New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
BRITISH GOSSIP.
NOTES FROM LONDON.

.,-:.h,,;os, voung fellows of 20 now living. In
;nt Of fact be is not 10. but os, ana VIII not oe
- on h,t 10 sounds much better. and his Grace
-. sav II IL as near the truth as newspapers
,snaIIv get What the Duke says is always WORTH
readiue-not always very wise but always originai
and racy. He is the man who made that ra'llne
,o.eeh in the House of Lords at the
beginning OF the session against MT. ulso-
stone and the late Ministry generally. wing
nevertheless and was Palmerstons First Lord OF the
Admiralty Rather a Free Lance in politics, how
ever a. in other things religion included. book
he wrote and published two years ago went through
some twelve editions. People were so curious 10
know what the Duke of Somerset had to say on
theological matters. 1t does not follow that any
body thought of taking him as spiritual guide.
He ia the 18th Duke Knight of the Garter,
Privy Councillor. Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire,
and lots of other things. very great man indeed
and yet he graciousy condescended to preside Satur
day evening at the annual dinner of the Newspaper
Press Fund at Williss Rooms. begin to think spite
of Mr.. Yates. whom shall have to mention further
on that journalism is looking up in the world. Yet,
before we become too much exalted, must IN fair
ness say that it is not snch very difficult matter in
London TO coax a nobleman of high rank TO preside
over a charitable dinner. Dinners for Hospitals,
Orphan Asylums Idiots-not much matter what; so
that after all, need not feel too highly attered
the end of May. You can't walk along Pail Mall In
the early afternoon without stumbling every third
step against Lord. Even Dukes are not uncommon.
There is however onely one Duke of Somerset.
TIE point that struck me in the Dukes speech
quite apart from it's sparkle and droilery.-was his
emphasis on the independence of the Press. 1t Is
not without significance that this should be dwelt
on in this way just at the time when independent
journalism has grown uto such strength in America
The thing he values in the Press, says the Duke of
Somerset, is its independence and its variety of
opinion. And he goes on to lay the foundations of
society on similar prineiple,-that We may differ
on everything else, but agreed that all
opinions should have free which
do not interfere with the decorum and
safety of society. 1t is absolutely necessary,
he adds. that the men who connected with the
Press should feel that they are Independent, IN
which agree heartily, but it strikes me as diff
ferent matter, and one opening quite other ques-
tons which the Duke did not and could not dis
cnss, anybody else not journalist OF the En-
glish Press he remarked that it has greatly i'm
proved; among other things improved in manliness
of tone, and by not touching questions of private
me. Even 10 the muen-ahnsH.. var correspondent
uis u'%,e paid tribute, saying:
Heard Col Testing the foreign correspondent
IN Africa. Hear, hearl Well. have observed that
-laugsterl- there town TO be besleSed, II there
~ battle to be fought between two armies. where there
is good chance of your being killed, down directly
comes the foreign correspondent lCheers and aughtef
Whether he special correspondent, or regular cor
respondent occasional correspondent 'or my
part confess understoOd-Ioud laughterl-but
there he appears "No dangers alright him, ana no
laburs He attends TO the fighting all the day and
he up all night writing account Of it, lRenewed
laughter ana cheeFsl Taai is wonderful considera-
Nor is it mere eulogy the Duke favors his newspa-
per bearers WITH but advice, telling us how he
would manage paper, and bis way Is tins:
Ihave alluded TO two very wonderful persons, but
there is another more wonderful still. have often
wondered how a newspaper is 80 TO say managed'
have tried imagine II. Sitting IN my managers rOom
suppose should have seven leading articles
prepared and handed me to choose FROM In choos-
,ng should of go from grave to gay, from
lively TO severe" afraid should say TO gentle
man Who had written one leading article You must
put little more cayenne pepper into your leadhg
article next Time. l saw two old gentlemen reading
your last, and they each went TO Sleep lLanghter.I
Then again. thereI is aroma about some articles
which one does not Ike TO get exactly A gentleman
nsks hts daughter TO read him article sanitary
matter evidently thinks ought to 20 into the
Iopoasiu "A taught These things think ought TO
20 the onter sheet. Hear heaTI They are not
pleasant reading.
III the Duke were not 50 Olu, SHOULD almost nope
20 see the day when a newspaper should appear I'M
der his control. II would be readable to say the
!east--as readable as that number of The Times
which Thackeray once proposed to get out, COM
posed of all the rejected communications.
Certainly the Duke fairly earned the vote Of
thanks proposed by Mr.. Edmund Yates. in a clever
speech of his own. Mr. Yates referred with II hope
mock humility TO the difference between the Duke
and the monstrous queer set of fellows, Thacke-
raw called them, over whom he had presided.
suppose" said Mr. Yates, we are amonstrous queer
set offellows. We do not belong TO any Of the So
called liberal professions; we have no recognized
status in society" and Mr. Yates proceeded to won
der whether Mr.. Debrett himself would be able TO
settle whether journalists wife should be taken
down TO dinner before after paste-butchers
spouse Americans will be sure TO misuudersandth this
and to save needless gibing at a well intentioned
speech il is worth while 10 point Ont that Mr. Yates
is referring to that curious, conventional, arbi-
trarv vet perfectly settled social code which exists
among the upper classes. The question of social
precedence has been carried TO very fine point In
deed 1t is perfectly trne that the other liberal pro-
fessions have their fixed place in this astonishing
legislation and that journalism has not Bat
then Journalism was hardly profession when
these DEGREES came into force. 1t was.
aud still Is mostly recruited from other
rrofessons especially the law and It's members
took rank in society without regard TO the fact Of
their writing for the papers. Now. journalism is be-
coming too important 10 look for outside help in that
or other matters. Mr.. Yates does not mean that he
and his comrades in the higher ranks of the profess
SION have anything to complain OF socially. They
have not and bis joke is to be understood az Joke
MT Nj Debretts expense, and not at the expense OF
his profession. Enthusiastically, the Duke of