Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-02-14

MIR John Gilbert, the actor, recently
made a causiio and pertinent remark,
to a professional interviewer 1t was to
the effect that the newspapers inter
cstcd themselves entirely too much
about the private concerns OF actors
Mr.. Gilbert is right No actor is too
insignificant or contemplate to attain
paragraph in newspaper A facti-
tious taste is deliberately engcndcrcd
and iostcrcd by the newspapers. And
then, having manufactured the taste,
the newspapers declare tina, they are
merely satisfying an existing demand,
1t seems to be universally admitted
that comic journal is desirable
thing. The trouble is, that idea rs to
what is funny vary widely or, il any
thing like standard be agreed upon,
it is next to impossible TO find an edi.
tor capable of maintaining it. In the
entertaining "Recollections" OF Mr.
Edmund Yates, several OF the former
editors OF the London Punch are
sketched The only man really made
for the part, it appeas, was that modem
Falstah, Mark Lemon. Corpulent,
joyial, bright-eyed, with a hearty laugh
and an air of 60Rhomie, he rolled
through life the outward representation
of jolllty and good temper Taylor,
weak, vacillating and fidgety, was, "at
his worst in his Punch work, which was
badly chosen, long.winded and dull"
John l.eech was melancholy in person,
but bright in the paper, We are at
times almost inclined to say that the
reverse is true OF Mr., Burnard, the
present editor, who gives us two grains
OF wit hidden in bushel of puns. 1t
is only within the last few years that any
avowedly comic journal has received
popular support in the United States.
The work OF editing such periodicals is
said 10 be serious, and the work OF
reading them ohcn;imes is depressing.
This is because nothing is funny after
we grow accustomed to it. Hebdoma-
dial wit cannot flash spontaneously.
We are nation OF humorists, but our
best things are not heard in after.din-
ner speeches, nor read in printed col
umns. headed Humorous.
A new business has developed within
the past few years, and is now being
conducted in London and New York,
perhaps in other cities also The idea
is simple one, and only derives its
value from the thoroughness with which
it is carried out, and it seems to have oc-
Cured simultaneously to several people,
who proceeded to put ii into execution.
There are two forms Of the system,
both Of which aim to supply subscribers
with newspaper clippings at definite
rate. In one form the subscriber is
supposed to receive all newspaper slips
in the original text, which in any way
refer to himself Literary men artists
actors and politicians, are the chiet
patrons of this form of inquiry. In the
second method, subscribers file lists Of
subjects upon which they desire al
editorials, news items and special arti
cles, and the amount of material thai
can be thus collected for purposes O
book making and magazine-writing i.
practically limitless. II agencies will in
vest sufficient capital to procure copie:
OF every newspaper in the world, ir
every language, and will perfect some
system by which trained clerks examine
and classify their contents, including
advertisements, the direct benefit tc
thousands of persons will be very great
Historians, economists, novelists, politi
cal leaders, professors in colleges, anc
learned societies OF all descriptions
will especially appreciate the saving ii
time and money effected by such {
system. 1t is in the line OF the labor
saving demands Of this enegetic age
Nevertheless, it is one of those thing
that are not worth doing unless the,
are unimpeachably well done.