The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-26


One thing however, must be said against the
organization Of the local news department in
America and in favor Of the unorGanzed condi-
tion Of the same department in Europe and that
IL that through 80 many people being engaged
In the collection Of local news and such great
importance being given to II. the American press
has become an extremely sensational one In its
reporting department. and does undoubtedly
overstep the limits of discretion with refer
ence TO the private life Of people. Almost any
American piper that one takes into his hand *
sure to contain details OF daily occurrences. re-
lated with a m'Dutenese which cannot have
interest for the public at large, which undoubt-
eddy must offend the feelings OF the persons
concerned with the case and which certainly
would not be tolerated in any European coun-
try.
The feature Of what l. known as special cor
respondents" was, a. have said before, first
introduced by tue Times some forty years ago.
but IL did not reach ts true development until
the outbreak Of the Cripean war, when all the
leading English newspapers sent out their rep
resentatives with che army. IL Is from that
time also that. dates the reputation OF DR.. Will
liam II. Russell. FOR fifteen years previous he
sat In the gallery Of the House Of Commons in
the cap tcity Of a hard-working reporter, known
TO nobody bat his colleagues ON the Tim's.
among tnem ne obtained. somehow or DINER,
the reputation OF being a fine descriptive writer,
and wnen the necessity Of sending a correspond
ent to the Crimca presented Itself, tue editors
choice fell upon him. II would be- out Of place
here to express any opinion with reference to
Mr.. Russells literlry ability OF power Of obser-
walton; vet one thing must be said that be pos
sesses an immense advantage over his fellow
correspondents IN being good shorthand
writer. He writes his letters whenever and
however " comes. sometimes on horseback, and
sends the original shorthand notes OF without
transcrlbing them, consequently much sooner
than any l1ng-hand writer could possibly send
away bis copy. These notes are deciIhered at
the Ttnlts ONCE. and this arrangement has. to my
personal knowledge, frequently given him TWEEN
ty-four hours start on the other correspond
ents. Apart from that. Mr. Russell hipDened
to represent the Times At the moment when the
whole world was anxiously watching that pr
pcr's reports Of the momentous struggle which
was going on on the Tartar peninsula.
The frequent wars which have occurred since
1855 have more aud more developed the DEPART
mcut OF special CORES ondence until II has now
become one Of the most important, most expen-
siye. and most valuable OF the branches OF daily
journalism. 1t h no exaCgeration to saw that il
IL not by the stan officers OF any OF the armies
that the Franco Prussian war was written up
all the works published on that subject have
been almost entirely b4sed on the contributions
daily sent IN from the Sc I Of war 10 the various
London papers. Most representatives OF the
organs Of the English press were men already
experienced Ia recording military affairs
white the rest were among the best officers OF
the English army. who obtained leave OF alb
sencc. and who sc services were secured. Special
knowledge was thus combined with literary
ability. and the success Oft work done by this
body OF picked men surp issed all anticipation.
The limited means OF the Continental Euro
pean newspapers renders II impossible for
them to Introduce this feature OF journalism
into their organs. Consequently there is scarce
ly any paper on the whole conilnen: Of Europe
which has anything worth reading Ia this line.
except. pcrh Fps. the Cologne Gazette. the Augs-
hurger Irgcmclie z, tuiL the D5bats. and the
Temps, which havs occ lsionally some valuable
letters from abroad, mainly on political. liter
AIRY. and artistic subjects, and written mostly by
some GOOD contributor who happens TO travel
or Temporarily 70 reside abroad. To send out
special men Is out of the question for these
Journals. for the lowest cost Of keeping a oorre-
spondent after the fishiOn OF the English papers
Is five thousand dollars a year. without reckon
Ing the expenses OF telegraphng, which In many
cases amount to fully the same sum, and even
more than IL. English correspondents have all
their expenses. whatever may be their nature.
paid ~ tbs paper, and besides they get their
usual salary or space nav.
TIE spirit OF enterprise shown OF late years
by some Of the American newspapers Is quite
equal to thot of the richest ana most hreral
London Journals; but the young country had
not yet haa time to breed the class OF men on,
Of whom good special correspondents are
moulded. Most Of the American specials I met
abroad were quite Ignorant OF the country they
came to, as we'll us Of It's langua ge and could
therefore be OF but little service No London
paper would send m ~ abroad unless he had pre-
viously resided In, or 90 least frequently vsited
the place he was 70 20 D. and when once sent he is
kept In the place long possible, for he Is sup
posed to form acquaintances, aud consequently
to become better and better informed rs TO the
condition OF tho affairs he has TO Investigate
with the American journalists It seems to be
quite different. know only two men represent
ing American journalism who have been a.ling
their posts for several years, and those are MIR.
Huntington and Mr.. Smacy OF the Tribune The
Times has lately engaged the services of Mr. j.
II. Fyfe one OF the sub-editors OF the Saturday
Rcriclr, who sends excellent letters ftom Lon
don In all the other papers there is but little
worth reading from Europe. The Herald had
for two years a very able representative In
London and ia Paris In the person Of DR.. Hos
mer aud II was the only time that the depart
ment Of special correspondence of that Jour-
nal was well conducted. Since then the shake
EN- up system has been extended to the for
eign department OF MIR Benefits paper tho pay
Of the CORE pondonts cut down. and the corre-
spondents themselves constantly driven from
one place to another, and thus rendered utterl,
unable thoroughly to study any foreign question
or any foreign country.
A time will come. however, when special cor
respondents viii be trainc0 for their work, Just rs
reporters and sub editor are trained now ana
when that time comes, the file Of a good news
paper will be the best work on the modern his
tory OF the world.
The Reuters agency the Press Association,
and similar branches OF the reporting machinery
will have 10 be considered in connection with
the telegraph as an implement OF the press.
An OLD JOURNALIST.
An Example for Washington officials.
Here is evidence of genuine repentance
even II only 600 worth. A few nights ago, during
severe rain storm, disguised rang the door bell
~ Roy Dr nj IN