The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-31
Newspaper PhysiOgpomy.

Newspapers are what two men--the
editor and the printer make them. The
work of each dovetails so nicely that
when either is unequal to the other,
positive defect is clearly the result.
The typographical style Of newspapers
is something that follows the old ad-
age of "many men, many minds. Few
papers are disposed to immitate others
very closely, and the result is an inf
mite variety, much of which ispleasing.
The average daily reader knows pleas
ing arrangement of type in his paper
when he sees it, but he cannot give
the reason why any special combina-
ton of letters is more pleasing than an
other. English newspapers are uni
formly arranged in colums of broad
measure, with heavy Scotch-face type,
the head lines being made up Of capi-
tails and small capitals from the body
letter. The impression given is weight
without brightness. The French pa
pers are slovenly in their make up.
Paragraphing is frequent-a failing
which the English papers reverse; their
paragraphs, however, mean something
when they do occur. French type is
cast as general thing from poorly de-
signed matrices, and the letters are not
properly shaded. The head lines are
more striking than in the English pa
pers, but are used without regard to
the eanons of typographical good
taste. Among American newspapers
there is wide dissimilarity of style.
In New England there are few pa
pers which have departed from the
quaint dress of the last century. The
old-fashioned ''side-head" abides, and
that reckless use of display type in
head lines which betrays the hanl Of a
scholar, who Is innocently ignorant OF
the composing room, does its work in
nearly every paper of the section. The
use Of capitals and italics from the body
letter for one line and two-line heads is
also a popularity with the Yankee edi-
tor. He shows little ingenuity and
could learn a great deal if he would.
With the papers that he takes most
pride in their neat appearance, adver-
tisements are restrained to small type,
the greatest excess allowed being full
face two-line innitial letter. After this
starter, nothing larger than a capital of
the body letter appears. The Spring
field Republican is an example in this
class, and this paper has neat and en-
gaging countenance. The Boston
Transcript goes to the other extreme
of big and densely black letters, but it
has few companion in darkness.
The New York papers are like copy
lines in schoolboy's writing book.
In one way or another they are imita-
ted all over the country Some of them
are worth imitation some not The
Tribune is elaborate, the largest head
lines being in lightfaced type little
larger than the capitals of the body
letter, and small capitals being used
literally in all parts of the paper. The
Herald gives the impression of soci-
ETY. man in white summer dress. The
body matter is heavily leaded-the edi-
torial, some say, with nonpareil slugs,
which is the highest standard of "phat"
The headlines are ingeniously construct
ed. Lines running flush across the COL
umn alternate with the pyramid lines,
the type in all being light-faced and
generally good deal condensed, giving
the head slim and breezy look The
Times is modest substantial appearing
sheet. The largest headlines are simply
arranged, the letters being sufficiently
large to attract attention, and yet what
might be called screaming loud" A
great deal of the paper is set in nonpa-
reil type, and consequently the Times
has a very full, compact appearance.
The San is, in most respects, an ideally
well-dressed journal. The type is a
clear, large Scotch face, a great deal of
it being nonpareil and agate, thus Sc
curing a maximum of news in a mini
mum of space. The headlines are
iclear cut as the voice of man who Is
sure of his facts The. general make
up of the San suggests the compact
ness and momentum of a bullet, and
its contents do not usually belle the
Suggestion.
In the West, the newspapers are
given to crying their wares in loud
voice. Big type, black type, queer
type and any type to scream" seems tc
be the vogue. Here and there is a pa
per with a subdued style, involving
just enough of the prevailing makeup
not to be at a disadvantage with it,
neighbors. But the majority employ
dozens of different styles of type, al
heavy faced, black and generally hide
GUS. The Chicago papers like Gothic
type for their index lines, and the resul
is, it is difficult to tell when Chicago
1 paper is or is not in mourning. One
3 exception should be noted-the Chica
Q go HerdId is very attractive paper
9 1t would not be far from right to Civ,
it the palm among western newspaper
. for typographical nestness. 1t is clean
r cut, the different letters used in tn,
I headings are harmonious, and there j
a little to criticise. Provincial paper
s are generally filled with small items
: so that they have no very positive ty
! geographical character. The patent in
4 side system has modified their appear
a ance very largely, giving one-half I'll
i paper darksome, monotonous com
+ plexion. An opportunity for pleas
:, ing improvement in the appearanc
t of the country pressres with the paten
b printing concers, which the readin
e public would, no doubt, be pleased t
e see them used. Typographical appea
It ance in a newspaper is good deal Ink
1t dress and manners with men, New
It promptly and fully given, will make
c success of the vilest combination {
,. type and ink, just as common sens
e and clean heart will commend ma
d in spite of rags and dirt. But good,c
8 types, neat use OF them, and goo
e. pressman, fight "a good half the bait
e in newspaper success.--&, PAU