The Portland daily press., 1883-01-12
British journalistic Lacks.

Edward King in Boston Journal
Phe British celebrity pretends that he would
be Mortified at the free and easy discussion of
his mental attributes and his personal appear
ance which is considered allowable in France
and America. But will venture to say that
there is very large portion of the reading
pablo in the British islands which would be
delighted to know more about the human and
less Of the equine celebrities of their country.
WheH new comedy is brought out in London,
the papers indulge ia one article of very mod
crate length about the piece and its author,
and then they drop both, as if the editors had
said in concert: "Thsnk Heavenl that's ever
now we can return to horse and cricket; OF we
can dish up beautiful stew of Irish OF Afghan
Politics-just the thing for these gloomy winter
mornings!" For good old-fashioned, CHASTITY
muTder, accompanied by the utmost brutality,
the editors are ready to give up several col
aims. and to have zone account" "another
account" account from a relative of the de-
ceased" etc. 1t does not seem to occur to the
editorial mind that by bringing before the pub
lie all the picturesque and interesting members
Of the liberal guilds piquancy and grace are
added to journalism, and people are taught to
think abont something besides the most grim
and unpleasant realities OF life But mol the
world, Truth and other weekly papers of that
ilk, which were started for the express purpose
Of supplying the deficiency already remarked
in the daily press, are looked askance at by
English society.
Perhaps this is because the pioneers in this
kind OF journalism, heretofore unused in Eng
land, have not yet learned exactly where 10
"draw the line" In France it is understood,
and the law backs mp the understsnding-tha
TO enter into details of the private life of cele-
brsted man or woman is. forbidden, unless the
person becomes outrageously conspicuous But
everything about public career is considered
At subject for public gossip The result is that
given two persons of equal talent-both mer-
iting distiDction-one an Englishman in Eng
land-the other Frenchman in France-and
the Frenchman at 40 will have national rep
utation, and will be familiar and celebrated
figure wherever he goes; while the English
man will be known only to his readers and to
the members Of the social circle in which he
moves. When Llttre was alive, especially in
the five OF six years preceding his death, the
daily French press was never tired of printing
columns about him-his methods OF work
his unremitting industry-hiS speculative phil
osophy-his combat with the church. etc.
How often DIES one see an article
in the British daily press about Herbert
Spencer, describing the man SO that the nation
can look in upon him-Fympathize with him
in his toil-watch the progress Of his ideas and
learn TO admire and love him? Not very fire.
duently; now and then the great man IS men,
toned in an editorial; but it is only incidental
~, and as II the editor owed him an apology
for bringing him out of his obscurity. If he
were horse-or boating-man of celebrity
he would fare better.
When one reflects how mighty the intellec-
tnal movement of London is, with its hundreds
of publishing its dozens Of theatres, its
operas, its salons crowded with witty and bril-
liant folk from all the ends of the earth, it's
academies and museums and studios one can
not help considering it phenomenal that go lit
tie reflection of this higher life is seen in the
daily press. 1t would seem as If the newspaper
publishers had voluntarily closed the most at
tvactive of all the fields against their readers.
will venture to say that foreigner who reads
Labouehere's Truth in weekly installments
for one year will get clearer and more COM
prshensive idea of life in London and the Brit
ish Isles than he will by perusing the daily is
sues of the Times during the same period.
But Labouchere, in his clever weekly, perpet-
ually offenas upper-clsss British prejudice
against publicity.
suppose there Is no reason why one should
BOT 90 on grumbling in this way about Bag
hsh peeuliarties and British looks. They are
always grumbling about us. An EDglishman