The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-04


evening paper has somewhat followed in the
wake of American journalism 1t was the first
of the London dailies to introduce the custom of
interviews, and its columns during these later
years have published conversations with almost
all of the leading men Of Great Britain. No dis
tinguished or illustrious stranger has visited
England, whose opinions have not been sought
on all subjects at the time, engaging public at
tention. No newspaper IN the world so success
fuly-and with great elevation OF tone-com-
bines the sensational and the literary, the smart
and the sedate to like extent as the Pail Mall
Gazette.
The Morning Post is the home paper of the
aristocraey and diplomatic world OF Great
Britain 1t is in fact the only daily paper that
treats local and fashionable events with any de-
gree of elaborateness. 1T tells us the where
abouts the daily doings and interests Of all Of
the leaders of fashion. 1t reviews every morn
ing the diplomacy of the world, and as far as
may be- takes some recognition of the faShlona-
BILE society of all England; and even of CONT
mental nations. 1t is out and out the organ of
John Bull 1t is conservative prejudiced, unen-
terprising unprogressive, fixed, and would be
infallibe in all its views of life, and especially
of the relations of England to the rest of man
kind. Its estimate of the worth of a man is pre-
csely the estimate placed upon him by the no.
bility, the wealth and the fashion of Great
Britain,
The only weekly papers of sectarian sort
which have any considerable influence in Eng
land the Spectator; the Saturday Review,
and the Athen9um. The former two OF these
have about equal merit in almost every respect
The first is the organ OF the Liberals and the IN
other of the Tories The Spectator is eminently
literary, always cautious uniformly critical,
moderate in its views, and brilliant in its
writing. Although it has been the weekly or
gan of the Liberal party, it has espoused the
cause of the Established Church. and is as
higoted in its allegiance to the throne and the
aristocracy as the most conservative paper in
England. The Saturday Review is an out-and
out Tory paper. The Atheneum is a literary,
artistic, dramatic, and musical review.
Among the score or more society journals OF
London, it is only necessary to refer to Truth
and the World. These papers are to be found
upon the drawing room table of every aristo-
cratic middleclass family of Great Britain.
They are concerned. for the most part, with
society affairs, and chronicle the sayings and the
doings Of the court, the aristocracy and the
weather. classes
The Illustrated News and the Graphic are
chiefly remarkable for the timeliness and the
artistic worth of their Illustrations The texts
Of these papers cover wide range of subjects,
which are treated editorially, in correspondence,
and in special articles They TOUCH in light
way, society, artistic, dramatic. and musical
matters.
most an earthly paradise. Journalists of all
ranks and stations in the profession meet on
common plane, and there is a delightful Free
masonry of spirit and inter Certain
Journalists nave the enCreo OF the nlgn0St Clr-
cles of society, and certain others are among
the most conspicuous characters to be met with
in the metropolis.
Journalism takes it's rank as among the
learned professions in Great Britain, and COM
mands the first intellects and the highest re-
muneration. 1t is very unusual for anyone
without university training to be connected
with the editorial staff of an English journal
The literary work of the newspaper is wholly
distinct from its mechanical department. Those
vuhn NIT yUhn those who
determine the character, the thought and the
influence of the paper, are men OF the most
highly cultivated minds and of the widest academ-
&c attainments. AS consequence OF this fact,
the English journal is very much more potential
in creating opinion, and in guiding action, than
the press of any other country. 1t is, however,
perfectly true of Germany, France and Italy,
that the daily paper of these countries Is In
the hands of cultivated and capable men,
The present editor-in-chief of the London
Tines, a young Oxford graduate-who was
for a time the associate of the late
editorials stipend so it is understood, of
$25, 900 a var And all editorial writer's
on the leading papers of London and the
provinces receive salaries ranging from 49, 900
to $40, 900, and in exceptional instances, salaries
of larger amount The grandfather of Mr.. John
Walter, the present proprietor of what Burke
called "the fourth estate" was the Rrst news
paper proprietor who recognized the importance
of inducing men of talent to contribute to the
furtherance of journalism. By his insight and
energy he called to his assistance the first
abilities of the United Kingdom, and thereby
almost instantly gave prominence and an in
duence to the Times hitherto unknown in the
history of journalism and so made that paper
in spite of many obstacles, the organ Of free
opinion. of popular knowledge and of enormous
commercial value.
The Times and the Standard have made their
great regulations almost wholly through their
capable and serious treatment of all subjects
which they essay to canvas. No il-advsed or
ill-considered opinion ever finds its way into
their editorial columns; and they are very much
more concerned in giving to their enormous
clentage the verified news OF the world than
exciting their nerves with imaginative creations
and sensational rumors. By this course they
under educated and less thinking of the British
public go to these and similar journals for their
daily reading and information.