The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-26

close; ..-.. '.-.
In short as his eye took up the table,
and ran DER the .ink.spattered
trash,
There was nothingi it did not encounter,
excepting perhaps it was cash.
"The editor dreamily pondered on sew
eral ponderous things,
On different lines of action7 and the
pulling of several strings;
Upon some equivocal doings and some
unequivocal duns,
On how few Of his numerous patrons
were quietly, prompt-paying ones
On friends who subscribed just to help
him, ard worldly encouragement
lent,
And had given him plenty of counsel,
bu. never had paid him cent.
-"f.n, on his threshold, a slow and
reliable tread, ,.a..
And farmer invaded the sanctum and
these we're the words that he said
But layin' aside pleasure for business,
rve brought you my little boy Jim,
And I thought [ would see if you
couldn't make an editor outen of
him.
Ny family stock is increasin', while
other folks seem to run short,
I've got a right smart Of family-it's
one of the old-fashioned sort,
There's Icabod, Isaac and Israel a.
workin' away on the farm
They do bout as much as one good boy,
and make things go off like a
charm.
There's Moses aud Aaron are sly ones,
and slip like couple of eels,
But they're tol'able steady in one thing
they alays git round to their
meals.
There's Peter is busy inventin'.
Though what be invents [ can't
see,)
And Joseph is studyin' medicine-and
both of 'em boardin' with me.
There's Abram and Albert is married,
each workin' my farm for himself,
End Sam, smashed his nose at shoot
in and so he's laid on the shelf.
The rest of the boys are growin,' 'cept
this little runt, which is Jim,
And l thought that perhaps I'd be
maxim an editor outen of him.
He amt no great shakes for to labor,
though I've labored with him u
good deal,
And give him some strappin' good ar
gurnent know he couldn't help
but feel;
But he's built out of second-growth
timber, and nothing about him is
Exceptin' his appetite only, and there
he's as good as pig.
Cut be don't take to nothin' but Wet
uals, and hell never be much, Pm
afraid,
So thought it would be good notion
to larn him the editors trade.
His body's TOO small for farmer, his
JUDGMENT is rather too slim,
And I thought perhaps I'd be maxim
an editor outen o. him"
The old farmer was not singular in
his notion of the qualifications neces-
sary for an editor. I suspect he spoke
the commonly accepted opinion on this
subject. But the experienced editor
did not agree with him. Hear what be
says in reply to Jim's father:
sThe editor sat in his sanctum and
looked the old man in the eye,
Then glanced at the grinning young
hopeful, and mournfully made this
reply:
Is your son a small unbound edition OF
Moses and Solomon both?
Can he compass his spirit with meek
ness, and strangle natural oath
Can he leave all his wrongs to the flu
ture, and carry his heart in his
cheek?
Can he do an hours work in minute,
and live on sixpence week?
Can he courteously talk to an equal,
and browbeat an impudent Ounce?
Can he keep things in apple-pie order,
and do half dozen at once?
Can be press all the springs Of knowl-
81. edge with quick and reliable touch?
Can he drink with the boys, and yet
never take one drop OF liquor too
. much
Does he know how to spur up his vir-
tue, and put check rein on his
pride?
Can be carry a gentleman's manners
within rblnOcerOS' nlQe
Can he know all, and be all, and do all
with cheerfulness, courage and
vim?
If so, we can perhaps be maxim an
editor outen of him."
There is every consideration for an
editor to magnify his calling by honest
and diligent study, by the acquisition
of useful knowledge and broad and
liberal culture. He may thus become
leader among thinking men and
power for good among all men-an
educator of the people. An editor
should be better informed than his
readers that is his business, and his
profession demands it Of him. 1t is not
necessary that be should be educated in
the languages and the sciences, though
these will not hurt him, but he must
learn to think for himself and to rely
on his own Judgment for the decision of
the many questions of popular interest
that are constantly confronting him.
Some of the best educated men owe
very little to the schools and colleges.
The model journalist, of the weekly
press especially, is he who combines the
practical knowledge of the printing
business With a knowledge of the men
and things of his own times. The
most successful journalists are those
who have risen by regular promotion