The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25
EDITING THE NEWSPAPER.
lGeOrre William Curtis, ia HArpsrsI

The dlspGspoEtion between the actual and the apparent public interest ia mat. ters which occupt large and conspicu- ouS place in the newspapers has been often mentioned. The space allotted eo subject and the method of treatment are decided by the editors view of the probable taste of the readers of his par ticular ne w<paper. by it's general charac. ter and traditions, and by certain ac- cepted theories. Among such theories is the view that the public is always deeply interested in persons and person alihes, and consequently in scandals and crimes. Another or the controlling theo- ries is that the public al =syS wishes to oe entertained, and consequently great at. ten,ion is devoted to tae record and criticism of entertainments of theatres. operas, concerts, and Athiestc games of all kinds, and, tor the same reason, to brig ht and sparkling selections rom new books and current magazines, Another theory IS that ID party organs tho patrons desire no mercy upon the enemy. and that the other side. be,ng the evil one himself, shall Se painted ID the hlackes, possible colors, and caricatared ~.gh the utmost DO yer of ccntemp, and nd,eule, Theones of this kind are not Aatering to the pubic, yet Il Is observable that theor,es of another and more honorable kind do not generally prevail Tha, the reader wishes to know the truth, for in- stance, that he does not wish to read i'm pertinent details of private life, as he would not peep through key-hole, that he does not believe everything that he sees in a newspaper, and that he con cedes to others the same sincerity m opinion and expression of which he Is conscious in himself-theSe are not among the working theories of the pteIs The impression which the newspaper often leaves upon the observer is that 1t has not high respect for the public, IL often toadies and depteca,es and fiAiters, indeed, but its extravagance betrays it There IS cenaln tone of iniallibility also, which is entertaining, and which seems to spring from the same convic- ton which led the older sinner to advise he younger. My boy, you will ha. C to lie good deal, but remember to lie steadily and consistently
 These theories in the conduct of a newspaper naturally proven, It from being what IL IS often asserted to be, a dail, portrait of the world. The number of persons Who go to a theatre Tn the even inR, or to ball or a concert, is very Sm Ill pat of the population of a city The accidents and crimes of a day arc comparatively few. Blu, how iarge a pro. portion ot the attention of the ne-spa, per these command! The last present human nature in an unattractive aspect, and they tend to foster the cheap oyni. cism of the club window philosopher But of the constant wide -sprcadiu0 effective charities, the untiIing good works that are everywhere done even the more humane and generous side of the dancers and the diners and the play. goers of that tiv,,y of the daily world which best justifies its name of christen- dom, how scant the record, and how dls- propor ionate!
 lt l. gland had been the England which the mem oirs of the las, century cescfibe, i' would have vanished like Sodom and Gpmorrah The England of the memoirs and the novels and he plays vas bu, a httle England the England of tue court of certain class m the cites, of certain persons in the country. But the ch aIaCteT and the virtues which ~ro'e no memoirs and did not go 10 VAuxhall or 5, James. and which de- spised Lovelaoe these. indeed, continued the older England; but. Ike the heroes before Apau emnon, they had no poet, no newspaper
 Therefore fl any man is disposed to lose hear, because ln the daily ne ewSpa- per picture of life business seems 10 DC mere gambling, and O. iety mere os,en. tatious extravag nee, and poliics only furious p-uy spirit. let him remember that the madness of the exchange is not the chief busIness of the American peo pie, that the proiuse reckl-ssness Of fAsh. ion IS not American society, nd that the Uba'dry of party organs is not American politics The newspaper ctuIe of life cannot preserve the true proportions Of the or,ginal. lt is a photograph with disturbed focus. The nose or ear or mouth is exaggerated. The moderation the honesty, the humanity oi the city are not much noted in the newspaper, which must supply the ne~s "sp,ey and piping ho, Bot there are glimpses nough of it there, and you have only in follow the olew and you ~,li reach the Ros amond's bower of life as beautiful and devoted as that Of any time the life which IS the strength and hope of Amsrca