The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-29
THE NEWSPAPER REPORTER.
A Character ~ unique ~ Any IN Exist
ence-At Home with Every Class and
Hall Fellow Wsil-M with All.

The most Interesting, most mlsunucT
stood. most abused, and most courted char
acter in public life to-day 10 the newspaper
reporter.
Journalist but IL q live, earnest, active
and devoted newspaper man. He can dc
whatever he is called on TO do from 9 O'Clock
one morning until 3 O'Clock the next, and
can stick on another hour or so at each end
Of the day II the occasion requires.
The reporter is thoroughly good-natured
He never harbors malice, and will listen
good-naturedly to a little ward politician
who declares he Is always misrepresented
in the paper. and will smile complacently
at the statement that a reporter couldn't
tell the truth with rest.
The fact IL a reporter does not lie. lie
simply allows his goodness Of heart on some
occasions TO hold back the whole truth
When he reports the Rev. MIR. --'s ser.
mon, and passes by the fact that IL was q
long. tiresome and narrow-minded disqui-
stiOn on ;hreadbare subject, and omlts
the statement that the audience were turn.
ing uneasily in their seats and stealing sly
peeps at their watches for ten minutes be-
fore the speaker gave out-and confines his
report 10 few OF The best parts Of the ser
mon, and states that the speaker is An ear
nest. Jealous worker in the vineyard OF the
Master. that il not mendacity; but charity.
And yet that same preacher, unmindful
Of the debt he owes that reporter, will think
it strange that the whole Of his sermon was
not printed, and will believe with unshaken
confidence the verdict OF some pious old
humbug. who was only aroused from his
sumber by the singing Of the doxology.
that lit was one Of the grandest efforts he
ever heard
a do a lao fpaf. Ia hot
the duty of the reporter and that Of the edi.
tor. They think ii il the duty OF the reporter
10 praise or condemn. and that the report OF
any public occurrence il an evidence Of the
sentiment OF the paper in reference thereto
The province Of the reporter IL simply 10 re-
port what transpires. The voice of the
paper is heard through its editorial columns
The reporter usually tries TO present things
in their best light. and writes down naught
in malice.
Without indorsing a cock-fght. he writes
il up accurately. telling Of broken legs,
eyes pierced, brains crazed. and birds
butchercd. and leaves the matter in the
hands Of those whose duty it is 10 deal with
such things. Ii detailed 10 report a SER
mon, he would try just as hard TO make the
report interesting, even If the material was
less exciting. The reporter is thoroughly
caste. political or religious divisions, re-
.trictng his field Of labor.
He Interviews the prisoner In his cell, the
prosecuting attorney nc his desk, the judge
ON the bench; he hears the murderer's
story from his own lips, and writes down
the dying statement OF his victim; he details
the drunken ARRAY in the brothol and re-
ports up the church conference; he writes
up the proceedings In the divorce court, and
hurries 10 the marriage altar 10 cOngTatu-
late the bride and groom; he depict. the
scene Of de5tituti0n in the beggaps hoyel.
and hurrios into his dress suit TO report the
leading society event OF the season; he
chronicles the arrival OF his friends first
born. and writes the obituary OF the oldest
inhabitant
with malice towards none and charity
for ALL he pokes his pencil into every pub
lie assemblage and private gathering; he is
on hand at the race-courso, and first In HE
pew to hear the preacher den0unce the
prongacy Of the age and the sin OF betting
and hOrse-racing; he il early at the political
gathering. and punctual At the school COM
menccment. he is on the ground in a riot
an occupies a conspicuous place in the
peace congress: he deals kindly with the
drunk and disOrderly,' and reports fully
the temperance conyentisn: ne reports a
\. VI. {. A.; he may Dee said to be first in
war. and first in peace" but not in the
hearts of his countrymen.
But If not beloved, the reporter is courted.
lie comes high, but We must have him. IL
matters not what the entertainment NAV
be. the reporter is necessary adjunct 10
its success. Because how are your friends
to know it was 1.-THE most elegant affair Of
the season. il the reporter does not let
them know through the columns Of the
morning papery How are the people To
know that the actin, Of Miss smith as Par
thenia, in the private theatrlcals at the
palatial residence OF her wealthy parents,
was equal 10 that of Mary Anderson, and
that in the role of Ingomar youn. Dir. Jones
was "A revelation even 10 his most intimate
friends. who We're wholly unaware Of the
latent genius within him, unless the re-
porter, with his enchanted pencil, furnishes
the open sesame 10 the popular ear.
public meeting is called TO act upon
some important matter. A half dozen pe0-
pie respond. As public meeting the thing
i. Hat failure, but the few assembled 90
ahead and pass resolutions. Then and there
the thing would end in hopeless farce did
not the reporter come in with his inyigOr-
sting pencil. and leaving out Of the report
those who did not attend, refer IN en-
tnuSldstlc language 10 tuOoc WHO Ntit
there, and tell what a solid fOunda
ton the movement 10 on, what |
was manifested by Mr. Blank J
and Mr.. Brown, asd the great unanmity |
with which the resolutions were passed. |
lie has simply omitted 10 state that people |
who were deeply interested In the movement |
did not even lend their presence to the sue
cess Of the meeting, and has written in
stead all the good things he could, and has
placed the matter before the people in such |
a light that they regret they were not there,
and the work Of the canyassing committee
is reduced 10 the minimum.
This is not lying. nor is it misrepresenta-
ton. It is simply spreading the energy, |
and public spirit of a few men
over the rest of The community in way
they cannot have the opportunity TO do by
personal contact. and it Is putting forward
the best side instead Of the worst. Many
enterprises which else would have been
have been called by the reporter
into vigorous life, and grown into great
public bcnefacti0ns. Few new enterprises
Or public undertakings can be shown
10 which the work Of some faith
ml reporter has not largely contri-
Duted. And yet il 10 almost az
a. that OF the umpire, whs, if he
lecide. right, gets no praise for doing
simply what he ought 10 have done, and If
he decides wrong, is universally cussed
nut. The reporter can do good work for