The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-25
To Editorial Writers-AdOpt
RuSkin'S Main Idea
His Pen Is Rust His Bones Are Dust (Or Soon Will Be
His Soul Is With the Saints, We Trust.

Ruskin is buried and his name decorates tablet in
Westminster Abbey That abbey is fine home for dead
man. with Chatham and his great Pitt in one tomb
and the other great skeletons of great moulderng
side by side so neighborly.
The death Of wolf means meal for the other wolves
The death of great meal-mental instead Of
physical those left behind Wolves feed their SToM
ACHS-we feed our BRAINS-on the dead
There is many meal for the hungry brain in Ruskn'
remains We offer light breakfast to that galaxy of
American talent called editorial writer's"
Editorial writing be defined in general "the art
OF saying in commonplace and noensive way what every
body knew long ago. There great many competent
editorial writer's and the bern carrying his trade by
the side OF some swamp is about influential ordinary
editorial writer's rolled into one.
Why it that worthless editorial writer's?
Why do we produce such feeble results? Why do we talk
daily through our newspapers to ten millions of people and
yet have not influence to elect dog catcher?
Simply because we want to sound wise when that is i'm
possible Simply because foolish enough to think
that commonplace passed through our commonplace minds
acquire value. We start of with wrong notion
We think that we going to lead that going
FOR THE PUBLIC
Sad nonsense The best that the best editorial writer can
achieve is to make the reader think for himself At this point
we ask our fellow editorial to adopt Ruskn idea of
useful writer.
In letter Mrs Carlyle written when he was young
man. he outlined the purpose which he carried out and
which explains his usefulness to his fellowmen:
have great hope of disturbing the public peace
In various directions
This his way of saying that he hoped to stir up
dissatisfaction to provoke irritation impotence and de-
termination to do better among the unfortunate he did
good because he awoe thought in thousands Of Others In
millions of others.
Editorial writer's don't you know that stirring up dis
satisfaction is the greatest work you can do?
Tell the poor man ten thousand times:
'There is why you should be overworked.
There is why your children should be half
fed and haf-educated There is no why you
should sweat to fatten others
Tell them this often enough stir up their determine
ton sufhciently|they will find their remedies.
If you want to drive out the handful of organized
rogues that control politics and traffic in votes don't talk
smooth patitudes Tell the people and again
that the thieves ARE thieves that they should be in jail
that honest government would happier citizens that
the INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN is responsible Keep at it,
and the country will be made better by those who alone
can make it better-the people.
On the front platform fat policeman said after deep
thought:
well it's an Ill wind that blows nobody good"
The driver this writer, and Italian workman looked
at the policeman in deep admiration 1t evident that
he had the making in him of expensive editorial writer
He could say solemnly and authoratvey what every
living man knew by heart.
Suppose you stop spouting patitudes editorial gentle
men, and try your hand at stirring up plain everyday
tagonism to existing false conditions Disturb the public
peace Ruskn put it. You must know that you can't win
the fights individually be like the Morse maidens that
to the public that is their duty fight They will fight
and win, and thank you for the suggestion.