The New York herald., 1872-12-25
The Press and the
Revolution.
The Political Press nnd
Glass Journals.
DAILY JOURNALISM.
The Transition Period in News.
paper History.
Esws.eaTHERINe AND THE HERALD.

N6 Wo-0N USNJWU AWO uUE uENAIUs
Mr.. Frederic Hudson's long promised book on
'Journaism In the United States" has come
from the press at last. The history OF the news
paper press Of America was subject which was
much in need OF the treatment which Mr.. Hudson
has given it. No one had ever before attempted
20 gather the many scattered facts which comprise
She annals OF Journalism. and, in newspaper
phrase, to "b0il them down" into o condensed
and connected story. And we doubt whether most
men would have succeeded in making o readable
book. Some writers would have been too prolix,
Others too theoretical and others still too much
inclined to treat one branch OF Journalism at the
expense OF other branches. Every one familiar
with the routine OF O newspaper Office can appre-
ciate this difficulty. On q paper like the HERALD
the political editor would fill its columns with
politics; the city editor speaks loudly, bat with
certain mOdulaton in his tone, OF the value OF city
news; the money editor Is certain that anything
he may say OF stocks and gold is vital to the mate
rial interests OF the country; the foreign editor
knows that all his readers are dying to read that
excellent letter from our correspondent at the
other end OF nowhere; the writer OF social articles
for the editoralp page declares that society will go
60 pieces unless he is heard; the theatrical critic
becomes furious II his profound critque on this or
shat actor-sometimes more especially this or that
actress-s 'cut down'' or 'left out" and the chief
Of every other bureau puts exactly the same esti-
mate his matter. But, after all, these gentle
men in the end bow before the ukase Of the news
editor, and accept with what grace they may his
Imperial decree as TO what "must go In" what can
'.keep" and what may as well be 'cancelled.n 1t
was in bringing to his task the ready decision and
sound Judgment OF the Gear OF the sanctum, and
thorough knowledge OF the special needs and re-
qufrements OF great newspaper that enabled Mr.
Hudson to execute it SO well. There Is not q duh
page in his book. His sentences are as crisp and
clear as the frostwork OF December His style
always unpretending, is never feeble, and
there is no mistaking his meaning. 1t
Is the newspaper style applied to q
book on newspapers The best notion we
can give Of Mr.. Hudsons treatment OF his subject
Is In supposing the HERALD printed every day from
1000 to 1872 and that the whole OF 1t condensed
by master hand into this volume. Even in his
bumOr Mr.. Hudson Is true to the instincts Of his
Journalistic education. This s especially apparent
On his treatment of the New York Sunday press
After tracing. in few interesting sentences, the
history OF the Sunday Morning Nelrs, started In
7s32. Mr.. Hudson says:-"Its day Of publication
Changed rom Sunday to Saturday. Then 1t died"
Speaking OF the early days OF the Sunday Atlas he
eays:-"Fell fell out and John F. Ropes was roped
in and then the firm was Herrick, West Ropes"
Grressman-he observes :-'For obvious reasons he
was called deacon" The Sunday Globe started
In ls43 by two actors was "a star engagement
only" Mike Walsh and Enoch Z. Camps Sunday
Kntckerbocker died latter its one pot of aleu- The
Sunday Age founded by Grattan, the actor, ''soon
disappeared from the footlights." william T. Por-
ter, the founder OF the Spirit or the Times is "the
tan son Of York" Er. Bennett "was q walking
newspaper Mr.. Greeley '4et himself out at
cheap rate TO hurlow Weed and the Albany politI.
clans to make splurge with the Log Cabin" and
he does not forget that Mr.. Raymond was Greeley's
'1ittle villain for he says epithets always stick"
These illusions afford an excellent notion OF the
eprightliness OF treatment Mr. Hudson has given
60 his subect but, while he is never dull or heavy
ne does not overlook the weightier matters in the
history OF Journalism. He gives roast beef as
well as the sauces which make 1t niquant, and his
dessert dishes are plum pudding as well as cham
pagne jelly.
THE METHOD OF Mr. HUDsoN's WORK.
In entering upon his work Mr.. Hudson regards
Puck as the first telegraph operator and Watts
8tanza Oh the "Busy Been as the proper euogy OF
the newspaper reporter. In following up his sub
Ject he shows how compile ely he was inspired by
the lines OF Ebenezer Elliott, the great corn law
ghymer:-
TIE TIE Press Press q, Al lands r1s, shall ms brn sing
All lands TO bless;
Opallid want . labor stark,
Behold we bring the second ark
The Press, the Press the Pressl
Accordingly his task Is to him o constant source
OF qualification, and he pursucs 1t with the
patience OF o news-gatherer and the ardor OF in
Spiration. Steam is to him potent with life and
action, and the telegraph the sensitive nerve or
she earth which makes all lands neighbor and all
men kin. The past is valuable because the present
Is the gift OF the past and the present delicious be-
cause II dmly reveals the Light and life OF the
future. Shakespeare is at once the most crisp and
fhe most ornate OF reporters, and the author
20 say, with Henry WILL, as he coptempates good
newspaper,
- wish no other herald,
No other speaker OF my living actions
TO Keep mine honor from corruption,
But such an honest chronlcer.
II Is thus he sets himself about the duty he h&d
imposed upon himself but he forges his diversified
material into shapes perfect and forms as fitting
ms the mechanic who fashions steel and iron into
parts that make one harmonious whole OF an en-.