Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-02
ITALIAN JOURNALISM.
PecULLARlTIES OF THE EDITORS ANE
IMPORTERS OF ITALY.
The Italian Newspaper an Exceedingly,
Small Shcet-Conveniences Rare-Sheets
Appear at All Hours of the Night
Growth Of the Reading Habit.

ne ->eN-PaPCf an LACCCuthSA.
Small shcet-ConveniencesR are-Sheet,
Appear at All Hours of the Night
Growth of the Reading Habit.
The Italian journal is generally an exceed
ingly small sheet, printed on a poor quality
of paper and in coarse type. 1t is well
enough to print n paper in large type when
the motive is its convenient perlIsal, but that
is not the object of the publishers of Italian
journals With them il is from the desire to
economic, which is always paramount and
usually necessary. The size varies from that
of theatre programme smaller often than
those sold at the doors of Paris theatres and
distributed in American places OF amusement
to the dimensions Of the average country
paper in California or the smallest of the city
daiies.
The place where the paper is printed may
be part Of an ancient palace, for this species
of edifice varies in its uses in Italian cities
from stable TO the abode of princes. As
places where business can be carried on are
always in excess OF the demand, the rent
here is as cheap as elsewhere, and is accord
ing to the space occupied. The different
departments arc disposed in small apart
partmen:s, separated by hasty partitions, and
the press or presses, which are commonly of
antique form and generally propelled by
hand, though there are many exceptions,
are installed in the larger rooms adjacent
The conveniences common in American
newspaper ofiices-telephones, speaking tubes
lumb-waiters and similar means of econo-
MIXING labor-are rarely seen, inexpensive
muscle being always available TO communi-
cate between rooms ON the same floor or the
different stories of the building. The paper
II the smallest size, that depend principally
IN the support of the common people are
poorly accommodated, and their surroundings
are often of the most sordid description
THIN EDITOR AND STARVED REPORTER
The chief editor of an Italian daily i
usually thin, careworl, thoughtful being
Ike those VINO do most of the editorial writ
ing, speaking French with more or less reaili-
ness and cordial to visitors according to the
pressure of his duties The force being
limited, he can afford to be bored possibly
even less can than his American confreres
Good reporters, If any such exist in Rome,
Naples, Florence or Venice, Judged by the
American standard, are not paid more than
- lire 80 n week, and editors sum in pro-
portion, and neither are ever numerous But
an Italian reporter can live, even If he does
not thrive, on very little. Economy has been
the great lesson of his existence If he can
not afford to have meat, he viii content HIM
self with bread and wine, leaving such
iuxuries as beer and cigarettes, the staff of
life Of so many American journalists, to be
had or.not, as circumstances permit.
italian papers are ostensibly either morning
or evening, but they appear at all hours of
the..day and night with a constancy OF repeti-
lion that is bewildering to n stranger and
tends TO confound their identity. This is
and on the slightest provocation of
news, local, of the country, or foreign, that it
IS thought by the publisher Is able TO sell
few copies. In America q newspaper has its
regular hour, and only issues an extra when
an important event occurs TO warrant the
Effort. This is not alone for the convenience
Of the publisher, but of his readers, who do
not care to have their business interests inter
rupted by the extra publication of news Of
trivial value. But in Rome, for instance it
is different. In Rome there are more I'M
occupied and idle people, and these are at the
cafes, and in the streets or places in the
evening, and TO them the journals that APP
pear every hour announcing some not very
serious governmental crisis, or some faint
stroke of foreign policy in the Red sea, are
an agreeable diversion.
GROWTH OF THE READING HABIT.
SO the Italian gentleman, sitting at a cafe
with his family or friends, luxurioIisly enjoy
ing 5ceat cup Of coffee, Scent glass of
MARSHA, n cordial equally inexpensive, or n
l0-cent ice, such as the Italian confectioners
know so well how TO prepare, is willingly in
,errupted by the gauIin with The extra edition
Of the evening newspaper, or of the morning
sheet which has been prematurely delivered
Of piece of news which is deemed startling
He adds soldi, therefore. 10 his reckless ex-
penditure. takes the Journal, and having
begged pardon of his friends. aiSorbs its con-
tents with that marvellous tranquility which
IS distinguishing characteristic of the Ro-
man character. Having finished, he returns
10 the discussion of his cheap and light re-
lection and the former subject of converse
ton, or discuss with the same unyeTying
ralmneSs the news he has just learned, which
may be, as it sometimes exceptionally is, OF
grave Importance.
The reading habit is growing in Italy, as is |
SHOWN not alone by the sale and perl,sal of |
papers. but by that of cheap books and |
manuals on all sorts of subjects, popular and |
which authors and publishers nre |
patriotic and thoughtful TO sup |
ply in copious quantities and at cheap rates. /
The boys and young men who noisily, and in |
manner much like the same class in /
America, sell newspapers in the streets, often |
vince be- their cries an intelligent knowledge |
# the contents Female news vendors, young |
md old, may often he seen reading at their |
Sisoks which are ike those at Paris and else |
where in France, though not always SO neat |
md ornamental So also the coachman on |
lis box. or the small green grocer or lemonade |
seller in his hole in the wall which passes for |
shop. Every class of the population of the |
titles, and "A good proportion of the people OF |
he country. keep themselves au coiirant with |
public affairs either 10y reading the papers of |
Rome, Naples, Milnn, Florence or Genoa, |
which 90 everywhere. or by conversation and |
discussion of political topics with their neigh |
sors who are better informed.
There are about 200 daily newspapers in /
italy. and as the three which have de /
cribed in this general way are in the largest |
titles, the Imagination viii have to depicture /
hose which are published in the smaller. |
Nothing analogous 10 the county or village |
newspaper in America exists in the Italian 1
OF the 200 daily papers it is said |
hat Mt least two-thir,is are liberal that is, |
hat they favor the extreme amount OF CON |
liberty. or republic for which, /
With great good sense they are willing To wait. |
The best may be expected from press like |
his ON the minds of people whose intel
igence is rapidly being -eawckered, aud /
whose consciousness Of national union and |
IDENTIFY is becoming from day 10 day more
lctive and intense Albert Sutliife in San |
Francisco Chronicle
Gum for the Postage stamps.
Starch will not dissolve in cold water, but /
( il be heated at a little over 400 degrees for
lalf an hour, il becomes slightly colored. and
viii then dissolve in cold water Tne chemical
composition of the starch is not changed. but |