The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-06-23
ME-. BENEFITS LETTERS FROM EUROPE
PARIS, May FL, 1917.
The Newspaper Press Of France


nv attention since have been IN Paris, l may
name the history and position OF the newspaper
mess its editors. contributors, and writer's
have already given some slight sketches OF the
Partisan daily press, but have learnt ''ioo" 'o''
since that time.
The rovolution of July had a great influence
~. nress of Paris. Previous to that event,
The press was subject TO the influence and re-
s,rictious of the elder Bourbons. The principal
movement of that day, which led to the revolu-
lion. was fierce and bitter war on the Jesats,
who had attempted to establish themselves again
in France This was extremely populaa, and
was principally conducted by the Constitutional.
The circulation Of the daily press In those days
was very limited compared to what IT is now
probably not over an aggregate OF $4,000 per day.
After the revolution of July, the press took ire
mendous bound upwards, downwards, and every
way Numerous journals were started, the most
of them the mere organs Of factions of all kinds
resembling very much the food of new papers
which generally appear in the United States pre-
vious to Presidential election This gave rise
10 a great deal of RIGHTEOUSNESS, venality, and
abuse of public and private character. A law
was then passed, placing many and severe re-
strictions on the PRESS both affecting Its man.
agemcnt and the power of establishing new jour-
nails BY this law in particular, the newspapers
were forbid, under very severe penalties, from
abiding in any way disrespectfully to the King
or any member Of the Orleans dynasty.
Under these and other restrictions, the Pari-
sian press has acquired very large circulation,
much theoretical ability and decorum, but II is
without originality, spirit, or real newspaper en-
terprise One singular and remarkable fact
have discovered in its progress-and that IS
movement almost similar to that which took
place in the newspaper press OF New DIRK during
the last twelve years. Formerly the newspapers
of Paris were published at about 80 francs year,
or SIG. About eleven years ago, little later
than when the same thing took place in New
York, some enterprising persons formed the idea
of attempting similar thing in Paris. The
Steele was the first journal started on this cheap
plan about eleven years ago, at 40 francs year
1t took the ground Of opposition to the ministry; as
every popular journal in London and Paris must,
TO some extent, be an opposition journal In
giving the news of the day, with long editorial
leaders, called in the Partisan patois, the Pre-
snier Paris, the new cheap paper also gave a
feuiiieton in chapters continued every day, which
was generally a new novel, or sometimes
sketches of travels. The success and circula-
ton of this enterprise soon brought others into
the field. In few months the Presse was start
ed by literary man called Emile de Grardin,
who is said to be an enfdnt troupS, and, like Mel
chisedeck is without father or mother, brother
or sister. This gentleman has remarkable ia
lent, energy, business powers-is now a member
of the Chamber of Deputies, and gave the Presse
direction somewhat similar to that of the Times
In London-sometimes for, sometimes against
the minister of the day. The Roman FeuiLeton,
or romance sheet, was also added to this paper,
and in short time its circulation roseIapidly
Like the Steele it was sold for half the price of
the old established papers, that is to say at about
40 francs or SIS year.
The success of these papers soon produced a
great change, almost revolution in the journal
ism of Parls-similar to that which the Herald
and other cheap papers have produced in New
York-and also very like the process now going
on in London, begun by the Daily Ne,cs, which
has already much larger circulation than the
London Times, and will soon consign to oblivion
some of the old daily papers of that metropolis.
The old and leading journals of Paris, such as
the Debats, Constitutional, the National, were
awfuly cut down in their circulation by the new
and cheaper presses Thinking, however, that
the roman teuiHeton was the principal feature
which had caused the success of the Presse,
Steele, and others, a new movement was
made, which consisted in offering prodigi-
GUS sums of money to the popular novel;
lists of the day, to write for them in that
special department of their journals. Under this
mistaken idea-for believe it will turn out to
be mistake-Dumas, Sue, Barac, Sands, and
many others have been principally engaged in
writing for the JeuiHetons of the daily press for
al mt ma me he
fionnei, which had, in 1910, sunk to circulation
of 10000 or less, has recovered little and may
be now about Is, 900 or 20 900. The Debnts, how.
ever, has never recovered its circulation, which
is now about s,OOO principally distributed among
officials and politicians. On the other hand, the
Presse has over 10000 per day, and the Steele
about the same. The managers of these journals,
however, are just discovering that the feuiileton,
or large sums paid to novel writers, are not the
principal cause of their success; but that it is a
combination OF cheapness, independence, good
sense, and industry, just the same elements
which have produced the success of the modern
journalism of New York, and which is now in
the first stage of its revolutionary progress in
London.
The press of Paris has many admirable fea-
lures which might be adopted into New York,
but IN Its mechanical and business arrangements
II is very far behind us in the United States Only
think of the Steele, journal Of large capital and
large income, almost equal to that of the Ne,D
FORK Herald, being worked off each day on presses
that throw OFF $500 sheets per hour. In conse-
quence of this want of mechanical enterprise the
whole journal has to be set up in types twice
over each day. The Prssse is the only Partisan
journal that seems to be managed with any dc
gree Of enterprise and superior business intel
ligence, and even that is poor. Its engine works
OIL about 5000 per hour, but it will hardly be be-
heved in Paris, that Mr.. Hoe, New York me-