The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-11-16
OUR KALEIDOSCOPE.

| paper being devoted to William Cullen Bryant Tn 90 far as the article relates to MT. Bryant 1t Is . delightful sketch, tinctured hero and there with e tinge of friendly criticism, and yet presenting in many waysa charming view of one of America's great poets. MT. StoddArd, however, takes occa- sion, and 1t certainly is Aggression from his sub- ect to pay his respects to the profession of jour- nAlism. After lAmenting the fact that Bryant saw it to abandon the law to become an editor, MT. StOddard says:
 "The journalist may be a clever man, and every good journalist Is a very clever man, but all the same, while he may atter himself he is the master he Is the servant of his time-the creature of the day and the hour. Not that he may not have con- victions Of his own and believe that In prosecuting them he is actuAted by the highest motives, but that, sooner later, he Is handicapped by consid- erations from which he cannot escape, however he may wsh to- and fettered In the exercise of his best powers. Journalism, as practiced here, is a war fare One may follow 1t as the soldiers of Napoleon followed him, for the mArshal's baton that may lie perdU in the knapack of the bravest, and, while l cannot respect the ambition that leads him to do understand its force But there are soldiers who fight for pay as we'll as glory, and for pay rather than glory, and for these can feel nothing but contempt. I know such fellows, whom will not 90 far honor to compare with the Swfs, for the Swiss on whatever side they fought, did their duty mAnfully-scribblers who wrote Republican editorials last year who write Democratic editorials this year, and who next year will be writing both equally we'll, or ill-hirelings whom 1t is as dis graceful to employ as 1t would be to employ bravocs."
 In addition to the above MT. StoddArd adds, by way of apology, 1t seems for MT. Bryant, that the journalistic profession, when MT. Bryant entered it, was an honorable one and a calling which gen. tlemAn might pursue without forfeiting his self respect.
 After a careful reading of Mr. StoddArd's article and noting his deep regret that Bryant, or any man who also essays literature, should have any thing to do with the disgrAceful profession of journalism, can also imagine the extent of MT. StoddArd's and grief that he himself should have been by the force of circumstances compelled to waste his best days in the New York custom house hireling for the government-a position so serve and 90 humiiAting that at each change of administration he was forced to seek the aid of these very journalists for whom he hss expressed such warm contempt to retain the place that gave him, what for long time his literary work failed to do, his bread and butter.
 The profession of journalism has its drawbacks, but have heard 1t asserted that 1t destroys mans independence of character, his mAniness or his integrity; while the other hand 1t is gener- ally conceded that nothing will speedily demor- Ase and unfit for fighting the battle of life, or retard progress to an honorable and independent manhood, as a government clerkship.
 MT. StoddArd regrets the loss to the country of the poetry which Bryant might have written had his lines fallen in pleasanter places than in dingy and stufy editorial rooms He also mentions the fact that he himself was at time offered posi- tion on MT. Bryant's paper-the Post-but declined 1t and doubtless MT. Stoddard still congratulates