New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-30

T5n managed this because il had to be done in the
old way. aud fell in with the traditions and customs
of the paper Or. Russell. with ono or two col
leagues witnessed the entry left Paris by special
train in the evening TO Calais. thence by speciai
steamer 10 Dover. from which again a special
train brought them to London about three III tne
morning. They wrote en- route, and their story was
easily put IN type for the mornings paper "lich
goes 20 press at o'clock. This performance was
Also n good illustration of the kind OF influence
which The Times can bring to bear when II chooses
Other London papers attempted tho Same thlng, and
there was keen rivalry about it because 1t was be-
eved that the entry Of the Prussians would not be
made without serious conflict, or at least dis
turbance; so much faith did people still put in
French buster. The circumstances were peculiar,
for Paris though il had surrendered was still held
by its French garrison, the PrusSian lines still
rounded it, and the country which the railway be-
tween Paris and CALAIS traverses was partly in
French aud partly in Prussian occupation. The
confusion Of jurisdictions the Reorganization of
traffic. the difficulty with which traveller could
make his way with the strongest credentials, were
incredible 10 anybody who had not tried ii. The
Telegraph. which had been used to having its own
way IN Paris did its best TO get special train. 1t
offered any price, but this in which money
powcrleSs, and il failed. fhe Times after trying
through the usual channels without success went TO
Baron Rothschild, who owns a large part of the
stock in the Northern Railway, and told him they
wanted the train and must have it, They got IT,
and there was not another paper in Europe which
could have got il in that way, or in any way.
Influence of that kind Is only one among many
which The Times possesses and can use when 1t sees
fit; It's supremacy in certain respects Is not merely
without parallel, but is unquestlOned. Men coyet
the honor of serving it.. It's correspondents hold
position apart. Doors fly open to them at which the
representatives of other journals knock IN vain. Dr.
RusselPs personal position Is, from variety OF
causes, such as other correspondent is likely to
attain, or to attain for q long time. He knows all
the kings and princes and prime ministers in Europe
who are worth knowing. and his acquaintance with
them is old enough and familiar enough to give him
sure footing in the highest society Ineed scarcely
remind you that when the of 1870 broke out the
privilege Of accompanying the Prussian headquar-
tiers granted to DR. Russell and refused to every
other European correspondent. His acquaintance
with the Crown Prince of Prussia and other mag
mates OF that Court may partly explain that signal
favor but there was something behind II There Is
Reason to believe that Count Bismarck had at that
time decided that it was expedient the war should
DE reported for one European and one American
Journal and no more For Europe lie chose The Times
ior America THE TRIBUNE. Afterward the restrlc-
ton relaxed but it is safe to say that If it had
been maintained for Europe there never would have
been any question that The Times was properly Sc
5ected Be it's faults what they may, 1t remains the
leading journal OF Europe, and II the chOlce had
been left with its rivals in London, or to all the
English papers together, 1t would have been the
same.
derfu that paper in such position and possess
tng such advantages should allow itself 10 be
beaten in news still more, allow itself to be beaten
stantly should retain its supremacy. But 1t is to
DE boTT In mind that these conspicuous and fire.
quent dtte9os have only been endured Tor com
paratively brief space of time. Three years are no
great period in the life of old Journal and It is
only within the last three years that competition
has been so keen. Nor is the English public even
vet so eager for news as the American. 1t has had
10 be educated. and the process of educating the
public Is slow one. There is most remarkable
proof of the careesness of the English about such
snatters. When The Daily Necs--always an able,
but not always prosperous paper-had taken me
bead of the English press III It's war news OF 1870,
mud had kept 1T almost unchallenged for many
weeks, there grew up belief that 1t had outstrpped
sts penny rival, The Telegraph in circulation as well
6s in Intelligence. THIS belief became so general
that The Telegraph was at last stung into publishing
a statement OF its circulation certified by the most
eminent firm of accountants in London. 1t APP
peared that instead of losing il had gained, and
gained very largely Its daily issue for the last SIX
months of 1870 averaged over 10000 eoples-a very
large increase indeed tsusual CIRCULATION This
Is after all. not very surprising. People buy more
papers In war than In peace, and the sluggish as
well as the enterpnsng profit by the eXcltement
4 don't doubt The Illness circulation increased asO
fhoupl Jupiter never cOndeSCends to impart infor-
EmaUiOn of that kind TO the mOTtals over whom ne
enIes 1t may be dsrespectful TO touch on such
topic, but shall venture TO say that common re-
port fixes the daily issue Of The Times at rather less
Than GO,Oo0 copies; MI Watterson is wrong IN put
fling The DAILY NelUs below The Times. The Daily
Ne,css circulation must have been more than twice
$4,000 during the war, and Is probably not lar
from 100000 now. With respect to The Times, now
ever an old habit, born of the days of dear papers,
when threcpence really meant something, survives
1T is very largely lent as well as SOLD Inc same
copy goes through several hands being D9ugnt IN IN
khe first instance by local news-dealer, and sent Dy
him to different subscribers successfully IN the
rOurse of the day, the who gets IL nTst paying
most, Then it is posted in the afternoon to some
rOuntry or provincial or perhaps colonial reader.
This is so common that the proportion OF readers 10
rOpies published is considerably larger IN the case oil
Ike Times than of any other paper. That IL may
stand this wear and tear II is printed on paper
which is stOuter aud better than most OF the paper
on which American books are printed may add
shat the accuracy of its prootreadlng is something
admirable. 50,
Mir Watterson thinks The Times dull and weak,
fnd wonders at its jntluence-Or would wonder ana
9e not find the people who read 1t also dull and weak
There i must part company with hlm altogetneT'
The personality, the postlyeness, ana many ot BeI
spicy characteristics of The CoW1ef-J0aTRdI put
6hen IL is with newspapers as WIN ainaiAcs' lucy
are calculated for a particular meridian III Is
.1uite pOssible The Times would not be adapted Iol
Xhat of Louisville, neither do think The Courier
Journal would DO for London when Is NO more re-
Iroach 10 one paper than the other MI w atteIsOn
mistake is in applying the same standard to BOTH
1ie feels very strongly tnat II 1I ms De1
snss What they ind in The COUrterJoUrnGt. tie con-
cludes that the missing elements ought 10 De sup
piled. But If we may suppose that on the saIne
Conyier-Journal Mr.. Watterson himself would not
feel suTe of their being any better satisfied than hs
own Kentuckians with The Times. There is no use
sn ouarreing with facts. The Times Is great power
and instead of trying 10 prove IT ISN'T, MI. waiter
sons acumen would have been more proftably EN-
xoyed in discovering why it is great power. There
must be great ability IN the paper somewhere III
easy to point out some Of the causes Whlch MAKE
The Times what il is. To give complete accoI ~ o.
them would carry Inc beyond the limits OF Ietter
and this is already SO long that prefer TO postpone
the partial statement, which is all shall attempt.
q. W. 3.