Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-22
pROOFREAOlNG AS AN ART.
The One Successful mt u Must Have
Many ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

The One Successful mt II Must Have
Many Accomplished
A recent issue of a Boston daily paper
contains the following advertisements:
Amy lady of fair education can learn to
read proof under personal instruction OF
one Of the worlds foremost proofreaders;
. genteel occupation, easily learned; pays
SIS to $50 weekly First class ever form
ed in Boston now being organized; mem
bership limited; immediate application
necessary to enter class Terms very rea-
sonable. "
We heartily favor the proposition that
every woman should be the mistress of q
remunerative occupation. by which she can
contribute something to the industry and
movement of the world. as well as 10 her
own support when necessary, and we sin
ccrely sympathizc with tho efforts of wom-
en- to extend this fieii OF useful and honor
able employment and to gain access to
new vacations Proofreading Is certainly
one of those vocarions But no mistake
could be greater than To think of proof
reading az something that ANY lady can
ieavn.'
Proofreading is more than trade IL
is worthy of being called profession. 1t
is capable Of beiug made fine art Tho
true proofrcader is the "finisher" Of the
product And there is this paradox
about his work-whcn it is well done there
is sense in which it does not show; we
remember the proofreader only when he
| Is careless or neglcctful But so it is i'm
truth with much good work; it is often
the not doing or the misdoing rather than
| the doing that enforces attention.
The mere mechanics of proofreading
any body can learn who can master tho
| differences Of letters and fonts. who has
quick and accurate eye and who can order
| types and leads and spaces and punctua-
| tion marks out Of disorder and set each in
its proper place and relation.
Hut the mechanics of proofreading are
simply its primary elements. To be able
to spell and write the English language
correctly, to know something in these
| days Of other languages. at least the mod
| ern. To have some general know ledge of
| history and biography. to have memory
| for names and dates. tn Ec able to catch
| an author when hc slips and check him
| when ho goes astray. to remove the stains
| and smooth uut the creascs " tich son,e-
| times .iisiiguTe the hest OF writing. tu bo
| ablo To suggest the last touch Cf polish for
| the page in type before 10 gees to become
| the page in print-all this belongs To Tho
WOrk Oh the tfuc anu truly tlHcltIt tiFhoi
/ reader and demands u combination Of
| qualities which IL Is raro indeed to find in
| one person The first principles of proof
reading ANY lady can learn, but to be n
| proofreader in the large aud distinguish
ed sense is the growth Of years Of expert
ence and may call into exercise almost as
| wide resources of scholarship and almost
| rs great versatility of talent rs authorship
| itself IL Is u position To which any man
| or woman of brains and gifts might well
aspire Proofrea,ierS like the late William
Nichols of Cambridge and like Mr.. A. W.
| Stevens of Lexington exemplify what we
mean Many AN author of fame owes more
to the painStaking and ccaseless fidelity Of
| his proofreaCcr than he would himself per-
haps he willing to- acknowledge. and the
| feat of riding several mental horses at
| once is by no means the least of the many
| forms Of skill in which the proofreader
must be an adept
All success. then. To learners of the an
| cient and honorable art of proofreading.
| but let them not make the mistake of
supposirg that proficiency in IL Is to be
wori in day Boston Literary World