The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-16
PARTISAN NEWSPAPERS.
The Manner in Which the Representative
Figaro" is Edited and Gotten Up.
Paris Correspondence Chicago Times.l

Paris Correspondence Chicago Times.J
Last summer the Figaro, in the heyday OF
the expostion's prosperity, announced 10 us
readers that 1t was about 70 enlarge leseii W. "
superficial excellence Of the English papers.
The Fi1nro you must know, Is one OF the
most characteristic outcroppings OF that mer-
curial essence known as Parlslan TASTE,
calling. was started twenty years ago, under
such Universities as would make the begin
nings Of Benefits cellar sheet Ia New York q
princely publication, but has now attained to
enjoys in New York, though 1t Is without
the SUMS merits as an organ OF news. The
Figaro is gotten up In a most remarkable
manner, Judging from an American stand
point. Its news matter is printed in very
obese minion, almost bourgeois, its news In a
BREWER. 10 say 1t Ia news, however, is mis-
homer, as OF news the Figaro Is guiltless. Its
six wide columns, to set out with, are gener-
ally taken W, on the first page . With what Is
Of Paris, which is written each day by diff
ferent man, who signs his name In full. This
"Courier" is made up Of the sort OF writing
which the exacting American city editor
would dismiss his latest neophyte for hand
Ing 10 as copy" The subjects are generally
themes, thrashed into chaff long before by
the sharp political writer's ST. or debaters In,
the Assembly. Then follows what is called A
I,agers hras which may h be freely trans 9,
ribald jokes, not only bordering on indeli-
cacy, but absolutely the quintessence OF OBJ
seenity, to the American or English reader
Of no sort Of interest, and OF very little mirth,
but evidently OF very great consequence to
devoured day by day as they appear, but are
actually put into books illustrated by the
leading caricaturist. Then, following these
shreds and patches OF invention, odds" and
''ends" comes a running report OF the Cham
inconsequent and tiippant fashion-and the
Senate writes In the same style-with dark
suggestions and vague innuendoes, which can
only be understood, at the utmost, by very
bane Of French journalists. Writers on
special works follow In columns
directed to, or against, few who
alone comprehend the meaning Of
them. These, with the page cut cleanly IN
two at the bottom, for what is called the
"Feuilleton," or, in other words, story, takes
up the first page The second begins with a
| narrative account OF court proceedings, SO
meagre and unintelligible that it is a sheer
waste of time to follow 1t, q point which may
be explained in the Figaro, at least, by the
fact that its business manager Is the law re.
porter. Then follows column and half OF
kilograms, OF from five to fifty words, from
the interior towns Of France, reciting trivial
events OF possible local interest. linen IOl-
lows column and a half Of extracts from
home and foreign newspapers, perhaps OF nc
particular subjects, and culled largely fol-
their Jokes. Then another contribution, from
person signing himself diplomat" Fol
lowing this comes generally twO-column re-
view OF the theatres, which Is amusing, though
misleading as the writer is paid SO much d
line by the artists, WITH | believe, the sanction
of the editor, Then follows another article or
theatres, by gentleman OF the orchestra,
which is full of shrewd good humor anc
sometimes genuine critical insight. This Is
the average Figaro. As for the daily events
that happen among Paris 100000 inhab
itants the Figaro never pretends to give the
slightest account, nor Is this to be wondered
at considering the editors of the paper are
not supposed to have any cognizance at all D
daily events Of Paris life. They are expected
rather to contribute je,Gr desprits, witty criti
cisms Of other papers and biting. satires OIL
opposition politicians AS to their relations
to the days doiDgs they might just as vel
be in the Figaro Of 1859 as OF 1879. The work
Of making up the paper begins at noon osten
sibly, at which time the business manager
sends up a meagre list Of foreign exchanges
to the parIors, where two or three gorgeously
arrayed young gentlemen are to be found
These youths proceed in anything but thei
calling until evening, then to dispense to thu
theatres, and the work of the Figaro Is done
At midnight precisely the offices are closet
and the press Is put to work.