Year: 1861

What Constitutes q ssGood" EdAtor.


The editor of the Alexandria Gazette
lgives expression to truism that should


be read and pondered over by his breth.


rem of every locality. NotHiskstand-
ling that the great bulk of the Press Of


the Union is conducted with tact and
liability that is really remarkable, yet


too many are managed on the averbose'
principle, and, for the special benefit Of


those whom the "shoe pinches," we re-


print his Franklin like hints:


Many people estimate the ability of .


newspaper and the industry and talents


of its editor by the quantity of editorial


matter which it contains. It is COM


paratiyely an easy task for frothy


writer to pour out daily columns Of


woRDs-woRDs, upon any and all sub


jects. His ideas may few in ssone weak,


washy, everlasting food, and bis COM


mand of language may enable him to


string them together like punches of


onions, and yet his paper may be


neaser and poor concern. But what is


the labor and toll of such a man, who


displays his "leaded matter never 80


largely, to that imposed on the judicious,
well-informed editor, who exercises his
vocation with an hourly consciousness
Of responsibilities and devotes himself
to the conduct of his paper with the
same care and assiduity thai sensible
lawyer bestows on suit, or 3 humane
physician upon a patient, without re-
gard to show or display? Indeed, the
mere writing part of editing paper 10
but small portion of the work. Ths
care is the time employed in selecting
tar more important matter, and the fact
OF good editor is better shown by his
selections than anything else, and that
we know is half the battle. But, as we
have said, an editor ought to be estima-
ted, and his labors understood and np-
preciated, by the general conduct of bis
paper--its tone-its temper-its uni
form, consistent course-its principles
its aims-its manliness-its dignity
its proprlety. To preseve these as
they should be preserved is enough to
occupy fully the time and attention of
any man. If to this be added the gen.
eral supervision of the newspaper es-
tablishment, which most editors have to
encounter, the wonder is how they can
find time or room to write at ALL


Miraculous Esespe from Starvation. ]


The Memphis -4rgns gives the follow
ing account of miraculous escape from
starvation of gentleman residing in
Lauderdale county, Tennessee, near
Hale's Point:


Last week he was out hunting in q
large bottom in his neighborhood, and
he observed wild goose fy out of
large cyprus stump, which was twenty
five feet high. His knowledge of the
habits of these geese led him to believe
that the goose had a nest in the stump.
On the outside of the stump were
number of vines, which he climbed up
to peep in and get possession of the
eggs. After he had succeeded in get
ting to the top of the stump, he discov-
cred a large number Of eggs some six
or eight feet down inside. The nest he
supposed was ON firm foundation, and
he accordingly let himself down inside;
but when he struck the substance on
which the nest was built, he discovered
that it had no foundation, and soon
found himself sinking to the bottom of
the tree.


The inside Of the tree was rotton,
and would not bear his weight. Now
he was in dilemma, five miles from
any habitation, inside Of a stump twenty
FIVE feet high, with no prospect of any
with nothing to subsist on
but the goose eggs. He screamed and
yelled until he was nearly exhausted,
nc one coming within hearing distance.
On the third day after his ''incarcera-
ton, two gentleman were out hunting,
and came within hearing distance
They were very much frightened at
hearing a man groaning inside of the
stump, and for some time they could
not reconcile themselves to what it
meant, but having learned that the gen.
tleman had been missing from home
several days, they were soon satisfied
that it was no "ghost" inside the tree.
They procured axes, and soon the pris-
oner was liberated. He declares he
will never attempt to rob a goose's nest,
situated as that one was, again.


Anecdote of Washington.


During the American Revolution, it
is said, the commander of little squad
was giving orders to those under him,
relative to log of timber which they
were endeavoring to raise up to the top
of some military works they were re-