The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-17
FRANCE.

The Newspaper Press OF Paris-An Insight
Into Its Wrappers, Their
Sentiments and Circulation.
PARIS, July 81, 1868.
closed my last letter in haste to save the mail.
] had NOT time on that DAY, therefore TO indulge
freely In the reflections awakened by the various
statistics sent you with reference to the press Of
Paris They are certainly worth the study Of those
who aspire TO more accurate acquaintance with the
OPINIONS and tastes Of the various classes that COM
bino to make up the population Of this interesting
but fantastic metropolis. Take, for instance, the
striking fact that the journal Boosting the largest
Oaily circuaton-the Nationai-which sells 70, 233
copies, Is one OF the most Insignificant OF the daily
press In point Of talent and influence. Its politics
breathe wild opposition TO the government, but at
She same time advocate the maintenance OF the
empire. How explain the singular incongruity OF
such paper taking the lead Of all tie rivals in cir
cusationf The only solution can suggest s its low
price Of two cents. Another daily, AZ the lower
price Of one cent has been recently established
called the Peuple which is edited with great ability
ana enjoys the prestige Of being the Emperor's
organ. 1t was reported that his Majesty furnished
the funds to establish It, and that expresses no
views on political topics without receiving his sane
uon This Is barely possible but II Is lust Us likely
TO be cunning artifce 10 give Importance 10 new
yobcation and secure for 1t a more rapid rise than
n would otherwise have obtained. This has been
she efYect for although not many months In exist.
enee 1t has already reached circulation OF 47e6o
oopies and it is steadily increasing. IT viii likely
outrun the National for while 1t is cheaper is
more ably edited This however, remains to be
seen. 1t Is entirely devoted to the policy OF the
empire, whatever that may be- whereas the National
INDUCES in vein of opposition that may be de-
Acribed in the familiar phrase ut hints at faults and
beeitates dlslike.O
Tne second journal In circulation ! have already
sRo ,d o. ne nga.o which issues $1,000 copies
politics. for It really has nome 1t neither advocates
nor opposes the Empire, nor recommends any other
trey devoted to gossip and INDUCES in all kinds of
pleasantly, OF which perhaps the most favorable
ne least scrupe, and circuiates statements and 70.
pQra that are Tor the most part destitute Of FONDA
ti0n, but are 20 pquan1y expressed and witty con-
Of the most positive Of the French traits They
would rather read ia journal some spicy scandal
thrown on by an artistic pen, whethsr true Or nc:
OF news, which the Americans and English demand
before everything else This IS just the forte OF the
any sort Its only object Is to exercise its wit and
u does this boldly at the expense OF men and things
Every day publishes lot OF letters correcting It's
measurements Of the day before, which Il is obliged
70 do to escape legal summons; but this is done
with 30 much plsyfuness and often railiery as 10
proves more conclusivey what KIND OF q newspaper
the mass Of Parisians prefer than the that the
Figaro Is the second In circulation, though sold at
three cents the copy The Pettpe, at one cent 10
read by the lower class, whereas the Figaro Is read
by the better classes Unfortunately.
Another journal OF the same description, at the
same price, has been started within year called
the GauIois and its circulation has steadily up
TO 22eoe II y should continue to be written and
conducted with the came success as its rival, there
Is no doubt its prosperity will be equal while
there are no journals in Paris go much IN vogue
these two, there are, certainly, none tlresoms
ana unattrdctlVe 10 EuQllsn or American readers.
II 10 just like dining on syllabub or shaking your
liable news ana some sensible articles on the cur
rent topics OF the day you are treated. as have
said, with dainty bits OF gossip or highly seasoned
part invented by the writer. Just imagine the
HERALD, OF New York, or the Times and telegraph
OF beng the most successful journals OF these re.
spectve localities, they would disappear from the
lace OF things IN six months time.
The best newspaper in Paris IL unquestionabiy La
Ltoe,e, edited by the abest Journalist OF the day,
Emile de Girardin. He never fails 10 provide The
first to establish as q new feature OF La Lioerte,
when he founded 1t some three or four years ago,
various capitals Of Europe aud America. In point
Of Style no writer on the Partisan press approaches
oacs sequence that IL When Sopea 70 10
the politics Of the day. stu, hia leaders are
s 09 %ne e. Rs
Figaro is over 10000 both being sold at the
same price--three cents. Now what are the de-
leave them for you to draw according to your fancy
but for my part cannot but think that population
s to e sSa sSy WHY o me
are not likely to get on very well or very long with
men o TINS mas Ueen
However let as 90 ON with our lucuorations on the
the fourth paper in circulation is the Steele which
averages %, 1913. 1t IL chiefly read by the middle
class, and represents their distinctive traits IN ,s
sopriety of tone and steadiness OF opinion. Your
trO0 pATtR1Rn nothing * not critical WhAthar
bourgeoi1 or noble, and consequently the Seote q
invariably IN Opposition. TO be sure It's IDEAL Of
10 France or perhaps anywhere else for even IN the
midst Of the last republic It was not entirely salts
mead Of the government the steele might abandon
the oppositlon but then would be sure 70 be aoan
ored By its readers, for the bourgeois Of Paris must
n as =: Keep 81 ne %ss
ne cln%Ssa aMsy under L0 sns
mosquito process. The Steele is, however, q very
late director, N. Havin, IL got on admirably. II
had It's daily ming At the government but always In
s1ch language Is 70 escape
4 into other and less skiu hands, for has several
times Of late made It's attacks 90 clumsily to be
lVvernment and paid for its fun to the tune Of 500
or 1000 francs nne-no great amount TO be sure;
ins she limits Of reasonsDie discussion. =" WIZ paw
zntNher fact worth noting In that the circulation
Of theeb and most influential Journals such ~
the Dec1ts Francs Constfutf0nael Presss and
A0nttetly; Average only from 5000 to 5000 daily.
u The best Nrittep Of any paper in Paris. the poIin
cal literary end artistic articles are all done By
some Of the ffSs writer's Of the day, whose names
arc we'll known over Europe. II Is widely quoted
rom ret It il evidently read only by the diiietan
lt has hitherto bceu regarded as the chief organ Of
tbs orleans family, but since the late elections when
IN he Orjesnist ca Ndbaaes were defeated, IL has
become more favorable 70 the empire, and 10 more
independent and imparu " ia 'ts opinions.