The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
CORRESPONDENCE.
NEW YORK PRESS.
NEw YoRK, Oct. Is, 1888


ranked among the eHriosities Of newspaper lilefa-
ture. In magnitude Of proportion-in extent Of cir
culalion-in rapidly Of mechanical execu'ion-in
facility Of acquiring extraordinary Information py
means Of suddenly equipped expresses, and 10 inc
almost infinite variety which appears in It's edtorial
and advertising columns, the Courier and Enquirer
Is sni geneyis The size Of its bankelike sheet has
not napily acquired for IL The title of the mammoth
sheet" The capital employed in this establishment
must be immense. Independent Of the large outlay
which is requisite to carry the ordinary mechani-
cal operations of so extensive concern, its con-
duciors are the owners Of valuable fast sailing YES
sells, which are equipped and furnished solely BY
themselves, and the cost OF which and the expense
attendant on their continued employment must be
very great These vessels are constantly on the
lookout fonthe arrival Of foreign packet ships; the
letters and newspapers by which they frequently con-
vey to the city, many hours in anticipation of the
arrival Of The packets at the wharf.
The other morning papers have also news-vessels
in their employ, Of which they are the joint owners
but believe the Courier Is the only paper which
owns such cran singly. In addition the foreign and
domestic correspondence of the Courier and Enquf-
rer is obtained at great expense. It's circulation
must be much more extensive than any other paper
in the Union To meet the demand, the prorrietors
have purchased, nj great expense printing press,
which throws off sir Moasand copies per hour.
have no exact data whereby to estimate the number
of individuals employed in the Office and connected
with the outdoor operations Of this establishment,
but presume including pressmen, composilors,
clerks, messengers sub-edtors, penny-a-liners, ac-
cdent and casually gaherers, police reporters car
riers newsmen, &c, they cannot be less in number
than one hundred. IT.
Add to this, the numerous occasions which require
the employment OF express riders, and individuals
get up unexpected information by means Of eTtra
editons and some little idea can be formed OF the
annual expenditure involved in the publication OF
the Courier and Enquirer. In venturing suppose
tion which, | think cannot be wide Of the mark,
should estimate the annual outlay of the establish
ment at one hundred thousand dollars! To appreciate
the interest attached to such vehicle OF informa-
tion one need but glance at its multitudinous con-
tents.
If wearied with laboring through the editorial and
selected matter, which occupies a large portion OF
the inner FORM let the curious lioerer remove his
attention to the never-ending variety of disneresed
philanthropists of either sex, who, intent on their
schemes of benevolence, offer through the adverts-
ing columns of the Courier 10 ameliorate The condi-
ton of their less favored fellow citizens. Is the
reader afflicted with any disease which flesh is heir
to2 Let him fly for refuge 10 some of the thousand
and one learned leeches, whose iniallibity<is duly
chronicled in the mammoth sheet. Has age palsied
the limbs and dimmed the vision OF its victims In
the advertising columns OF this durna will be found
scores of Ell Dorados in which youth and beauty can
be acquired at command. In sooth he must be diff
cult to please who fails to realize the extent o. his
wishes in the tempting offers which cluster daily
among the en,icng advertisements of the variety
spiced Courier and Enquirer.
| Is the reader Judge of human character7 Be
meath the well arranged drapery which attempts TO
either soften or conceal the Objectionable points Of
skifu advertisers lure he can detect the latent
springs Of action and lay bare the hidden source Of
mock philanthropy.
in truth perhaps better school for the invesga-
ton of human nature in all its phases, scarcely
be imagined than in the advertising columns Of the
| Courier. .... ...
In the subdued applicant for o humble station, we
perceive, al glance modest merit allied TO hopeless
poverty while in immediate uxta position the blus-
,ering swaggerer may be easily detected, attempting
to procure an elevated employment, for which he
possesses no one qualification. During the late
moneyed pressure the columns of the Courier tenn
ed with applications for employment by those whom
the times had left destitute; but each passing day
reduces the number Of needy adventures. The
stranger who visits our metropolis, may view in the
mammoth sheet an epome of the varied pursuits
wishes, hopes and schemes of its enerprizng popu-
| lation There lies before him, map, the
| leading avenues to fame and fortune; and in the
more quiet and modest bulletins of small traders and
economists, may be traced the path TO entertainment
if not TO wealth The leading editorials of the Cou-
rer and Enquirer frequently labored and of great
length. Indeed, it is questionable whether they
| not too much extended for the rapid survey of the
generality of the city readers.
To subscribers in distant quarters OF the Union,
of whom the Courier has great numbers, this obec-
ton does not hold good To them the full discus
sion of important topics is viewed with interest," and
the Courier with its lengthy "leader" finds attentive
and gratifed readers.
The theatrical and other criticisms of the Courier
are usually brief but written with ability. Like the
majority Of our durnas its structures are, at times,
amenable to the charge of either undue favoritism
or too unmeritcd censure. In theatrical matters,
particularly, the daily reviews of the newspaper
press in New York. are frequently neither more nor
less than indiscrmnate pn6s or wholesale dennneia-
tons. This should be reformed.
II is well known that the principal editor and pro-
prie,or of the Courier and Enquirer possesses an
ardent temperament, and its columns ale not unfre-
quently tinctured with this peculiar qualify Of his
mind s..
Notwithstanding the bitter enmity which has been
thus provoked in the bosom of many Of his contem-
poraries and the grave accusations to which il has
given rise, am disposed TO consider him as warm
hearted man, at times rash and impetuous, bn, go
verned nevertheless, by what he conceives a sense
of right and disposed to render justice to any one
whom he has enormously assailed Thathe possesses
talent and enterprise, is evinced in the ability and