Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-11

JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM.
An anonymous paper is printed in the last
number of Scrsbner's Monthly entitled
Journalism, as Exemplifed by the Late Mr..
Bagehot." It purports to be an analysis Of
the writings for the newspaper press of the
subject Of the article. If the analysis is as
correct as the statements OF the duties of q
newspaper writer, We fear that the public
will have very incorrect idea of tho talents
or tho work of Mr.. Bagehot. The writer OK
presses the opinion that very fine writing is
out of place in newspapers. If he
had said that very fine writing is
rare in newspapers he would have stated a
fact, but that it is out of place is manifest
absurdity. We venture to say that much of
the original literature that finds its way
from time to time into the columns of GER
tain class of the newspapers of the country
reflects high degree of credit upon the au-
thors and deserves to rank high in the itera-
ture Of the world. Much of it, truly, ia lost,
owing to the ephemeral character of tho dali
ly newspaper, but this fact does not detraot
from its merit or deserve the sheer that is
cast at newspaper writer's as class by the
author of the paper in question. As speci-
men of Tho opinions of this sage, who sets
himself up as the Judge of what an editor is
and should be, we may be allowed to quote:
A strong desire to say things perfectly is a
hlndrance to a newspaper writer. There is not
apt to be more than one perfect expression of a
thought, and q writer who has, or thinks he
has. achieved this, docs not care to express it
is one thing in which a journalist must excel,
it is the capacity for incessant as well as inf
nitely varied repetition. The journalist should
not, therefore, think of himself as a literary
man: But he should think of himself as a mau
of affairs. He should write as if he were coun-
selling the public Us to what they should do in
the business of the day, and he should give to
that counsel the best reflection which the we'll
known and understood limitations of his bust
ness will allow. A newspaper writer should
not make the writing of pleasing articles the
object of his life.
In effect the impression is sought to be
conveyed that The newspaper is simply the
receptacle for all the slopwork of literary
effort. This is not the case, for there are
many productions that appear in the edito-
rial columns of all of our daily journals, that
deserve to rank with the best thought of the
country. The capacity for endless repe-
tition" may be requisite of a newspaper
writer, yet We confess to finding but little of
it. 10 dress up familiar faces in new gar
niture is, we admit, desirable quality in one
who panders to the varying moods of the
public, but this quality does not deserve the
contemptuous appollation of repetition. 1t
requires originality and ingenuity to make
an old idea to appear new-a degree of in
genuity that would do credit to any profess
sion.
Catering to all manner of tastes, it ia not
surprising that tho newspaper fails to suit
some. But writer should have more re-
gard for the profession he represents, than
to seek to belittle it in the manner that this
contributor does.