New-York tribune., 1868-06-27
THE LONDON PRESS FUND.

The annual dimes of the London Newspaper
Press Fund, which was recently held wish an
unusual degree of festive enthusiasm, has called
forth a variety of comment from the English
journals. 1t was an occasion of note from she
number of literary and political celebrities who
shared in the ceremonies of the banquet and
from the circumstance that the presiding off
Ger was the Commander in Chief of the British
Army, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Cam
bridge. Among the guests were the Marquis of
Canricarde, Lord StratfOrd de RedCliffe, Lord
Ronald LevesOn Cover, Fied-Marshal Gen.
Sir John Burgoyne, Mr. S. c. Hall, Mr.. Ii. G..
BOhn. Mr.. Arthur Helps, Mr.. GuStave Dore,
Dr. w. ii. Russell, and other more or less dis
tnguished names i'll letters and public life.
The speeches and toasts, which followed each
ether with the regular stereOtyped fOrmality OF
all English parade dinner, have been somewhat
tartly criticised by portion of tie Press, as
showing disagreeable cOndcscension on the
part of the Duke of Cambridge, and a dis
graceful servlity from the speakers and guests
Of inferior caste. 1t is also said that the an
nual subscriptions TO the charity are mostly
eaten mp at the dinner instead of being applied
to the persons for whose benefit the lnstitu-
ton was founded Nor is it considered grace
full method of calling upon the public in
behalf of an unfortunate, but deserving class
of men, who in the ranks of journalism rs
well as in every other profession, fail of achiev
ing successful career. But, we apprehend,
that no remarkable exhibition of hunkeyism
was made on the occasion referred TO. The
presence of a nobleman is always little en-
barrasslng TO an Englishman of the middle
class. Even Mr.. Thackeray used to own that
he could not be accosted in the street by a
Lord without thrill To be sure, it sounds a
little curious to hear the Duke of Cambridge
alude with so much naivetG, to his social
advantages as compared with the herd of
authors, poets, and philosophers, whose COM
pany might confer honor on any circle; but
such is the presumption of rank in Great
Britain; and few men have sufficient dignity
and ef-possessiOn not to be disconnected by
the countenance of peer. The purpose. for
which the banquet was held, is doubtless n
laudable one though perhaps not suited to
awaken very ardent sympathy in this
country. Among us, the Press has its
blanks and prizes. like every other pur-
suit. Many certainly fall behind in the
race who started with the flush of brilliant
promise But so it is in every calling and in
terest of life. The law shows but few prodi-
gies of success; physicians often die while
waiting for patients to save from death; profes-
sors in colleges as a rule, are forced to cult
"vate literature on oatmeal like the founders
of the Edinburgh Review; and of the clergy,
how many fail of shining in golden candle
sticks" however brilliant the light Which they
hold forth journalism, like other vocations in
which brain rather than muscle is the moving
power, must take the chances of ups and downs;
and though there may be individual cases in
which the failure of health or the want of
faculty may present strong appeal to the
charity of the more prosperous. in the long
run, q sturdy self-reliance will prove better
resource than eleemosynary aid. ..