Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-06-21
PARIS NEWSPAPERS.
SIGNED EDITORIALS ARE COMMON
BUT NOT UNIVERSAL.

Foreign Affairs Treated with Intelligence
and Ability-Local Columns Not What
They Should Be-Ofces-Prices of Ad-
vertising-Copying the News.
The editorial department Of the Paris
papers. which is their leading feature. is
often able and brilliant. The habit of
signing editorial articles is common, but
by no means universal Among the ex-
ceptions are the Temps. the Debats. and
La Paix. The Matin has an article daily
from one of several writer's, among whom
are Jules Simon. Emanuel Arene, Ranc
and John Lemoinne. Each writer ex-
presses md is responsible for his own
opinions only. and as they represent ali
shades of politics except Socialism. what
the paper says one morning is fatty con-
tradicted by it's article of the following
day. What are called general articles"
. by the American newspapers are almost
always signed by Paris writer's. They
may be literary, critical. or may cover a
wide variety of interesting topics. Among
the best contributions Of this class are
those of Anatole de la France and Hughes
le Roux. written for the Temps.
Foreign affairs. SO far as regards the
continent, are of late years treated with
intelligence and ability The domestic
politics of the United States are still
poorly understood by the majority of
French journalists. with the exception of
few who have crossed the ocean. As to
hn in, &c fosv
than that of the London newspapers,
which is not paying it an extravagant
compliment. Probably not less than sixty
members Of the senate and chamber Of
deputies are connected with the Paris
newspapers. principally as contributors.
This leads to what would be considered in
other countries violations of parliamentary
privilege. or to occurrences that strike
foreigners as somewhat indelicate, jour
nails not hesitating sometimes to publish
facts Il at should be kept secret. or to give
speeches of their own writer's in extenso
with fulsome compliment.
IN THE LOCAL COLUMNS
The local columns of a Paris newspaper
are not what they should be or what their
readers would be glad to have them. for
want Of room. The great city is mino
of sensational material. tragic. comic,
grave. gay. but always interes ting if
properly treated AS a Paris newspaper
is usually small four page sheet. printed
In coarse type on bad paper. it is difficult
to get more into it than the literary and
political matter that must in any event
appear, and a mere resume of local events
If the foreign news is Of great importance,
local matter is crowded out If single
local event is sensational all other local
matters. no matter how interesting in
themselves. must make way for it. Re
porters of some papers sign their names
This practice sometimes causes curious
displays of egotism. the writers forgetting
that which they have to narrate is their
own personal experiences. The facts are
obscured by their efforts to obtain them,
their little deprivations. and the articles
OF food that composed their breakfast
The self consciousness of French |
newspaper writers is always notice |
able. whether they sign their arti-
cles or not. The editorial I'VE" often |
appears in the editorial columns. It is |
hard for correspondent in a foreign |
capital to give-the facts in dispatch
prefacing or interspersing them
with useless personal detail Aside, from
these evidences of imperfection and jour
aalistic juvenility. the local columns are
usually readable, and sometimes bright
md witty. The Paris interviewer, who
s q recent institution already become
Universal. is. if possible. more unscrupu-
Gus and imaginative than his American
,onfrere.
A Paris newspaper Office is not usually
IN abode of luxury. The France has a
inc building. of which it uses but small
,art itself. The Figaro is handsomely
installed in the Rue Druot. The Petit
Journal. the newspaper of the bcnnes,
oachmen and gareons, has comfortable
quarters in the Rue Lafayette Most of
he papers of small circulation are in the
Ipper story of some large building. where
heir business. editorial and composing
apartments are crowded into a few
mall. badly ventilated and poorly lighted
oOms.
TOO MANY NEWSPAPERS
There are far too many newspapers in
rance for the number of readers, and
hey cannot all be rich. The revolution
ry. socialistic and some Of the ultra-radi-
al newspapers are sold at one sou. Most
the others are sold at two SOUS Some
re sold at three sous. with another sou
dded when the size is doubled. as in the
ase of the Saturday edition of the Figaro.
sou is sometimes added to the Paris price
'r purchasers in the departments. The
ewsboy cuts no great figure in Paris.
len. boys and women cry certain sheets
! the streets. but if one wants a news
aper be has usually to go to the news
ands. Prices of advertising are high,
I'd Paris merchants do not care much ,
bout the newspapers as a means of max
g their goods known The space occu-
ed by legitimate advertising is nall.
lerefore the newspapers have to depend
r support ON their circulation and on
Ibsidies paid for their influence. These /
q sometimes large, and constitute their '
lief means of livelihood
Paris newspapers working for the most
Irt with an insufficient staff, the habit
copying from one another's columns is
neral. paragraphs being taken verbatim
; the evening from the morning papers
d vice versa As these paragraps often u
ntain opinions and individual ideas. they a