The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-04-10
-oURNALIsE.
Emile ZoIa seys Something HnteFe=t-
ing on the Subject.

Emile ZoIa @eys Something Hntcre=t-
ing on tiie SubJcct.
For moro than fifteen wears have bat
tied for my principles through the columns
of the daily press. At first | was Obliged
70 follow journalism in order TO earn my
living, and / found it hard work ] think
have occupied every position on news
paper, and done all the work n reporter
can do, from reporting police-news to re-
porting the proceedings OF the Chambers.
Later on, when found myself able to live
through the sale of my books, still re-
mained in the turmoil of journalism,
through pure love of the exciting struggle.
l felt myself alone; there was no critic
willing to espouse my cause and desired
to defend myself so long as 1 remained
at the breach, victory seemed to me well
assured. Tho most furious assaults spur
ed me more to the defence, and gave me
courage.
To-day l cannot say whether my fighting
tactics have always been the best; but 1
have at least learned one thing--to recog-
nize the true nature of the press. My
elders in literature, the most celebrated
writer's. have frequently Illuminated
against il and hesped the more terrible
accusations upon it it was the presswhich
was killing good literature; the press bor-
rowed its style from the language OF the
cutters the press was the democratic
agent OF universal stupidity. ! omit the
most furious charges made. Meanwhile
] listened reflected that those who spoke
OF the press so bitterly could not know it
not indeed because it was wholly inno-
cent OF all that it was approached with,
but because 1t possesses large and mighty
powers for good which more than coun-
terbaiance its power for evil. One must
have long suffered from journalism and
hcaD often tpf ~ In ord fr mn
derstand it and love it
would say to any young writer who
comes to me for advice: Leap boldly into
journalism just as one leaps into the water
IN order tolearn how to swim. - II is the
only virile school of the age; it is those
who come into contact with mon Of all
contact there it is, also, that one learns,
through the special characteristics Of the
trade, to forge good style upon the terri
bic anvil OF journalistic duty. / know
That journalism has heen accused of drain
Ing MEMS ability, OF turning them away
from serious study Of any sort, or Smoth-
ering literary ambitions Of a higher char
scter. Most assuredly ii drains the
ability Of men who have no real talent or
brains it restrains lazy and sterile natures
who have no ambition beyond an easy
living But what does that matter? I
am not now speaking of commonplace
men for such persons will always remain
In the slime OF the press, Just as
they would have remained in the slime
TnUNerC1hi or LEGAL pursuit
they might have undertaken / am speak
ing for the strong ones, Tor those who
work and who have Will Of their own.
Let such rs these fearieSsly enter journal
ism They will return To - from IL as
our soldiers return from n campaign disci-
plined, covered with honorable scars,
masters Of their profession and ot other
men.
Have not the best writers in our ranks
to-day passed through this probation
We are all children oi the presS we have
all won our first honor in its ranks 1t
was the press that broke us into a definite
style. as young horses are broken for the
harness; It WIS tho press which furnished
Us with most or the facts we possess re
garding real life. he only important
thing to remember ~ this. " e must be
strong writers in order to make use Of the
press, instead OF allowing the press 10 make
use OF us. The press viii carry only n
good man forward TO his goal
These are practical lessons which even
the most energetic natures must dearly
pay for. am now speaking OF my own
experience-whO have often cursed
Journalism, SO bitter are il stinzs How
many times have ! caught myself launch
ing against it the very accusations / had
deemed unjust when uttered Dy others
How often have / vowed thnj the trade OF
iouruaiisU was the lowest of all trades
that it were better 10 clean the streets, to
break stones. to do any rough or. dirty
labor than make Ons'S living Jnus And
every time my gorge would rise sit some
meanness, some pettlnCSs, some filthy
spitefulncss discovered by mere chances
perhaps, all these thoughts and complaints
would como back upon nae. For IN jour
nalism one must thus occasionally sUum-
bic into QuaKmires of inDecIiity or trench
cry or dishonesty. This is the ugly and,
unfortunately, inevitable side. One is
Vilined bitten, fiayed without often be
ing able to understand whether it is being
done through stupidity or through down
right wickedness. Ali sense of justice
then seems TO you TO be utterly deSd in
the world one longs to fee for refuge TO
some quiet little study of ones own;
where no noise could be heard from with
out, and n here one could write in peace,
far from society, and create pure works OF
disinterested art.
But this anger and this disgust gradu-
ally depart the press becomes all power
full. One has TO go back to journalism as
to first-love. II is life; it is action; it is
all that lntoXicates and triumphs. When
ever one forsakes it, he cannot swear unto
himself that he will never return for IL
is q force of which he Will always have
need, once its mighty influences is fully
understood. Even though it have passed
you through a rough sieve; even though
1t has often been stupid or false-never-
theleSs it remains one of the strongest and
most powerful tools of the century and
whosoever has put himself courageously
to the true work Of the age, far from bear
ing the press any fll-will, must return TO
beg its aid whenever he has to combat
wrong or wrestle for riGhe