New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

VIEWS AND INTERVIEWS on JOURNALISM. Edited
by CHARLES +. wNeATE (carrep. limo f. B. Pat
terson.
Neither in this country, nor in England have
the most successful newspapers been conducted on any
forecone theories They have grown up, as grows the
erase open 10 the influence OF the times and seasons
enioyng the presence Of the sunshine ana the dew ou.
taking their shape from the occurrences OF the day. ana
Giving expression the spirit Of the age rather than fol-
lowing prescribed like the builder of house or
shin who ia confined 10 the outlines and proportions OF
rigorous WORKING Ian OuY great journalists rule,
have not been welded 10 system Their success mas beeh
due TO their power Of adaptation rather than TO ther
s6opton Of an absolute ideal They have followed the
grand ntuitiOns Of the present instead OF seeking Tor
models in the anaoecs of the past In this respect they
buded better they knew. aud the principles when
thew instinctiyely accented be subjected TO
ANALYSIS and exposition This fact appears to have
becn the design Of the editor Of this volume III c0hecls
inc opinions distinguished Journalists IN regard 10 ihe
secret of excellence in the conduct OF ter proesSo'
Mr. wingate has sought accurate information on the
subject Ia various quarters. An enthusiastic member OF
the newspauer press himself he has ev'ncca his loyalty
10 his Vocation by his gont quest of materials for MS
work and his evident cndcavOr TO make an au'hehc
exponent of the present aims and methods OF American
Journalism In preparing the volume, he mas ma"e 'e
use of personal conversations with several representa-
tive editors As well as Of the published reports of their
views in their own journals and elsewhere. The different
sources of information, 81 must be admitted are 10 GER
tain degree confused in the present record ana II is nor
always easy 70 determine what portion is from the reco
ectons Of the editor and what from the statements OF
the persons who referred to authorities stu the
volurne hears a pleycliing impression of Individuality
and from this circumstance derives large share OF ITS
interest II brings palpaby before the public the personal
views Of men, with whose productions no name is dis
tnctlV associated auG who more or less regarded s
the shadows OF shade. The general efect OF inc WoiN
e. TO the conviction of the sincerity thought
.,1i inf
Journalism and with which for the most part, me Amer
lean press conducted Many OF tho personal sketches
which abound in the volume, are discriminating as wen
as p,auant and will attract attention Tor thcI IccNOus
delineaon Of and original traits fcharace. Among
tbem the portraure Of the late James Gordon Bennett
by an ANONYMOUS hand certainly does justice to the
better ouaities Of that remarkable individual An
Invaluable service which Bennett has rendered 10 the
press has been TO enncipatc II from tue domination o
seetx parties, c!igucS, and Of what IL called society
Before lin a really Independent newspaper was uh-
known and now there * number OF them. and they are
Increasing Nj. Bcnnct,s mental independence ana
moral courage alike absolute and uncoinprohShg
There was nothing which he much hated as The idea
Of being owned managed, or dictated IL by ahyOody'
Before everything else il his rule his Pohcy Ms re-
Ucion to follow The conclusions aid r0mptneso OF ms own
mind TO do and say what lie himself thought proper
lie reyocd at every scheme 10 shape ana influence MS
action Flatery. however cunnngly administered he de-
srsed: and those vino imagined they could use him Tor
their own purposes sure 70 he convinced OF ttef
mistake in way surprising to them a. II was dIctt
ing 10 the public. This fidelity 10 his own ideas ana MS
own ends was not qualified 10y any necessity for much So
ci intercourse for cooperation with other men, or ny
my regard for conventional assumptions The greatest
inarnate was no more to him than any common man. ana
lac castisated the one readily the other Accord
cly hc had few friends and of those still fewer were IN
teectuay his equals. Even ia his early life, before he
had bcen The Herad he docs appear to have cared
him. o,t1 he "a. L.
throIc. His manners were courtly and elegant without
rreension and without acctaon, and no mau could ne
more charming those admitted to his society He was
always liked by his employees ard assistants. but he
never sought advice and those who pressed their
counsels upon him gained much from thell efforts
Of all Mr. Beunctt's qualities, that which most uni
yersaly appreciated his wit This was peculiar ana
mcessant. Though unlike tie Wit Of any other man.
everybody understood it, 1t never aoored or FAR
fetched and its oly and apparent good nature even
when employed in the destruction of an adversary made
il delightful years this wit constituted one OF the
ny1ncpal attractions of The Her0ld, and when every
thing else failed it could always lie relied upon MI
Rcunett's moral courage also equal 10 every test
The Herald afraid, and never cowed before
The most formidable adversary. Mr.. Benefits nina
was inttiye rather than logical but il 50 shrewd
~ suggestive and fruitful OF ideas that it is not too
,oucl TO say that he was "a Of genius. His culture
WIS that OF experience, observation, and reflection
rather than OF much study or reading. He was not
learned in the usual of that word but be pos
esed an extraordinary stock Of general and oiten OF
rcconde information He had strong tendency TO para
doy and his delight in whimsical views OF and things
make his entertaining as his writings He
was essentially sleptical He knew men by instinct and
saw through their motives at glance especially the bad
ones and he rarely taken in by an mpostor Credu-
lily he dcspised the merely commonplace Wasnausc0ns
10 him. sham excited his scOrn: fools were his play
things: and solemn, respectable humbugs he loved 10
roupce upon and tear TO pieces. And so lie lived his
life and fought his battle misunderstood feared asled
hated and courtod few have ever been; ana yet
through the whole of il walking i'll his own path and act
ing according 20 his uninfucnced will and opinions
n few have been able to do While MI Wlngate mas
had especial regard the demands Of newspaper men III
the compilation his volume it will he read with inter
est by public at large exposition OF some OF e
mysteries Of the profession and an Illustration OF The
prominent characters, who though choosing Journalism
as their sphere of action would doubtless have become
conspicuous in other walks of American life.