Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-10-30
WAR CORRESPONDENTS.
How Archibald Forbes Does the
Work of Writer, Soldier
and Courier.

From an Interview in Boston Herald
People have often wondered how
MIR. Forbes has ever been enabled to
write those long and graphic letters,
masterpieces of war literature, and
fresh with the spirit of the event, af-
ter the deadly fatigue Of a long and
perilous ride from the front to aplace
where he could forward them prompt
ly by telegraph. 1t is because he has
everything in readiness beforehand.
On the battlefield, while shells are
bursting around and bullets whistling
past, a correspondent is apt to be
rather nervous, having nothing TO do
but to look on, and not with his at
tention occupied by solid work, like a
soldier. So Mr.. Forbes made it a
point to occupy his attention
with good solid work too, in
the form Of of incessant note taking.
This he does whatever the situation,
aud the occupation given his mind
makes it needless, if hot oblivious, of
the danger surrounding him. These
notes he writes down plainly in the
present tense -something which gives
vital actually to his letters, so that
the reader has a sense of sharing the
writer's participation in the scenes
and. if he should be wounded, he
could hand his notebook to some one
with instructions what to do, there
would be no difficulty in reading the
notes, and, therefore, tho material
would not be lost in such a case,
though most likely delayed. In taking
these notes, he takes pains to choose
his language deliberately. carefully
rounding his phrases, and even ran
sacking his brains for fitting quota
tons. If there is a place where he
knows a quotation would be opposite,
and ii he cannot recall il in time, he
leaves a space blank for it, to be filed
in afterWard. So, after all, the war
correspondent, Julian Hardy, in
"Fatinitza," who calmly takes his
notes in the midst of a Turkish
attack, is not the exaggeration he has
been supposed to be aud was doubtless
intended to be by the author.
By this means, when, tired out with
his long journey, Mr.. Forbes arrives
at fireplace where there is a telegraph
station, he does not have the labor of
composition on his mind, but simply
that of transcribiDg his notes. With
many men, composition under such
circumstances would be impossible.
With a man of Mr.. Forbes splendid
physique and capacity to bear great
mental strain, it would not be impos-
sible, but it would doubtless have had
the effect of prematurely SCATTERING
his system. Besides, letters written
after exertions would be quite differ
ent things from those that have given
him his fame; every word straight
from the vintage Of war, with The
bloom of battle fresh upon it. On
reaching his journeys end, Mr., Forbes
has sometimes relieved himself of the
labor Of writing by debating from
his notes, but he has seldom allowed
himself this luxury, acting on che
principle that a war correspondent, to
be certain of preventing mistakes,
must do everything himself. For, be
it known, the telegraph clerk upon
whom he must depend can rarely I'M
dersiand a word Of English. The
dispatches must be given them liter
ally, letter for letter, just as they are
forwarded. Therefore they must be
in a plain school. boy hand, and Mr..
Forbes has the knack of writing a
school boy hand rapidly.
80 a war correspondent must stand
10 the double capacity Of journalist
and SOLDIER"
I'm a triple capacity-he must be a
courier as well. And for the three, |
would place the courier above all. For
it does not need brilliant writing, but
a clear statement Of facts. A penny.
a%-liner, with the qualifications OF
courier, is worth more than tie best
trained journalist without. OF what
avail is the best material il It cannot
be forwarded after it is obtlinedi
Some of the most brilliant fellows
have proved complete failures in the
field for lack of taking this fore.
sight. A war correspondent mus
carefully lay all his plans for gettinl
back to the place Of communica
ton in a way to be prepared for any
emergency. He must be ready {,
push his way through and over every
thing; if there is a river, swim it; he
must brave every danger; he must b,
prepared to fight, to kill, if need be
at all costs keep his line of communi
cation open. He must have fresl
horses ready for him along his route
with men on the qui vive for his com
ing. If his horse drops dead by tn
way, he must take off the saddle an,
carry it on his back, for a saddle is O
vital importance, and his next hors
will be useless without it.. lie mus
know how TO humor his horse. | an
a heavy man, but have rode a hors
thirty miles where light men bav
worn out their horses in ten mile.
He must be able to have a solutio
on the instant for every problem tina
presents itself And for all this h
must carte blanche from his journal.