The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-02
PARTISAN JOURNALISM.
The Personalism of the French Press
Some of the Leading Newspapers.

Inc fersonditSm OF the fFench PresS-
Some of the Loading Newspapers.
In recent interview Mr.. Hopkins,
of LIE Mdttn, Paris, gave to San
Francisco Chronicle reporter some in
teresting glimpses of Partisan journal
ism:
Partisan journalism" said he, sis
remarkable for its many failures and its
few great successes. Paris may be said
TO De the graveyard OF newspapers. 1t
is easy for journal to be born there
and easy for it TO die. Since we started
the .batt2 as many as fifty or sixty pa
pers have been started and disappeared.
1t Is easy to start paper in Paris. be-
cause the cost is so trifing. OF the
more than fifty daily papers in that city
not more than six are printed on their
own type, and OF the SIX not more than
two or three are printed on their own
presses. Even lie FstH Journal, with
lis 925. 900 daily circulation is printed
bv Marouina under contract. The FL
gG"G is also printed by him. He is
builder of machines and has the ampest
facilities. Ali that is necessary to start
Il Journal in Paris is an Office, desk. pen,
ink, and paper. Contracts can always
DC made with any OF the large printing
establishment on Montmartre street
These viii furnish from fifteen thousand
10 twenty thousand OF large tour-page
paper for about 1,500 francs. The ad-
yer,iSing is farmed out TO one of the
three great advertising firms who mo-
uopoize the business. The Anglo
Saxon style Of cheap and direct adyer-
JsIur is unknown in France. The cir
culatlon may also thus be farmed out.
so it will be seen that few thousand
irancs is ample 10 start a paper IN
Paris. Not only does every political
group have its own organ, but almost
every faction of group, every senator,
and even deputies of wealth, influence,
and ambition. They are founded every
where to serve private interests and
personal ambitions. In France it costs
no more to keep daily newspaper than
ii does to keep a mistress, a steam
yacht, or a pack of hounds. The news
paper has this advantageous it leads
% ali sort OF things even to the presi-
dency.
"ihe greatest newspaper success of
France, probably of the world. is lie
ett journal. 1t daily prints 925. O0O
copies, and sells them all 1t is believed
that it is read by one-half of the reading
public of France. 1t is cheap paper,
selling for a sou. Its advertising rates
are very high, some of its space bring
ing as much as 20 francs a line 1t has
a larger circulation than all the morn
ing dailies OF New York and London
combined. The net profits of the con-
oern last year exceeded 81. 100000. The
great success of this journal may be at
tributed TO its teutt!e!OnS, or continued
stories, of which each number contains
two. 1t was the pioneer of the feuiUe-
ton idea. Its admirable system of ad-
vert;sing itself has also helped it.
Among its original contributors are
lola, Haleyy, Sardou, Daudet, Clarette,
and others.
The FigGra has also been great
financial success, and as literary
product is the most brilliant newspaper
in France. 1t was founded by Vile
messant, famous the world over. 1t
was the first paper in Paris to intro
duce interviews and other features of
reporting. 1t is managed by MN.
Maynard, Perivier, and Rodays Among
It's staff are Albert Wolf, Baron Patel
Qgnotus) Philippe Gle (Niasque de
FeD. jules Prevel, and others The
Figaro is great financial success. The
shares originally were worth 81 francs;
now they are worth II, 900 francs
The Temps is an evening paper of a
serious type, and, perhaps, one of the
best Journals in Paris. 1t has been a
very fair financial success.
yy-gtyy2 fprpInI tho hi
Emile Girardin. has been very popular
paper in France and formerly exercised
GREAT political influence The genius of
painfully dropping. The building of
Ia France is one Of the finest in France,
aud is repete with every appointment,
even to fencing room for the editors
and their friends.
'Nou know, of course" said Mr..
Hopkins, "that the editorial rooms of
the Paris press are club-roomS for the
editors and their friends. Here all the
brilliant men of Paris gather after the
lay or the opera. Often in former
times (and even now) the criticisms on
the plays were not written for two or
three days. After the play the critics
must 60 to the cafe, and they really do
not have time for work.
81 can, perhaps no better illustrate
or contrast French pTocraStination and
American push than by relating an in
cident which occurred this year. One
Of the great events in Europe was the
Wagner musical festival AZ Bayreuth.
The Figaro sent one Of its most eminent
critics. The New York Times was rep
resented 10y its accomplished and able
correspondent, Mr.. Schap. The latter
cabled the Times two thousand words,
which were published in NewYork on the
following morning. The Figaro had not
word from Bayreuth for four or five
days or about three days before the
New York paper brought the news