The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-26
YET, We've All Been ThAra

I HdCI INC Hcdtt VI [AmeuilltS III Jour-
naism, the Jacksonville Courier refers
to the too frequent practice of newspaper
reporters, who are either too lazy or too
busy to attend meetings. parties or en>
tertainments, or who if they do attend are
unable to remain but few minutes,
writing their reports from programme or
drawing upon their fertile imaginations.
For instance, says the Courier it having
been announced that there would be II
party at certain place on certain
evening, or that certain gentleman will
deliver an address on a certain subject
at certain time and place, the
reporter may write short com
plimentary notice of the affair on
the presumption that the announce
ment has been fulfilled, and the article
will duly appear the next day. whereas it
may happen that the party has been post
poned. or the gentleman who was to have
spoken failed to make his appearance.
Or having supplied himself with a pro-
gramme the reporter may expatiate upon
the performance, dealing out little harm
less taffy to each, whereas it may happen
that one or IN IRE of the performers were
not present or for other re isons did not
perform, or they may have changed the
subjects of their performances.
The errors thus committed are FIRE
quently extremely ludicrous, and make
the paper in which they appear ridicu-
lous. Nevertheless, while often the re-
porters laziness my be the cause, it is
more commonly true that in the pressure
of numerous things to attend to he can
not give each its due attention, and he
errs through kindly cndeavor to make
a mention or report which will please
those directly interested rather than
neglect or omit notice of the event alto
gether,
A writer in the Council Bluffs H5rad
relates two amusing incidents of the kind
On the occasion the reporter wrote glow.
ing account of an alumni reception, com,
plimentary to the gentleman who delivered
the annual Grafton, who he said "held
the attention of the large and cultured
audience throughout" and lauding to
the skies the elegant and pathetic essay
of Miss Smith, who he said possesses a
rare fund of humor, and who reads with
the ease and grace of Il trained eocution
ist." The next day he learned the re,
ception had been postponed on account
of the stormy weather.
On another occasion the reporter left
q seminary commencement before its
conclusion. and drew upon his imagina-
ton for the remaining performances
AMONG others he wrote of "a delightful
essay by Miss W. the beauty of the
language OF which was only equalled by
the charms and accomplshm ents of the
handsome writer and reader, whose pretty
features glowed with the enthusiasm hcl
subject inspired in her" The reporter
intended to be very mplimentaay, but
unfortunately Miss W, whom he die
not know by sight, was exceedingly
homely, having red hair and SCARED and
freckled face, so that his kindly meant
notice appeared the cruelest and mos,
ungentlemanly sarcasm. The Herald
writer relates that the reporter was intro
duced to the young lady soon afterwards
and eventually married her.
But. brethren. when there are half a
dozen happenings at the same hour of
the same night, and but one poor, weak.
mortal man to get there, Eli" to all of
the same, what can man do9