New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-02
4 YrAHS FILES.

Lord Macaulay dignifed the profession OF jour
nalism when he remarked IN his sententious man.
ner: Tho only true history Of o country IL TO
no found In its newspaper II that orncnhr
dcolaratiort hAs lost none OF It's potential force
with the marvellous development OF the resources
OF the modern newspaper since his day, how ardu-
ous has tha labor OF the conscientious historian
becomel Who can hope 10 keep abreast with the
contemporaneous history OF his country IL MS
sources OF information and groundwork OF study
are 20 be found in the daily product OF the news
naper prcss2 Here is Mr. Weinheimer's index
NJ the daily files OF The Tribune for 1888, with no
fewer than $4,000 classified titles and reference
line, arranged in alphabetical and topical order.
Those tths represent the compass and variety OF
ono newspapers contributions during single year
70 what Lord Macaulay would have described as
the raw material of human history. How stu
pendous would be the undertaking II n literary
workman were to attempt TO write the history Of
his own times from the files Of hundred of the
thousands OF newspapers which are dung from the
presses every morning as this busy world spins
roundl
Such volume as the Index serves 10 Illus
trac the aspects and tende ncics OF American Jour
nalism. There Is hardly an inhabited country on
wv
been rcce lived in the course of year, fact that
indicates the comprehe nsive scope and fnr-reach-
ing enterprise of the modern newspaper. Every
art and science has here its record OF progress
Tho titles Of about 600 book reviews bear evil
dence OF the range Of literary criticism over
/ 20 poems and songs have been published About
80 dramatic heads 10 references TO music ana
rs contributions TO the column OF fine arts reveal
n. akoA 90 hA I'm
criticism in a daily newspaper. Over 40 college
articles appeared, and several hundreds OF cduca-
tionnl and scientific topics have been recorded or
discussed. The religious columns have been equal
" complete and varied Politics furnishes the main
staple of newspaper production, Congress being
credited with $40 titles, the New-fork and other
Legislatures with nearly as many, and several
thousands OF other reference lines being apportoned
undcr Republican Party" Democratic Party
Political Elections Tariff and analogous
topical divisions. Every profession and depart
ment Of business Ia represented here There are
436 references 10 law cases alone; and 300 ciass-
fed titles Of railway intelligence. There are i &c
obituary slsr tches-a most remarkable exhibit II
is common and ignorant cavil that the news
papers OF the day are crammed with criminal
news 10 the exclusion of weighVer and less
sensational matter The Index shows that there
is q marked disproportion between the restricted
space occupied by accounts Of murders, suicides
and miscellaneous crime and the full pages that
arc devoted 70 politics, criticism, religion, educa-
ton and the business interests Of the day Leqti-
mate sporting news receives liberal treatment,
tho turf alone having IT'S reference lines in the
annual record
+ The index-malScr apportions the dignities Of
rival regulations without fear or favor. The pub
lio man who has been mentioned most frequently
during the year in the leading Republican journal
is the Democratic President. He has l4s refcr-
ence lines. but General Harrison with i2b is not
far behind him. Among other figures OF Amer
lean politics Governor Hill is credited with score
OF 90. Mr. Blaine with 80, ex-Mayor Hewitt with
as, ex-senator Miller with 20, Judge Thurman
with 40. Senator Sherman with. 20 and General
Sheridan with 49, Lord saclsvillc has the proud
distinction Of being the most conspicuous diplo-
matte figure Of the year, 80 credits being allowed
him during single month. Among European
personagcs Mr. Parnell is the uncrowned King
his record being o5, against 30 for Frederick III
a5 for William II, 81 for Boulanger, 30 for STAN
ley! for Bismarck, rs for Gladstone, FOR Leo
XIII and IA for Sir Morcll Mackenzie. Strange