The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-22
Especial correspondence OF the Troy I1mes.1
THE HERMITS LETTER.

Something About News---Its Importance to
Journalsm---Bennett's and Greeley's Ways
THE Telegraph Companys New Building
and its Wonders---The Associated Presss---
European Pilgrims---Why They 60 Abroad,
otc.
New York, June Is, 1875.
The great feature in journalism is de-
mand for news. Such was not always the
case. The journals of this city as late as
fifty years ago were not essentially ne'os-
papers, though they did something in that
line Go back still farther, and you will
be astonished to see, on examining old
files, how continually this element was
in fresh, lively manner was James Cor
don Bennett. He would have news at any
price, and when the public learned this the
paper had rapid SALE He distanced the
old fogies of his day, such as Noah of the
Ec6ning Star, Daniels of the gazette, King
OF the american, and Webb of the Courier,
in this special feature, and the results is
that his paper lived while theirs have died,
and are almost forgotten. The lack Of
news killed the old journals, and it also
killed Addson's Spectator. The elegant
essays of that classic paper commanded
admiration among the refined, but this is
not sufl lent. Had the feature of news
been added the Spectator might have been
still furnishing. / refer to this in special
manner, bt cause Addison's neglect had at
tracted notice and occasioned the follow
ing communication
AN EDITORS WARNING.
The Spectator, No. G25, contains letter
from an earnest frtAJ, who addresses the
editor thus
wonder In the present situation OF affairs
you can take pleasure in writing any thing but
news-for who really minds anything else 1? |
am capable of doing you great service in this
way. am early at court. and catch the news
at the opening of the door, while 1t is warm.
At other times lay my ear close to the wall
and hear many valuable whispers. When
weary with standing, ] repair to the coffee
fresh and fresh. A piece of news loses its
flavor in an hour. once more, Mr. Spectator, let
me advise you to deal In news.
Addison neglected this warning, the
Spectator soon failed The journals which
followed Addison's bad example shared
the same fate. Every attempt at journal
ism which is not based on news is futile and
ridiculous.
BATTLE FOR NEWS.
The old fogy editors of the city, to whom
have referred, woke up too late The
Herald had got the inside track, and was
crowding them Oft the course until they
sank in ruin. When Greeley started the
Tribune he saw the importance of news,
and organized mutual effort to beat the
Herald. The most important intelligence
was then in reference to the China war
and came by Cunard steamer to Boston.
Greeley organized pony express, but
BENEFITS agents interfered with its success,
and it is said they drugged the horses, and
thus prevented speed. On one occasi IN
Bennett placed printers case and SUI III
press on the Boston boat. The news was
set up and printed during the trip to this
city, and when the boat landed the sex
tras' were ready for sale. 1t was this war
for foreign news which led Greeley to fit
out a yacht which should bring it Gas he
thouehO more rapidly from Europe than
the steamer. 1t only required one voyage
to demonstrate the error.
DANGER OF SUCCESS.
The Herald for many years was super
Tor newspaper. OF late it has lost its dis
tnction in this point, and in order to make
up for Its falling off it has undertaken to
manufacture news. AS it was necessary
to keep up occasional sensations, this was
done by issuing lies of PLAUSIBLE charac-
ter. One was the Central park hoax, and
the last is concerning Beecher and poison.
The Herald will yet learn that no paper
ofa1xy friAa 9TH truth Eaoh pf fhaoo
thrilling articles deprecates the value of
the journal many thousands, and after it
has fully established its reputation as the
hoax organ it may soon be expected to go
to oblivion. Such, however, are among
the dangers of success. 1t is hard to aban-
don supremacy, and rs long as lie can
be available let it be put into service. This
is not safe, Mr.. Bennett, as you may yet
learn by experience.
SOME IMPROVEMENT.
When the writer first became acquainted
with the press of this city the magnetic
telegraph was not in use. News came by
steamboat and rail car, which were then
considered ali immense advance on the
past. AT that very time, however, a tall,
studious looking man, who painted por-
traits and was well known as an artist, had
matured the plan of chaining lightning to
be tale bearer, and was only too poor to
put it into extensive service. He had a
room in the university building on WASH
ington square, whose walls were lined
with wires, thus affording range of many
thousand feet, and here he was testing the
magic OF his wonderful discovery All
this has occurred during my own memory,
and has made very deep impression.
How strange, indeed, to compare that
room in the university with its sole occu-
pant, struggling and balf-dsbeartened
genius, and this palalial editice, corner Of
broadway and DeY street, called the tele-
graph building.
TIE TEMPLE OF NEwe.
Such is the proper term for so grand a
structure. Could Morse have lived to be-
hold its completion, what a contrast would
it have presented with that little room ia
the university where the experiments were
carried on. Then he was by many called
the 'crazy man, but such is the judgment
winch genius must often accept from man.
kind. The telegraph building occupies
the former site of the Franklin House, a
noted hotel thirty years ago, when Dey
street was fashionable spot. Near by was
the house where Richard p. Robinson, the
murderer of Ellen Jewett boarded; and
many other associations could be mention
ed, but our business is rather with the pres
ent than the past. The Temple of News
IS one of the most costly buildings in the
city, tho total expense being nearly two
millions. Its eleyation is two hundred feet
and brace of elevators are in constant
operation. The plans were matured under
the inspection of the late Ezra Cornell
who did not live to see the structure in thu
grandeur of its completion.
TIM NEWS FORCE.
A laroa pnrtinp ~ th;a h,,ilJ;nr Il ,ortaJ