Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-03-27
LONDON PENNY-A.LINERs.
Their Habits and Practlces-BOhe.
milan Life in London.

II
milan Life fn London.
In a recent letter from London to the
Louisville Commercial the writer describes
in an interesting and vivid manner pc
culiar phase of newspaper life in the
English metropolis. He says:
In describing the London newspaper
press of to-day it is no inappropriate be-
ginning, hope, to descend to the lowest
round of the ladder, and to introduce
your readers forthwith to the penny-a
liner" He still exists-poor fellow
and at times plays an important part in
the pages of daily journalism. Indeed,
with a clear run of luck. venture to
state that the elmer is the most read
man Of the day, and when he has CHANGED
to fall on great sensation, and is sue
cessful IN retaining the monopoly, his
readers are to be numbered by millions,
and are limited only by the united cir
culation Of the several prints publishing
his "copy"
The liner" then, is "the picker-up
of unconsidered trihes." As such he is
attachedt to no one paper, but contribute,
to all. He belongs to no staff and ac-
knowledges no superior. His daily work
depends entirely upon his own selection
and his anxiety at all hours is for news.
When his search is successful, he pro-
ceeds to use his blacks, carbonized
paper, his stylus, and his wits, in order
to produce some six or eight 'fimsies.
which he afterward drops into the re-
spective editors aboxes" Of Fleet street,
in the hope that one, two, three, or even
more of the journals of the following day
may contain his item of intelligence. The
liner is paid by the line for what is used
only, and hence his income is mostpre-
carious one Perchance some windfall
may put heap of gold in his way, at
rare intervals, but in the ordinary course
his ''limsiesn are thrown into the waste
basket as soon as received.
Sub-edltors are but human, and badly
written, almost illegible, horribly spelled,
and frantically ungrammatical express
sions on commonplace subjects are liable
to try their patience unduly. Boil it
down is a rule which is not to the
I" liners . interest to observe. On the
other hand, one of the chief qualifca-
tions of his craft is to enlarge, expand,
distend, dilate the cost matter-of-fact
circumstances. Art4 I" liners write a
small, cramped hand, and leave no mar
gin for corrections or space between the
lines.
If so fortunate as to secure some sort
Of engagement by one Of the morning or
evening papers, the elmer has stimu-
lus to labor honestly, which most of his
fraternity are without. There is every
reason to suppose that low-class liners "
make the major part Of their incomes
ont of the douciers they receive for sup
pressing reports. Provided there be a
combination among them, they can safely
promise to "keep it out Of the papers, Z
and they are sometimes bribed to hush
up what probably never would have
appeared at all, for it is the ignorant
man who magnifes his personal affairs
that is most desirous Of paying hush
money.
The feeling ofrivalry is so strong among
'Giners" that they do not hesitate to be
tray each other when-it serves their pur.
pose. An amusing incident is related BY
Mr.. James Grant, formerly editor Of the
Morning Ad0ertiser. A elmer who, il
those days, was allowed access to the
sub-editor's room, placed on the table 8
report Of the romantic elopement Of a rich
beauty with stable boy. The sub-edi
tor was absent. and before he returned
another elmer" entered the room, saw the
heading Of the copy and purloined tht
news. Then he set to work to rewrite the
statement, which was most interesting
one. and under his own name took il
back to the office. The account duly ap
peared. Both liners sent in their bills
and the dishonest one was first at the
cashiers counter, and went his way witt
his ill-gotten gains. On the arrival of the
real author scene ensued, and the sub
editor was called upon to produce th'
MSS. On his doing so the victimizec
'qiner' was bewildered to find that it wa:
his rivals handwriting A collision sub
sequently took place. in the sub-editor'i
presence, between the two 'penny-liners,
and BY and by the recriminations reached
so great height that the real author, de
termined to be revenged on his enemy a
all hazards, broke out with great energ1
in these words: "Sir, the article is mine
The man must have stolen the copy | lef
on your desk, for there is not word o
truth in the story. 1t was pure inven
ton of mine from beginning to end.
Fishing Perils.
The following table exhibits in com
Z Il