The Indianapolis journal., 1885-10-18
THE SWAGGER OF NEWSPAPERS.
Some Reasons Why a journal May Properl
Blow It's Own Horn.

Some Reasons Why a journal May Properly
Blow It's Own Horn.
George William Curtis, in Nov mber Harper.
The canon of good breeding which requires
that man shall not celebrate himself is evi-
IDENTIFY suspended in the case of newspapers
which do certainly blow the most prolonged
blasts upon their own trumpets, and in the most
resonant manner tell listening world of their
enterprise and public spirit and their superiori-
ty to ali competitors We learn from the papers
themselves OF the immense interest which their
articles awaken, and OF the general recognition of
the fact that their news is fiesher and more
spicy than that of any rival, and that the social
or other movement which they have initiated is
proceed G prosperous,y to triumph. and that
the Pr ,sident, or the Governor, or Congress has
wisely needed the advice which they have given.
The excellent journals attest their own fidelity
to principle and religion, and give MS their word
that they act upon the highest motives.
Now the boaster, as we have already seen,
may be the nero that he describes The Gas
cons gave their name to gasconade but they
were doughty fellows notwithstanding and if
Pinkney was solictous about his frills and era
vats, he was none the less peerless in debate.
The journal which trumpets its own energy,
enterprise and prosperity may be merely tell
ing the truth; and there is one consideration
which seems to absove the proprietor or the
editor as such from the obligations of social
comfy which rest upon him as man. The
same person who, as editor or proprietor brags
upon the comic stage, shall be in private inter
course very Mercutio the most urbane and
modest of gentlemen. He brags professionally.
not personally. He swaggers and dogmatizes
not as Snug the joiner, but as the lion. in the
play he has undertaken to perform AS your
guest he would shrink and blush to assert
truculenty that he is superior to ANYBODY at
the table. But as the editor or proprietor he
does not hesitate to announce in the most
strident type, so to speak, that he aitopether
outstrips all his comrades of the press
Why does he do it? Simply because nobody
else will do it for him. 1t is essential for the
success of his journal that its character should
be known. But beyond quarrepg with il as an
esteemed contemporary. and com plimentipg it
upon a new font of type, one journal takes little
notice Of another. They are rivals, and. as their
profits arise largely from the receipts for adver-
tisng, they do not advertise each other for moth
ing, and consequently each must advertise itself
All the blowing Of the journals trumpet in honor
etc, is advertisement The brag and
boast are merely professional like
the swagger of the actor in his mart:
and the player lays swagger aside with the
costume of the character. and appears to you, AS
he essentially is the most quiet and retiring of
men-like the admirable comedian Finn for in
stance. fifty years ago-so the editor leaves the
robes of his flaming sef-puffery behind him in
his office. and emerges the most genial and sim
pie of men.
1t is plainly as unjust, therefore, to suppose
that the editor who celebrates his paper so ex-
ueerantly ia the most ridiculously conceited
and ill hammered of men as to suppose that be-
cause MIR. jefferson is Rip Van Wrinkle upon the
stage he is constantly sitting about on tables in
private life, and drinking your health and your
familysin ever-renewed bumpers.