A DAY IN AN EDITORS LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 5 (Supplement)

A DAY IN AN EDITORS LIFE.

D«. Robrrtson Nicoix is editor of the British Weekly, and what that means is well explained by himself in an article in the Home Messenger. It means hard work almost continuously from eight in the morning to nine at night.

Reading the papers occupies the first two hours of the working day. Then come the letters: '-"

Of course, letters involving business details must be dealt with, and that promptly; but there are many from strangers, and they are often difficult to handle. Most of them are .applications for help of some sort, and they come from every quarter. They arc often very appealing, and compel an answer, favourable or -unfavourable. Others I feel free to neglect—particularly thoso which ask for information only to bo got by prolonged researches in the British Museum. I have never got over a pang of conscience at ignoring any letter, though I feel quite clear in my judgment.

The letters occupy two hours—for which there is nothing to show. To make up for this Dr. Robertson Nicoll next dictates something for. print—two thousand words accomplished in the forenoon will satisfy, him. Then comes lunch, and two or three hours' reading in preparation for further dictation. After tea and the evening papers the time for this dictation arrives at seven o'clock: —

This will hist for two hours, and then there will bo odds and ends; a further supply of letters will demand attention. From nine to eleven is given to family intercourse, and I like to put in at least an hour's reading not immediately for practical purposes before bedtime. I used to walk for an hour or two in the afternoon, but am not now able to spare the time. Of course every, day in the week is not spent in this manner. ■ I am satisfied when I dictate fifteen thousand words a week. Others do more, but I never exceed thirty thousand. At the same time I have kept on mine with practically no interruption for years, hardly.ever falling below five thousand words a week. .

Naturally one'."of the '..'. great drawbacks of such busy days is that there is very little time for holidays. But Dr. Robertson Nicoll does not seem to mind:

One has to do his best with an occasional day off, and as often as possible a week where his ' work is diminished by one half and in. which he has a.change of scene. No one should dream of a journalistic career who is afraid of work. It is necessary to work hard and continually, and it is necessary also to be prepared for extra work when emergencies occur. .The journalist who insists upon hours will never hold any .position securely or for any'irreat lencth of time.