The Dickinson press., 1888-09-01
NOT THE LITERARY CAPITAL.
a Mistaken Idea Corrcctcd-Ncw York
Not Kind to Journalists.

a Mistaken Idea Corrcctcd-Scw York
Not Kind to Journalists.
New York is not, never was, and never
will be tho literary capital of the United
States, In fact, this country has no literary
capital like London and Paris. But Ncw
York, with its vast wealth and great com
lnelrial importance, is constantly attracting
young and ambitious men who wish to push
their fortunes in one way or another Among
others, come the young men of literary tastes
who rush to tho metropolis, full Of bright
hopes of fame and fortune. Alasl how ew,
how very few realize their hopcsl
\ mistaken idea exists among outsiders as
to tho high prices paid by the New York
newspapers, both to their regular staff wri.
tcrs and to their special contributors. The
crowdins to the metropolis is so great that
the supply of journalists by far exceeds
the demand, and consequently, the pay
is very small. On tho morning news
papers. ..ltecn to twenty dollars n week
is the regular salary of tho reporters, while
tho afternoon papers pay only ten and fifteen
dollars. The managing editors Of some of
the afternoon papers receive such small
salaries that they are obliged to exc out n
living by doing hack work for literary syn
dicatcs. Stories are constantly going the
rounds Of tho press about the %eXtravagant
prices paid by Tho New York World for
special articles. 1t was said that Henry
Ward Beecler was paid $500 for Il regular
column article published in tho Sunday cdi,
ton. Now | happen to know that the article
in question vas furnished by a newspaper
syndicate at 81 Il week. Eight dollars n
column is the amount which The World pays
for special articles; Tho Herald pays S6, The
Tribune $40, and the afternoon papers only
S.. Outside of tho contributions of their
regular staff the New York dailics print
very little matter except what is furnished
by the numerous newspaper syndicatcs.
Neither famo nor fortune is made by the
average New York newspaper man. His
name is unknown outside of the region of
Printing House square.
Except two or three veterans, tho New
York correspondents Of the out Of town
newspapers receive very small PAYS n
letter Of 1000 words being moro than the
average; some are glad to get IS, but the
matter they write is poor indeed. Tho at
mosplcro of New York is material, not
literary. A commercial spirit pervades Fifth
avenue as we'll as Wall street. A money
standard prevails everywhere, and literary
talents do not receive any recognition, while
the successful stock speculator fills the news
papers with his operations. Few prominent
literary men reside in New York, and they
find very little congenial compunionship, for
there is not a literary salon in the city where
congenial spirits can meet in social inter
course.
New York is neither the place to make
money by literary work, nor the place to dc
literary work in. Life in New York is not
conducive to study, culture or meditation.
For u city inhabited by, or adjacent to,
nearly 100000 of people, it is astonishingly
deficient in libraries. Persons who wish tc
shine as fixed stars in tho armament of liter.
allure, should avoid New York as a perma-
ncnt residence; and those who wish to make
a living by literary work alone will not find
New York a good field. Eugene l. Didiel
in Tho Writer