetrating. none reaches many homes
and attracts 50 many readers a> the news
paper Of To day. Those who read nothing
else scan it> columns eagerly. Those whom
sermons never reach, whom history fails
to arrest. are reached and arrested by the
daily ar weekly record of national or local
affairs 1t is this which makes a bad news
paper more detestable than almost any
other form OF publication. IL is this which
gives even To foolish or worthless sheet
demoraliZing force beyond its own cor
tempiihle dement's, Ii is this which makes
a good newspaper in style, elevating
In thought, true in ~.ntimcnt-one Of the
best boons To the home and to the State.
1t is not going too far to say that the
nearer a man comes to publishing news
paper of this description, the greater will
be his reward in this world, and in the
| world TO come.