Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-01-30
The EeWspaper Eeporter

The Newspaper Reporter.
Mir David A. Cur Is, NV Y .. K jourrsst
delivered. in that city, one hight recently, @
leouEo on Secrets of the Sanc!Im." The
DISCOURSE divsste d tho asuctum cf lis mSs:.ris
and gave true insight into the methods and
the tunors of new. gstberisg, Hs began by
saying that there is 30 such thirg as vacuum
10 civilization more than 10 pa,ure. Tho Iew.-
pap snsaers the demand of the public to be
reformed of its Own doings and the reporter
appeared to bill nsc:ssitg Of the neEspaoey.
IL Was OF the reporters and their work that be
spoke especially, saying thlt lie thought it WAS
'ine for somebody who kosH somsthog abou,
them to open bis mouth, ss they had been 60
sore' mIsreprsssnIcc. After eketchisg tho
erronscu' sDd Isushable no'ious mkuy psople
ha7s CT reporters, 90 described the ideal re-
porter, contrasting Gim with soce spec'm.cs OF
the old tlne psopy a-ilner. The rcpLrur CT
'c-1'y. ho said. must SEQ in Shorthand Instead
Of WrIsloe II shorthand as formerly. Amoeg
the r. rtq1lrenents OF the profession ho euuue-
Fssed he.lih ssd strength, moral s;sm,n.,
oour'g>, SELL possession, keen pcraspiivo tseul-
le.. good memory, &c roaut:sc Judgment,
tormaliou. Bls above ell ihrcs, the rerort.r
mas; be qaick. No su.gard, co sad, ever
made sovd reporter.
Tho advantages CT btgiupinc cary 10 The dsv
we're exsn pf-t. The mem Ser OF she famous
band Of "For y Thlevsp," for i.sapce. wbe
c,ma 10 town u ftrrat out the perslu who had
pr"cur u the secret 10 open the sressure we
would have nsds 40 sxo-crs rsnarser tad he
In . a IN naU IL u
be crc junerad Mua'snha, the u,pbley ct the
Latter s.tli before day. and by sss.ing him
sod reDstkloa Souu: eush sn Old mun b.iDp
ale TO wo.k before ihs s;Rrs wefe out of the
sky, ga. the cid fellow. vino VS., Of l. q lsoi, us
dso sision. 70 tell him .b4ui s,wiog no ia.
!dy Of Ali B.ba's brother while bl,ud!o:dsd,
L IL vac the very l5f rnstlco The ro1ber gaat-
d, which he procured 50 easily r. N the mere
f.ot Of beint up early. Had tho conversation
AIKEN plaoa at any other tiHo Of tbs dsy, Of
course 90 alluslou would hare BEEN made to
Mus'spha's eoud ~ sight, spd coug,qucntly
'be later would hsve bad no ctculou to relate
hs adventure 10 the robber.
Mr Curtis went oo 50 say Ttis masking of
an une:rlog msm :ry as q reportotisl need III
Is the tssoion TO soser at ln,crslsGs. Men pr,-
fess to dread reporter who oones to Interview
them, std hey otten d, C are that il is On iu
peril aerce tor the pres TO pry into their Affairs
II ~ as rule the press docs no. Try to Dry it
10 nybcdy's sffsiis uLlsss therh is something
Wrclg going on. 1t dots Bcmsiimes bappep
inst man Dsy koow sOmatbiog Of iote.est to
ths DubSic. snd reporter is sect 10 sss hin. 1t
is nigh oonpnsnt to alncs. auy nsu
10 ttfr him tie privilg, of talking TO
the public through tho Columns Of
resDeetsbis Deaspsper. Rnd yet. mary
uen pretend TO dtspise the privilege. I! is true
that there nave been abuses of the c. som; but
suere NEED be none. lfyou do not want to be
interviewed ahy so. Do not plesd the baby set
by saying that the reporter worried you into it.
He could rot worry, you into lending hi $50.
If you are afraid Of being misrepresented all
you have to do is to insist on seeing . repor, be-
fore it is published. If an ignorant or ill.mar-
nsred man comes to interview you you are 70
more bound TO tax 10 him than 10 any other
ignorant. ill.mannsred man" The variety OF
pocp.e who nre reporters WAS neIs alluded 10.
rhs brotherhood were recruited from oil the
walks Of lfi. It has been c:m Dared 10 the army
David as!nered il the cave Of AduIlsm, and
every one that WAS in distress o. every ono that
WAS 10 debt aud every one that was discooten.ed
gath cred themselves unto him" The really good
reporter is very apt to be q man cf crest percsp-
tive faculty. with git of ready expression; who
has found out, probably by accident in tue course
of tome kind Of adventurous lfe shat he is ft for
notbicg else but to write for tho newspapers.
One piece Of advics, the lecturer esii, he always
gsvs 10 men who wanted 10 marry or who want.
ed to be reporters. He got it out of Punch, Re
;lways snid, "Don't" But when q man could
not possibly be happy uulets he got particular
girl, or when he could not sleep at nights uni Is
hs wrote for the newspapers be would say to
such man, "Bless you. my son. Heaven calls
some man to glory through ihorny paths. 60
onI Iou are called" The newspaper wss
hal shown to be business enteI prise and no.
pnilanthropic one. just that WAS published
which the public wanted to read not what the
public ought to read. The eoitof's work called
tor no moro ability than The reporters, for on the
f.i.hfulness Of the r'pMts depeaded the succe.s
OF the hevspsper. He closed by saying that .ho
careless ,hemiaa who wrote the news balanced
sbe point OF bis pencil ,Le rel u.ations OF men
and the f'te of great projects aud welded for
email wages iuca ibuudelb bolts as Jove never
husled.