Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-04-13
The Country Editor.

Somebody has asked If all he hears
about the country editors poverty and
general woe-begoneness are true Here Is
the answer: No. One of the first men of
all the land Is the editor who mOulds the
opinion OF the people round about the
country town or village in which ne lives
lie Is no ordinary being. He is as inde-
pendent as millionaire, and JOY enters
his house thrice to every single time that
disappointment comes. He Is king among
his people. IL his surroundings are lowly
be Ia still the greatest man within them,
IL his fellow-citizens are above the ordi-
nary, he is better than their average. His
table Is well filled, his home is happy, his
friends are happy and his troubles are few.
There Is no rush in the life of the country
editor. Sometimes he gets the idea into
his head that business Is hurrying him and
that rest is needed. He never considers
the matter twice. A trip is planned and,
as soon as the railroads send along the
passes with copy for the advertisements
to be inserted indefinitely ia payment. the
editor and his wife aud all the little edi-
tors go away. Back home at the Office
the foreman receives the subscriptions and
gets out the weekly paper and sets type
for job work just the same as II the edi-
of thing. and he knows that when he gets
ready TO 20 away the editor will get
passes for him and his wages will run on
while he Is visiting about the country.
When the post-ofiice is vacant, every
body mentions the Editor as a possibility.
Tickets for the circus are laid on his table,
together with the two dozen eggs from
good farmer friend, roll of butter. for
your wits, We know" and dozen other
things that come to the biggest man In
town. He is hailed by everybody on the
street as good fellow. All are his
friends. Books come for review and never
get 1t. They all go TO the editors cosy
home. where so many of the village social
affairs take place each winter, when items
are scarce and the paper comes ont with
hints on how TO make preserves and jellies
next summer. That's the merry time for
the editor of the country journal. Nobody
Is more prominent than he is In the local
four hundred.
No; withdraw your opinion that the
country efitor is man TO be pitied, Never
picture him In tatter> Don't Imagine
that he spends halt his time driving the
wolf from the door He Is hustler,
probably, and when a legal notice is
offered for publication he leaves no stone
up,urned that will keep it from going To
another paper In the same county. The
country editor never dies OF apoplexy or
brain fag His life is about a near the
rose-colored hue a. earthly lives get to be-
He travels the world over, goes into poll
ties and succeeds. has a list Of recreatious
that would sppall the city man in any line
of business. aud most of his time j. his
own. He Is honest. charitable, sagacious
All honor and respect to the country edi-
tor. He can afford 70 be the butt Of merry
jest and gibe, but as long az he can hire
black man TO turn the handle of the press
he can afford to laugh back the public
smiles, He is great. this country editor
No man could wish for a happier lot than
his