The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-15

- HERE has never been a more
unique character in American life
than the country editor. As pict-
- ured in books and on the stage.
- he presents strange mixture of
the serious the numerous and The
pathetic. But the last fifty years have
been years of evolution, and the country
editor has participated, and the type of
Felix McCusck," as portrayed by Sol
Russell, is practically extinct. 1t is diff
cult to tell where to draw the line at
which newspaper man ceases to be a
country editor and becomes city editor.
For the purposes of this article, however
the writer will address himself to the
newspaper man who lives I'm a town
whose population is not sufficiently large
to justify a daily edition. and who does
not permit the light of his intelligence to
shine on his subscribers more frequently
than once a week.
Twenty-Five years ago the lot of the
country editor seemed q hard one. He
was always in close quarters financially,
because he was never business man.
People generally considered his life a
struggle for existence, and so u was
His was a ceaseless grind. He wrote or
"scissored" every sentence that appeared
In his paper, put II in type himself
placed IL on the press, and then worked
his newspaper off by hand. With the as
sistance of his wife or daughters, the
papers were addressed To the subscribers
ard the entire edition was carried in a
basket TO the postofiice by the editor.
He had but one companion In his trials,
the small boy with a dirty face and dir
tier hands, whose trousers were held in
place by a single suspender, and who was
known in the town and surrounding
country as ''the devil" The latter never
received any salary for his first years
work In return for his labor and devo-
ton he secured the priceless privilege OF
learning the trade. Little cash was taken
in by the editor. because his family
Traded out" the advertisements, and
thus absorbed the town circulation. while
the country subscribers balanced ac-
counts with green wood and other pro-
ducts of their farms. Maple syrup, saus-
age, side-meat. apples, potatoes and feed
for the family horse or COW were always
considered legal tender. IT, as the days
passed, the editor received enough money
10 buy his printing paper and an occa-
sional font of new type. and pay postage
and office rent, considered himself lucky.
The country editor of quarter OF
century ago was not college-bred man,
but he could "chop logic" with the best
products OF the universities. quote poetry
aptIy, and, at an hours notice. deliver
political speech or address sunday
school convention. From the standpoint
of the useful citizen, he was an all
around finished product.
The country editor of today is differ
ent person. He Is a good business man.
He can "set type, but is seldom found
at the case" He employs compositors,
or has ornamented his office with type
setting machine. The young woman you
Sc bending over the ledger Is also
stenographer and typewriter. The coun-
try editor now dictates hi: editorials tni
EMPLOYS a bright young man to write
local news. His newspaper is printed on
an improved press. the power Is fur-
nished by gas engine or electric motor
and the paper is folded by machinery.
He owns hts own home. keeps his own
horse and carriage, and has credit at the
bank pleasure trip Of a month Is
likely 90 be offered at any time, ana he
takes IT gladly: while the young woman
who keeps the books and the bright
Young man who writes local news Keep
The paper in straight line.
The country newspaper man, entering
az he does, each week. through the me-
dunn Of his paper from one to two thou
sand homes, ~ easily the most influential
man in the county. n he Is levei-heaaed
and honest. his power for good IL beyond