The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-28
NEWSPAPERS

SSC Tie OplulUH Expressed Dy one OF
our brothers that the editorial page
in the weeklies is useless; that the
EDITORS take themselves too seriously:
and that the editorials are never
read, etc.
Why a man who believes this,
should continue to edit a paper is
to us mystery. A man who is
really capable of editing a paper can
make more money in almost any
other line of endeavor. If an editor
gets any enjoyment from spreading
before his readers weekly the tale
that is told of the weakness and
follies of his feilow-mortals, as dish
ed up to us daily by the big papers
he has vitiated taste, and is I'M
tit to guide or direct public opinion.
A woman inherits or marries
great. wealth. The intoxication of
power lifts her above the moral law:
she sins and sinks beneath the I'M
substantial foundation that sustain
ed her. May God pity her. If sshe
had only had a decent chance in
life; been educated properly she
might have been as useful a member
of society as Helen Miller Gould.
Way down il the abyss there is one
whom God recognizes as her sister.
Her life has been one long tragedy.
Every longing of her starved exis-
tence could be satisfied with the pro-
figate expenditure Of one day of her
rich sister. 1t never reaches her. No
hand is held out to her and she slips
slips down the hill we'll, the recital
would sicken hesersitiye reader.
A young boy who was the JOY and
hope of his parents out on the farm,
a bright eyed honest, healthy boy
goes to the city. His Astounding
health and vitality, his open honest
eye and his unfailing energy gives
him the advantage in the battle Of
life over his weaker brothers. He
FORCES to the front-victory after
victory is his; he acquires wealth and
also the lust for more. 1t is an in
fictitious disease that pervails in his
social atmosphere. 1t blunts the keen
edge of his honesty, obscures his
moral perception and he is led along
that nebulous line that separates the
legal swindler from the swindler who
is on the wrong side of the law In
an ungarded moment he crosses the
line and those of his brethren, who
have profted in his ventures along
the double line of honesty turn upon
him and rend him. He is the vic
tim of a social system as rotten as
hell A system of false ideals of
sham responsibility and one that
breeds moral degeneracy.
The fall of these peoples that
what we are to chronicle? SO help
mel won't do it! If this is an
editors highest duty l get off right
here.
People are not made better by be-
ing made familiar with crime, and if
we can't do something to make pe0-
pie better and consequently happier,
(for one depends upon the other)
why we have got in the wrong pew
entirely.
Now, if our brothers Of the quill,
whom we have alluded to, will par
don the presumption of one of the
youngest editors in the state, we beg
to dissent from the idea that the
editorial page is unread and useless.
The writer was an omniverous news
paper reader for forty-fve years be-
fore he ever butted into the circle.
A man who reads newspapers knows
what part of a newspaper is most
read.
If an editorial page is not read it
is either because it has nothing on
il worth reading, or because the pub
lie doubts the honesty of the pen that
wrote it.
When a man undertakes to edit a
weekly paper he assumes duties and
obligation to society that are barren
of pay, except the consciousness OF
having done bis best for the society,
of which he is part. If he will always
he honest with himself and is read
ers he will be rewarded; not with
money, if he gets enough of this to
supply his reasonable wants he is all
rightly but he will occupy place IN
the esteem of his fellow-citizens that
is of far greater value than mere
wealth.-Bartow Record.