New-York tribune., 1879-01-29

pubIIc by enlisting in the discussion oi the
| most important topics of the time the abe't
masters of each special subject, and the general
success of its system of prompt and intelligent
comment upon current miscellaneous news by
an experenccd staff of educated writers,
who have learned to bring the result OF diver
siGed study and long training to the llltIs'ra-
tion of passing events, these are the achieve
ments of modern journalism to which Bidcf-
rood gives cordial praise, although 1t says
| little about them except what others nave
often said before, and said quite as well. IT
is upon the labors of the regular and "spr-
"cial " correspondent, however, that the Edin-
burgh magazine dwells longest. These,
perhaps, are the most novel and interest,"
ing products of the newspaper system. Inc
writer of leaders has his prototype III the
oldfashoned pamphlcteer. The reporter has
been busy ever since the periodical press came
into existence. Bat the highest class OF cor
rcspOndence is an invention of our own time.
The war cOrrespOn lent during the past twenty
years has performed deeds which deserve a
permanent place in literary history. His de-
scrlptions of battle, written under the most
difficult conditions "can be attributed" says
Bioctro0d, "to nothing snort of n species OF real
"litclary genus. Ideas arrange themselves, and
"r.collection, shake into place in an absence
.'of all conscious effort, clothing themselves
instinctiycly in ielicitous expressions. SO
that in its way the dispatch seems as much
" due to inspiration as the diviner epic OF the
." slcrcd war bard
One of the most brilliant war narratives
ever contributed to IA newspaper was The
TrrHt NE'> account of the battle of Antictam.
II surpassed the Crimeln letters of William
II. Russell not only aS tcrse, striking
and vivid description, but ~ wonder
fully prompt report OF exciting news.
No. until the time Of our civil war
did the press learn how t" unite i'll
one person the most accurate and faScinat-
ing of historians with the most rapid OF
c0ntiers: but the art once learned was culti-
waited i'm America with signal success. Never
wrl. great and complicated occurrences more
adequately and more rapidly recorded than
I> the superb correspondents VINO made the
wal dispatches Of this paper during the siIug-
elc between France and Germany the admira-
tion of two continents. Forbes and MacGahan
m the service of The Hdiy Ncrs of London
during the Russo Turkish war made .thc jour
nous newspaper in Europe. Mactahan had
already earned an cnyiablc celebrity by his
fimou, KGiya expedition for The NcW- York
HcJaH. Forbc, had proved himself in France
one of the most graphic of military historians
and most competent Of military critics; and
hc l.. now di>anclng all competitors by hl~
narrative of the Afghan campaign. But
long before the special correspondent
won such distinction on the battlefield, HE
THInrNr opened tine WAY for his not less glori-
on, or les, difficult achievements III cOmpara-
tyciy peaceful paths Nearly thlrty-iivc years
ago Bayard Taylor began in the 'cOunns OF
this paper the records OF travel and di i-coVcry
by winch the special cOrrc>p Ondcnt Will per
hapS he longer remembered than by his
marrhcs and bivouac> with cOntcndng armies.
There were few regions OF the globe INTO
which the untring explorer and acute Oh
server did not penetrate, sending home 10 ms
nourr letter. which have long held a
distinguished place in American literature. The
first of his many journey, was prosecuted, III
Iorg, part, by the price Of the - Views AfoOt y
which ne contributed to TIE TRIBUNE, and his
last tmycls-in Egypt aud lcciand-wcrc made
IN our behalf. Nor has Bayard Taylor been
without imita!ors. The search for Dr. Living
stone and Stanley~ journey across the Dark
Continent were magnificent results OF tho enter
prise of a newspaper and the ability of 4 special
CORRESPONDENT: and who shall say that the same
lavish journal which solved the secret OF Cen
tral Africa may not soon break through the
FROSTY batiicr, OF the lOng-SOught polar wilder
! moss