Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-05-13

written which refers especially in a
disparaging way to the conduct of
some individual. Observe that Per-
sonalities may be either written or
spoken. They may be written in
editorials or in correspondence, with
ink or chalk, IN fun or in earnest.
They may be published in the paper
for everybody to read, or may be
written to a friend, in confidence, to
be repeated only in the strictest con-
fidence to his or her dear five hun
bred friends. Personalities may
appear in plain print or may be en-
bellished with cuts. Some person.
alities of the latter description are
held to justify manslaughter-though
not murder in the first degree as the
mob must have its little diversions.
Some personalities find a place in the
local columns of the paper in the
afternoon and some on your side
walks or barn door in the morning.
Personalities may be spoken in all
styles and in all languages. They
may be spoken on the street, from
the house top, in a corner or in the
ear in a closet--the latter rarely
Vigorous English seems best adapted
to personality. Greek is too I'M
wieldy and it takes too much time
with the lexicon. The inspiration is
apt to die out while you are looking
up the right word.
Whoever is gifted with speech can
indulge in personalities. How sad
the lot Of the dsmb. The editor is
seldom dumb; his wife--neveri But
if any editor present lack knowledge
on this subject let him ask his wife,
at home. He will learn more about
it in three minutes than we can tell
him in an hour.
But notice these ''things written
or spoken are not representatives,
unless they disparage the conduct
of another. So Webster!
Remarks about dudes, block
heads, liars and the like, though
never so plainly pointed at another,
are not personalities" unless they
specially refer to his conduct. The
epithet paper largely supposed to be
the point of offending, in these lin
guistic sparring exhibitions, is not the
point at all. The personality consists
III such adroit use of words as TO
disparage the conduct, not simply
berate the individual. In our 20
years experience we have had occasion
to note some of the finer distinctions
among personalities" of which we
have ourself been the target. We
have in the phraseology of these per-
sonalities been made to appear in
nearly every disreputable character
in the whole category, and not seldom
has the i~nsinuation of fraud, ~rascality
and hypocrisy been backed by offer
to furnish the damning proof in such
quantities as to utterly overwhelm
US. So realizing the futility of all
attempts at defence or reputation, we
have recklessly pursued our way,
waiting ani still waiting for the
sword of Damocles to fall.
Now our inquiries have gone far
enough, SO we may understand and
define the scope, extent and limita-
ton of Journalistic Personalities"
Thus things written OF spoken dis.
paraglng OF the conduct of Others by
the editor, his wife, or any of the
rest of the newspaper household.
To this awful conclusion the ir-
res,sub.e force of logic, aud tie
dictionary. have brought us. Into
this gulf Of dark despair l bid you
look. And | would enioin that front
seats and opera glasses Inc furnished
ali editors. Managing ladies present
to-day, Come view the ballowed
ground where you must shortly lie
when your husband is gone and
you succeed to the management.
Journalistic Personalities Wht
can escape them?
Thicker than huckiehernes in {,
Wisconsin swamp! Tougher thai
the hide Of a rhinoceros, vicious a.
the serpenis in the wilderness who's.
bite was certain death. Sent lyin.
frcm pen and tongue to sting ant
plague and torment. Is there no de
iiversnce from their venom? NJ
!, anliAote for their poison? No relic
!, from the scourge of their omnipres
. eI.ce and their baieful infiuences l
; .nfcne knows OF such he had bette.
|, patent o. copyright it, and bis future
| is made. Thus far our craft has siis
covered but one mode CT dealing viii
+ journalistic personalities, give hin
ss good as be sends-if not a it'll
r better" We have known Of in
, stances in which the carrying out o
this principle Of journalistic piiiios
= o,,hy led to personalities" touch
/, ing not only the editor, but has wifi
+ and her children, his clothes his ha'
his horse and MS hog-in .aor
: every thing that was Biz. Shouts
: nat wonder il the pfoposer Of thi
3 subject for discussion before you 10
$ day had in mind the interchange Q
|, those little pleasAntries-nos 50 ex
:, h~austively land exhaustingiy )brough
e 10 your attention-between iou-na
lists themselves. IL so, it many hav
been in..ended that your ESSAYS
should show the folly, the wrong
Q and the disgrace personal Journalists
has broughs to the profession Ihi
n task he will not assay. Doubles