The New York herald., 1877-10-29
JOURNALISM THE GREAT PROFESSION,

THE ABsURDITx OF RANKING PHYsIc, LAW,
THEOLOGY Or ARMS AHEAD OF LITERATURE
TAE SUCCESSFUL EXPLORATIONS OF THE
JOURNALIST coNTRAsTED WITH THE pITIyUL
FAILURES or NAVAL oFFICLR
From the London Anglo American Times
1t has been noticed how promo Journalists are espc-
cially England, to deprcciatc their calling and tho
way In which the work Is performed. Journalism Is
scarcely permitted to pass a profession, though,
perhaps, the most important OF any, and that which
docs tho hardest work OF all. IL is ludcroas to
contrast what journalists arc accomplishing all
the world with their reward; the magnitude OF tho
task performed with the credit awarded; and, curl
ously enough, the want OF recognition is helped by
their action. In England, which moro loss
sets the fashion TO tho world innovations opposed
by the national sentiment and mako but slow prog
To the number Of the tour Professionalism
physic law and theoogy-prejudiccs work against ad-
dtionsL Whatever may be the change IN society,
whatever the importance OF tho calling II Is dit
ncult to get II recognized as profession perhaps
the most remarkable instance Of this Is furnished in
Journalism. There is great body OF opinion against
It, prejudice all the stronger the stronger becomes
the claim That prejudice permeates tho four prolcs
sions; II permeatcs society and 10 encountered all
through potics II Is seen in letters, in tho drama,
in legislatures in municipalities among the managers
OF companies and Joint stock operations generally.
This being felt by Journalists induces many adopt
a supercilious tone about their calling. has
led TO the habit Of dccrying tho work OF their follow
laborcrs "mere newspaper correspondent" "a
newspaper crticism.'' 'Ohl suppose you saw that
In somc newspaper" "a newspaper fellow wanted TO
thrust himself into meeting," remarks director
40 PRESS, GARNET woLsELEy.
"Scnd mo anything but "A newspaper correspond
ent" IS the common exclamation OF the general and
some Journalists write SO as 10 rcecho The tone fot
the truth - that nearly all VINO thus talk get their
opinions from the papers. fhcy arc supplied py tho
newspaper men with the very conversation they
tail Tho conclusions they suppose they have reached.
anu for which they are ready 10 make sacrifice,
those worked in other minds, and were they de-
prived Tor u week OF every copy OF a newspaper they
would begin TO learn from the vacancy within hence
flowed the source OF their Inspiration Parliament is
supposed to be the assembled wisdom OF tho nation,
but II We compare what Is said In Parliament with
what Is said IN tho press We nnd that thcro Is less
nonsense circulated IN the latter, and lever mistakes
made: that, the whole, the journalist more than
holds his own with tho legislator THIS IS "a tar COM
parson, Tor in tho daily press the journalist had
less time Tor consideration than the speaker Indeed
the former often has to oilhand a subject
member has been months preparing
'iS BEHALr oY MS coSsrirUgscy."
But Is not the arduous iaDors OF the journalist In
bis ohce winch wo here propose to discuss. Perhaps
there ~ no profession SO jealous oil correspondents ~
That OF arms and perhaps there IS no position Ia which
the Journalst-mcanlDg by the word the person VINO
derives his iving from furnishing "copy" 10 ncwspa-
pcrsappears 10 better advantage In tho nrst place,
hc has 20 bear all tnc hardshps and dangers oi Tho
hardest fought campaign. lie has 70 keep his mind
actively employed his work to an extent incum-
bent only responsible stan officers, 10 got com
prchensivc knowledge OF all the opcrations-oi the
country OF the army with which he serves; aud he
compelled AL the time TO keep the clcws IN hand aud
himself up the changing phases each day or night
produce Instead oi being AIDED Ia this laborious
task he Is generally impcied Hc has 10 hnd his own
means of carriage suscHaDcc in lands OF strange
language and while ali his thoughts concentrated
hs work he has to pen despai chos aud orcc tbom
through the post or by wirc which are TO eniighcn
the world what is occurring, and become the
matter thousands eagerly read to crcisc and expose
He cannot afford blnnder In numbers In POSITIONS,
in assertions oi any sort; Tor u Is above ali things
necessary that he should be accurate.
FORBES WORTH A DOZEN BuRSABY.
To gather his Information nc has generally to
his cyes, and, what Is best worth seeing
VIII officers receive decorations rewards Though
tho Roumanian surgeons may not have been able Tor
many days after the capture oi the Gravitza redouDt
had been explored by numerous corrospund-
and though many knight vt that self fsacrciug
body-tho Red Cross--fcli IN a duty 10 the wounded
ing between the Turkish aud Russian batteries tho
space WIS crossed and rccfosscd from To end by
correspondents. Upon tho held, even wnilo tho
assaults on Pievna were IN progress Captain Forbes
was writing hs dispatches, with winch he had to ride
all night 10 gct his descriptions under way tor Fleet
street, yet 50 beautiful grdphic and tiuthfui was
the narrative that u was accepted Published Ia tho
countries OF both tue combatants tho best account
that could be penned oi the battles.
CONTRAST rnE pGnrISG
we have heard Forbes praised: yet "A 1.-THE OF tho
ability, tho energy, tho daring displayed by him, and
the brilliant service rendered. would have called orh
marx OF imperial recognition. decoration and promo
zion; out nobody thinks anything is due to a corro-
spondent And 50 II 10 all through; though tho work