The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-24
Newspaper Writers.
Paper World


The complaint has gone forth that the everv..
day young men of the press and some of the
old ones are acolor- blind" They miss in their
nightly toll that subtle flavor, that graphic
quality, that aroma of description, which is best
labeled "color"
While the justice Of this complaint is freely
admitted by the editorial profession, they
claim that outsiders cannot possibly estimate
the difficulties which lie in the way of secur-
ing news writing of uniform descriptive excel
lence. The man who can write correctly, con-
cisely, rapidly, and graphically, does not null
tply himself to any great extent The first
then Of thege qualities are indispensable In
daily, and indeed periodical work; the latter
is certainly very desirable. But when one has
to keep time with his pen to the modulations
Of the press in the basement, while it runs off
the first half Of the paper, he does not pause
very often or long in the hope of drawing @the
aroma of description" from the bottom of his
inkstand, as it were. There are many men
who, while they even do excellent work if left
to their own time and way, notably fail when
they attempt to provide music for press that
runs seven nights in the week The best
newspaper style is not formed in day or q
year. Surprising young man just from col
lege, joins the "press gang" of first-class
Office The words Of his commencement stage
Grafton are still ringing in his ears and they
represent his highest ideals Of style. Hell
eager to produce them III an editorial: for he
looks down on mere news-gathering as be-
ne If
himself, and does not always remember that
there is no present vacancy in the chair OF
the managing editor. He would not be human
if he failed to work considerable "hlghfalu-
tin" into the items which he writes. The mex
orable blue pencil cuts all Of this out and the
youth soon settles down to hard facts and the
business of his own department, coming III
time to have horror Of ford newspaper
English" Then comes the danger that he
will go to the other extreme and his work be-
come devoid Of all color, on the same princi-
pie that the traditional Yankee once noted for
asking questions while abroad, now travels
with his lips so closely sealed that the natives
have hard work to find out what he is like
But if the beginner has anything in him he
will gradually learn his forte and come to
weave into his work a color Of his own that is
all the more acceptable for its originality
The man who sees thing we'll can usually
describe it well. Habits of close observation
anu u Wel-TalnCu memory make up the t0un-
datiOns of success of all brain workers And
the journalist who can store up any bit of
color he may chance upon for instant use
when it is most needed, is fortunate, indeed
He is like the lawyer, who, when he was con-
graduated on the exceeding appropriateness
Of story he had told a jury, replied: "Oh,
well, have been waiting fifteen years for a
chance to tell that story" And doubly fortu-
nate is the news chronicler who, seeing and
remembering events well, also senses their
correct relations to each other.
That the tone of our periodical news writ
ing is improving no one will deny. The quail
ity of the men who devote themselves to it is
constantly rising, both as regards character
and education. The reporter is growing
power, and he will yet come to stand on a par
with the best of editors. Indeed, he should be
able to play the editor at any moment, and
not only be allowed but expected to make edi-
torial comments on the events which are oc-
curing in his own field