The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-13
THE COUNTRY EDITOR

THE COUNTRY EDITOR
 Many and varied have been the eulo- gies paid to the country editor. He has been described as the monarch of all he surveys; a power in his community and, withal, a sleek, easy-going individual who enjoys life and finds many of its aspects to his liking. This is the ideal ized picture--an adequate income, com fort, if not luxury, and, best of all to many minds, independence! | Observe him going about his daily tasks, tranquil and unhurried. For some
 hours day he sits in his sanctun, read ling and writing a little and clipping l little-or q great deal, if he is that kind of editor, but ever maintaining the dig nity of his calling. The prominent citi-
 zens of his town come in to pay thelf respects, and 80 do out-of-town visitors, the more thoughtful leaving "ye editor a substantial testimonial of their regard in the form of years paid-up subscrip- tion; new potatoes, country butter and eggs; fowl or two or even delectable cake made by the hands of some good housewife who has precious little time, heaven knows, to read the editors lucu- brations or his scant local news. Politi-. clans, biz and little, are his familiars. If such personages as the governor of the state or one of it's United States senators should happen to be in that vicinity, they are likely to be the guests of the editor, whose importance in the eyes of his fel- low townsmen is vastly enhanced, some of whom never quite recover after hay ing once heard a great man address the editor as Bob" or "Jim." Truly, the power of the press is something not to be regarded lightly!
 In municipal affairs, in county and in state affairs the country editor plays his part, and it is often a very useful and admirable part. He is the rally1ng point for whatever civic activity exists where he lives and labors; he is the monitor and guide of his people, whose voice IS heard in church on the Sabbath day and in the councils of his neighbors, wher- ever advice spiritual or worldly is re- ouired of him. This is the country edi- tor who is favored mortal, who has all he wants of this world and asks no more. Incidentally, the life he is reputed to lead accounts for the yearning of so many city newspaper men to town llt- tie sheet in the country" and settle down, "far from the madding crowd Iignoble strife" Does he actually exist? More or less glorified in urban eyes, be does exist, but life is not saH beer and skittles" for the country editor. To es- tablish the truth of the observations one has only to ask the first country editor he chances to meet. .
 The bright side of the picture. The other side, alas, too often intrudes itself upon the public view! All over this fair land of ours are scattered the remains of defunct newspapers. The very names of others have long since been forgot ten and, save in the sheriff's records, or in the form of promissory notes kept as painful souvenir of bad loan that was never repaid, there is no trace left to show that they ever made thelr Did for popular favor. And, O, the agoniz- ing struggle of the country editors who fight a losing battle! They are little Napoleons who meet their Waterloos on tiny battlefields, but suffer, nevertne- less, all the anguish of spirit that con ouerors know when they lose king dom. The heartbreaking scramble to meet the weekly payroll, or the install ments due on the plant; the appeals for advertising that is not forthcoming ln sufficient abundance to pay expenses; the clarion calls issued through the edl- torial columns for more civic enterprise and better support for the paper that is striving to build up itself and its com munity! ,..
 Then, failure! SomStimes the editor takes away with him nothing but his family, if he has one, and very light hand baggage. No fanfare of trGmpets attends his departure, for he is beaten man. Others hang on for years, fight ing hard to make ends meet and sue. ceeding just often enough to stand off bankruptcy proceedings. These are the unsung heroes of rural journalism-but let us draw the curtain and gaze no more upon their tribulations. They and those who stand with them will be re- warded, let us hope, in a better world.
 But if his lot on earth be success or failure, the country editor is nearly al- ways a constructive force and usually an optirnist who forgets his own troubles while sharing the troubles of others. Truly it has been said that. he is the salt of the earth and in his better manifes- tations he cannot be too much honored.