The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-03-20
The Nichi Nichi Shimbun.

After disastrous fire that swept the
principal avenue of this city the govern
ment rebuilt the burnt district in semi
foreign style, both to guard against recur-
renee of similar confagations in the future
and to encourage among the people dis
position to adopt foreign ideas in domestic
and business architecture. The structures
thus erected have, however, little beauty to q
western eye, and do not commend them
selves to NATIVE notions of taste and con-
venlence. But notwithstanding heir un-
popularity, they are sought after by persons
who affect western ideas or who desire q
central place for their business.
The finest, perhaps, of all these buildings
is occupied by the NicAi NicAi iSAlm1u1.,
or Daaly Ne,os, the leading journal of the
empire. This newspaper was established in
1872, under tho new freedom of the press
granted by the liberal policy of the restored
government; but it languished till 1874,
when, on the return of the present editor
and principal owner, Mr.. G. Fukuchi, who
is Japanese of high personal rank and dis
tngulshed scholarship, had been interested
IN the journal from it's origin, but was called
from active management by an appointment
IN the lwakura embassy, q relation in which
had opportunities of studying western habits
of thought and action. On his withdrawal
from this connection and return to Japan he
found the newspaper, as remarked, at a low
ebb, the stock on the market at any price
and the journal without influence, We can
not better state in sentence the change
since seen than by saying that in 1876 the
Nachs Nacha Shambala paid 80 per centum
dividends Oh capital stock of $4,000. and
in 1877 81 per centum.
Beside MIR. Fukuchi six editorial writer's
are employed and eight reporters. There
are, moreover, regular correspondents at all
points of consequence in the country. In
the composing room there are twenty COM
positors, foreman, and two proof-readers.
Persons employed in the mail section and
the business departments increase the num-
Der to about eighty; and there are moreover
some forty-tive newsmen who distribute the
edition to subscribers. The list of these
varies considerably under laws that operate
in all countries During the late war the
circulation reached maximum of eleven
thousand copies: now it is about eighty
seven hundred. But a third of the edition,
however, is taken up by the capital, the re-
mainder going through the mails to other
places. In local support the Nichi Nichi
falls considerably behind one or more of its
rivals, which appeal more carefully to the
prevailing sentiments and demands of the
masses. 10 meet the requirements of the
newspaper and prosperous job business
that has grown up, ten presses are employed:
one cylinder Hoe press and the rest smaller.
And.even the Hoe press is run by hand, such
motive power being found more economical
than steam.
VISIT TO THE OFFICE.
On entering the building from the street
we first come upon three men, a Cerberian
guard, who sit within the open doorway to
intercept the further advance of an induisi-
tive, an importunate, or an indignant public.
Before this rather awful trio we sat till a
spry young 'devil'' of the Asiastic species.
who was dispatched with the card, returned
and, vouchsafng concise ':arin1as'' or ''is,''
beckoned us On and up. Following his
young heels, we had soon assembled the flight
OF steps to the second floor, and were then
conducted to front room that serves as the
s0ncttt'1 sd1ct0runl, Mr.. Fukuchi received
us politely, and it became Immediately evil
dent that Interpreters were to be superfuous,
as his English was agreeably fluent and cor
rect. HIS dress was native in fashion.
though the foreign manner of cutting the
hair, now very common in Toxic. and the
direct, prompt. and vivacious method of
speech which he used. suggested acquaint-
ance and sympathy with western habits. OF
good physique and pleasant habits. these
personal advantages were supplemented bv
the charming manners of unspoiled Japan
After chat on journalism in this and
other countries, during which he referred to
his visits in time past to metropolitan news
paper offices, he favored me with the in
formation desired about his own journal,
and then invited us to accompany him on
round of the establishment. The first room
visited, one adjoining the private Office, was
appropriated to the editorial staff, who were
all industriously engaged as we entered.
Two lines Of three desks each filed the body
OF the apartment, seventh
desk at the 4 end = of the room
serving the editor-in-chief. On one wall
hung nearly a hundred 'exchanges'' on file.
and behind the chair of Mr.. Fukuchi was
stored library of reference. which,. as he
said in professional aside, ''makes us news
paper men sometimes very wise.'' One of
the group, who was evidently an expert with
the scissors. was dissecting a Yokohama
English exchange, while the others were oc-
cupied with their growing manuscripts. And
it wasinteresting to observe the beauty of
the ch1rograpny|a necessary excellence in
language where the character is SO 6lifficnlt
that penmanship is a distinct fine art.
Next to the editorial room is located the
space set aside for the composing force.
First we come to the proof-readers, two in
telligent persons who have high reputation
for scholarship. The necessity for such at
tainments become apparent when we learn
that full font of type comprises fifty thou
sand characters, while no less than three
thousand are in constant use and two thou
sand more inSfrequent employment. And not
only must the proof-reader be careful to
amend all grammatical slips and typographical
errors, but he should have a quick eye for
ineleggances in the manuscript and for imper-
fections in the characters themselves.
Separated from the proof readers by low
laticed railing is the Office of the foreman.
the magistrate of the cases, and beyond him
again we reach the printers. The type is
disposed about the room on long racks like
those of a public reading-room, and the
aisles furnish promenade wherein the COM
positor can labor in his vocation and take
exercise simultaneously. The matter when
set is placed on galleys and proof taken.
Then the foreman manipulates it into the
shape in which the public see it. -Four forms
are used each IL by 16 inches. The first