now contemplating the surrounding
countenances in the speculative mood of
propagandism—when he was impressed and deeply
moved by the aspect of one head in the crowd
in which he discerned tokens of all the
qualities that do honour to human nature: and
his emotion was increased when he was
informed that this was the very head which
edited a morning newspaper. To obtain an
introduction was the work of a moment;
and it was necessary that we should be quick,
as the hour had arrived for the editor to
vanish to his duties. I shall ever bear
testimony, happen what may, to the good nature
of that gentleman's countenance and voice,
and to the suavity of his manner. When he
heard that Mr, Wiseman was a gentleman
who had a " view," he did not change
countenance; and when informed that Mr. Wiseman's
wish was to communicate that view, he
at once invited that gentleman to send him a
leader or two; which, if consonant with the
principles of his paper, might be of public
benefit. I discovered, when too late, that the
editor had mistaken Mr. Wiseman's name;
calling him by one which, though much less
deserving of celebrity, was better known in
editorial circles. The mistake, however, was
no fault of Mr. Wiseman's. What it behoved
him to do he did. He instantly returned
home, had his lamp replenished, and spent
the night in preparing that lucubration which
he felt to be the most important emanation of
his life.

As I was posting the packet in the morning,
having left Mr. Wiseman to enjoy a few
hours of sleep, brightened by dreams of hope,
it struck me that it would be highly agreeable
to him to see his " leader" in process of
preparation for the public eye; and by
diligence and some importunity, I obtained from
an acquaintance a promise that he would
accompany me at night to the office of the
paper in question, that I might see that
important institution in full operation. So,
Mr. Wiseman and I presented ourselves at
the ofiice-door at ten o'clock that evening.

When we entered the editor's room our
eager glances descried the very manuscript
on the editor's own desk, close by his elbow.
We had before agreed that, in the pressure
of such critical business, it was no time to
engage the editor in the discussion of any
view, even Mr. Wiseman's. We had agreed
to preserve a respectful silence; and to do
that now was easy, for the article was not
only there, but the editor's imprimatur
was discernable in the corner. I saw the
thrill which pervaded Mr. Wiseman's frame
as these initials met his view. From that
moment his cares were at rest, and mine for
him; and we could devote ourselves to the
spectacle before us with free minds, at full
leisure for observation, and in that happy
mood which is the natural result of success
after long protracted effort.

As the editor did not refer to the " leader,"
we did not. He courteously pointed out to
us the peculiarities of his position, among
documents gathered, as it were, from all parts
of the world. At his right were several piles
of manuscript: and he was in the act of reading
one when we entered. At his left was a
great heap of unopened letters, showing a
vast diversity of post-marks. There were
letters aspiring to publication; sheets full of
tabular statements, which had to be sent
elsewhere for arrangement and condensation;
reports of markets and of companies, opera
tickets, and much besides. Next to these lay
a pile of proof-sheets—leaders kept waiting
for a suitable opportunity, like shotted
guns, to be discharged when there was a
mark to be hit. I had a momentary apprehension
that Mr. Wiseman's might be thus
delayed; but I need not have feared. There
were four mouthpieces at the editor's right
hand, belonging to tubes which communicated
with different parts of the establishment.
One, we were told, was carried under the floor
of the room we stood in, and down to the
ground and out into the street, and up the
outside of the printing-office wall, into the
room where the types are composed. Through
this tube the editor uttered his order that
Mr. Wiseman's article should be printed as
soon as possible: and immediately a boy
appeared, and the file that was handed to him
was that which contained Mr. Wiseman's
leader. It was a proud moment for Mr.
Wiseman. Having glanced at the row of
new books waiting on the editor's desk to be
reviewed, and all shining in green, red,
blue and gilding; and having noted that
there were among them some French, some
Italian, several American, and a few German
works, we took our leave of the editor.
Another gentleman engaged at another desk
in the same apartment, had the courtesy to
accompany us into the next room, and to give
us some interesting information. He told us
of the arrangements for having some one
always on the spot, to receive telegraphic
messages, and all kinds of sudden communications.
A gentleman sleeps there, who is roused at
five in the morning, to receive early dispatches
—there being just time to insert any remarkable
news before the final printing off for the
morning mails. If there is anything worthy
of insertion, he must rise and prepare it for
press; if not, he may turn round and have
another sleep. I own I should not much like
to have such an act of judgment to go through
on first waking as to decide whether any
rumour of war or political change be wild or
substantial, silly or serious—the credit of the
paper and one's own continuance in office
hanging on the wisdom of the conclusion.
Such is the functionary's duty, however. In
the after part of the day, his business is to
select and arrange the matter for the evening
issue of the same paper under another
name.

In the next room, which is well lighted