Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-11-12

regular cads, to use one of their hackneyed
terms. Royden begins to impress me as
something Of rascal. Likely enough,
much of what he said about the girl he
called Christina is untrue; but it was
shameful to talk SO in public. a man shows
what is in him by the manner he speaks of
women. never hear man talk as Royden
did without wanting to pull his nose"
"How could Margaret Royden have
such brother?"
"There you 90 again, Oscar. You still
see halos about the fair Margaret's head.
She is not responsible for her brother"
How glad am she isn't"
"Good evening, Rivers" said Archer,
accosting the journalist, who had just en-
tered. " You're a stranger to the club. "
81 don't come here much. In fact, l
have very little time for loafng. Like
every newspaper man I'm galley slave. =
"Yours must be hard life, !" suggested
Goodwin, though it probably has its
c0mpenSatlons.
cit has to me. Working at night seems
unnatural; and it is hard but don't dis
like it. Journalism is fascinating sort OF
trade. If it were not men would not stick
to it 80. Drunkards, adventuresses, actors
and journalists never reform, it is said. l
fancy there's considerable truth in it, Yet
there are few ostensible advantages in the
business. My enthusiasm may exude. -
doesn't the fascination" asked Archer,
"spring directly from gratified self-love p
"Any more than in any other calling,
doctor p
"Yes, I fancy so. A journalist habit
ually expresses opinions which are accepted
by men too lazy to form their own. This
gives him such sense of power and i'm
portance that he finds it difficult to 90 into
anything else. Manufacturing public opin-
ion is more alluring than any sort of buying
and selling. Besides, journalists are apt
to be looked up to in democracy. Ihaye
thought sometimes that they are over
rated. "s @
"I am conscious that they are, doctor.
Many journalists amount to nothing. They
would have no influence whatever, but for
their connection with newspaper. They
are like the fly on the wheel they are
continually saying, What dust we
make! I'm free to admit that my guild
includes an extraordinary number of con-
ceited asses"
"Since you have been SO frank, Mr..
Rivers" observed Goodwin, twill you let
me say that have been occasionally
seduced into the same opinion? Excepting
lawyers, think that journalists exceed all
other men in cultivating self.appreciation. I"
eff you will add doctors" remarked
Archer, I" will agree with you, Oscar.
The difference in the callings is, We doc
tors work in the dark J.; journalists work in
the light lawyers work in the twilight,
where one is sure of nothing, and uncertain
of everything"
s'Let us compliment ourselves by say
ing" remarked Archer, +" that it is pleas.
ant to meet men who are so candid In self
criticism,
81 had not, said Rivers, "been in har-
ness six months before / discovered the
supreme vanity and egotism of my CO.
workers. l have an exceeding admiration
for my profession the profession is far
above most of those who follow it. Not
one man in a multitude is sufficiently
gifted, noble, generous and judicial to be
what journalist should be. Lam daily
disgusted with the fellows who try to play
Jupiter and Olympus merely because they
happen to control press with few fonts
of type. They arrogate to themselves as
a right what is really privilege, conceded
to them by the People. To certain ex-
tent the press in this country is des-
potism, but a despotism of the popular
kind. Without an intelligent People be-
hind it, it would be, as indeed it some-
times is, pander and a parasite" Z
"Don't you think" questioned Good
win, "that the American press is, as
whole, inclined to be licentious
Undeniably. Defective as it still is in
many respects, have faith in it's future
because it has improved SO prodigiously in
the past. 1t is better that the freedom OF
it should be shackled."
81 agree with you," said Archer. "It
is easier to correct license than to break
shackles."
''May venture the opinion" asked
Goodwin, 'sthat you strike me, Mr..
Rivers, as an extraordinary journalist ?"
"Idon't know why l should"
because you are SO different from the
members oi your Prolessiou "hoh L hS1'e
generally met.
MAYBE I'm the coming man"
"No, you're the come man."
Rivers laughed, and, looking at his
watch, remarked, 81 must resume my
chain. My fellow slaves have long been
tugging at the car"
As he went away, and as the two friends
prepared to follow, Archer said Riv.
ers is indeed rising journalist. He has
already risen above his profession. ] pre-
dict that he will be out of business before
great while. He is altogether too en-
lightened."
While the couple walked homeward
Goodwin informed his companion that he
intended to call the next Wednesday even
ing on Miss Royden, who at the reception
had kindly invited him to do so.
Archer inquired, "Is the charm work
ing? thoug ght that she had disappointed
you"
swell, she has. But want to be just
to her; and, to be just, must see more of
her. have sort of intellectual curiosity
concerning her. !"
Beware, my friend, of intellectual
curiosity It's indulgence is often at
tended with the gravest consequences.