The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-01-27

ability, but frequently when tie COM
finds itself in position to con-
fer the mark of greatness upon one OF
its namber, it will lay the laureled
crown at the feet of the eeditor-provid-
ed tie lawyers are all busy, or do not
happen to be looking when the cal
comes
Then. too, the lawyer has the advan-
tage of professional training, which
seldom is voucheafed to the editor.
There is no school for country jour-
nalism, and the editor usually acquires
his knowledge and experience in the
hard school of the country printing
office, advancing In the successive
stages of the work as ability and op-
portunity allow.
But, after all, prominence and ap-
plause are not always just measure
of success which men attain; there are
victories along "the cool sequestered
vale" no less important than the vic
tories achieved in "the madding crowds
ign0ble strife"
AItho' the average editor is prone to
regard himself in the light of "a mute,
inglorius Milton" the profession has
contributed very largely to public life.
It has often been said that Minnesota
is governed by the country editor.
This may not be strictly true, but GER
tainly the fourth estate" is more nu-
merously represented there in public
place than in any other commonwealth.
The Governor, his private secretary
| and executive clerk are country news
paper men; so are the labor Commits
sioner, the executive agent Of the game
and fish commission, the state oil in
spector, the librarian, the secretary and
assistant secretary of state, the assist
ant labor commissioner, the state fire
warden, the assistant fire marshal, the
deputy public examiner, the secretary
of the dairy and food commission, the
assistant clerk of the supreme court,
the se:le cary of the Board of Control
Both political parties have recognized
the capability of the country editor fol
official position from the earliest history
of the state, and he has always been an
active force in legislative councils and
in the minor places under the national
and sta governments.
Then, too, there is glory enough ir
just being an editor. What young
/, journalist has not held up to his flusf
and eager eye the editorial page of hi
first issue and gazed proudly upon th'
name next preceding the words, "edito
and proprietor"
When the years roll by, and tn
struggles of adversely are not alway
sweetel ed by the plums of fame ant
fortune, he may lose the elasticity o
youthful pride and vainglory, but thrc
, the shadows there beams still the sam
belief in the loftiness of his profession
The country printing-office is prolifi
of ludicrous situations, and many
laugh has teen provoked at the exrens
of the editor or reporter uncertain o
his facts. Some fifteen years ago
. newcomer from Iowa started Demo
cratic paper in little town in south
. ern Minnesota. A campaign was i
. progress, aud a one-legged man, habit
ualiy attirei il. blue suit, was th
r candidate for register of deeds. Itwa
o easy to think Of him as veteran c
r the Civil War, and tie local paper {
! which 1 speak published a vigorou
% eulogy of the old soldier, urging til
% election of "the deserving veteran wh
% left limb on Southern battlefield
q The chagrin of the editor may be in
- agined when his Republican contemp
,p rary came out the next week with tt
10 information that. the candidate he
10 never been soldier, and that his Il
IL was taken off by a ciderpress in Pen
!, syIvania ten years after the war hi
20 closed.
q The story is told that soon aft
!. Chief Justice Chase assumed the g
!, bernatorial chair in Ohio he issued b
"a proclamation appointing q THANK
"a giving day. 70 make sure of bell
orthodox, the Governor composed
10 proclamation almost entirely of pal
= ages from the Bible, which he did n
is designate as quotations, assuming th
everyone would recognize them al
admire the fitness of the words. as w
er as his taste in selection.
of The proclamation meeting the e