Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-04
POWER OF
EDITORIALS
! $3.50.

EDIIORlALo
According to the Raleigh News
Observer, number of Carolina edl'
tors are having a great time discus
sing why it is that editorials are not
read. So there are clergymen who
complain that their sermons DO not
attract auditors. 1t must be melan-
choly reflection to the man whether
in the pulpit or in the sanctum that
his labors are counted as naught by
those for whose edification or en-"
lightnment much time and thougnt
has been expended. Where such is
the case there is generally a reason
other than that of lack of intelligent
appreciation of what is worth near
ing or reading on the part OF the
church congregation or the newspa-
per subscribers. Our Raleigh con-
temporary admonishes its hishear'
tened contemporaries that 1.-THE rea-
son our editorials are not more gene
rally read is because we don't put
the ginger in them; we are too dreary
and stilted- and labored; we write on
subjects we hadn't ought to write on,
as they are not general interest; we
beat about the bush too much to
avoid giving offense. Good editorials
are read, and always will be. Colonel
Watterson, in his palmy days, made
of the Louisville Courier-Journal one
of the most popular papers In the
limited States. not because of its sur
passing news service, but on account
of it's fine editorial page"
The Norfolk Virginia-Pilot in COM
meating on the above says:
There are, of course, both preachers
and journalists who have mistaken
their calling, who have no message to
deliver, or who are incapable OF vest.
ing it with the vigor of thought and
impressiveness of language which
will command attention. But apart
from these, there are others in both
professions who are satisfied with
perfunctory performance of their
mission, who do not put their hearts
and minds into their work, who
shrink from expression OF their con-
victions on subjects as to which there
is sharp division of public sentiment,
who follow the paths of least re-
sistance and drawl along in dull
comments on commonplace topics Tor
fear of rousing antagonisms or tor
feiting favor, or from temperamentai
apathy towards live issues. The man
who has something to say and says
il clearly and boldly seldom fails of
hearing whatever the medium ne
uses for disseminating his opinions,
The newspaper which keeps up with
the current of popular thought and
contributes TO them well considered
and we'll, plrased editorial discus
sion of the questions on which those
currents turn, will, so far as our no.
tice goes, never want for an interest
cd clintele. When the editor himself
feels no impelling interest in the mat
ter he treats of, gives forth no GER
tain sound when right is in danger
on wrong in the ascendant, and offers
to the public neither instruction.
guidance nor mental refreshment, he
has no one to blame but himself if his
own attitude is reflected in that Of
the public.
The trouble with many writers of
editorials is the attempt to write
when they are out of tune. 1t is said
that Macaulay, when he found his
mind was becoming too sluggish,
would drop the pen and wait until his
muse returned.
Writing. like humor, must be
spontaneous, and the man who at
tempts to amuse or edify readers daily
may find it difficult The elder Snow
den would sometimes for weeks fill
the editorial department of the Gaze
tie with comments from other papers.
At intervals he would print a lengthy
editorial which was always closely
studied and copied in MANY other
papers.
a