New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-18
ON BOOKS.
w..
VOLTAIRE on IRELAND-PRINCE BIS
MARCK IN THE REVIEWS.
London, April (.

James Macdonell, Journalist" by NJ W. Rob-
crtson Nicoll (Iioddcr & Stoughton. London is n
record of a life which / venture TO think any
journalist may read with profit. 10 may the lay
public and from it gather some better notion of
what journalism is like when he who practises it is
a man Of honorable mind and aims. This book"
says Mr.. Nicoll, /" is the life of journaist-per-
haps the only life of journalist pure and simple
ever written Whether that be quite so or not,
it is. at any rate. biography of man who was
content to be journalist and nothing more, who
found in his profession sufficient opportunities
for using the very considerable gifts and accom-
plshments which were his who had high IDEAL
and who lived up to it completely than do
most men who have high ideals be they journal
lists not.
The public is credited with certain curiosity
about the inner life of the newspaper world. This
book contains much TO crafty a curiosity Of that
kind Macdonell was concerned in the editorial
work of several journals. Of which the two most
important were The Daily Telegraph and The
Times" He knew. of course, the leading men
on these papers, and knew many others. This
is. in fact, one of these biographies which offers
the reader glimpses Of many men beside its proper
hero. Nacdonell met " Rcnan VI. Tane. Louis
Blanc, Mr. Froudc, Carlyle, Mr. Ruskin and many
more, and something about all Of them viii he
found in his letters. And the great figure of the
great Editor of The Times" Delane. appears
and rcappcars in these PAGES. All the light that
is thrown on il here or elsewhere will never suf-
fciently illuminate it. nor will the general public
ever know Dclane as they know other great public
servants as they know generals and statesmen and
poets. But every journalist who for his pro-
fcssion will read with eagemess everything he
can get hold of about him who was beyond dispute
or rivalry the foremost English journalist Of his
time, Of any time
Macdonell felt for Delanc. says Mr. Nicoll, M
enthusiastic admiration. and used TO call him the
hcaven-bOTn editor He admired his unerrng
Judgment 10 the interest and wishes of the
readers Of The Tines his swift knowledge Of
men, his sagaciOus comprehension of public affairs,
and the tendency Of events. NIacdone became
a different man after he joined the staff Of lie
Times often saying that he liked the feeling that
lie belonged TO the great organization which helped
10 make English history and the well-bred and
sentcmany tone of the whole management was
much to his mind" There is pretty story of
mistake which the young writer had made in one
of his leaders The Pail Mall Gazette in lis
ferrct-like way had uncarihed this little error and
written one of those none TOO amiable paragraphs
Of which, under all changes Of editorship, it pre-
served the secret and still preserves it. Macdonen
wrote to Dclanc apologizing for his blunder. In
an hour came back Deanes answer: - Do not
distress yourself. | do not care what that cock
tail Pail Mali says
Even when Macdoncll tried the patience Of his
chief Dclancs kindness and courtesy were IN
affected Mr.. Nicoll giyes.-unaware, So 'mnGy,
of the full meaning Of his story,-a strong in
stance Macdonell. in Delane's absence took 20
-,
own account. Dclane. then staying in the far
north of Scotland, stopped them by a ieesraphic
order when they came to his knowledge. and
wrote Macdonen he would rather have
crawlel on his hands and knees from Dunrobin
to London than that this last leader should hays
gone in But Macdonell was a Scotchman. and
| do not know whether there be any case
record in which Scotchman has been able 10
see that he wrong II is Interesting. in
these days of Sunday papers, to read that Delane
was of opinion that in order TO do good work lis
men should have plenty of holidays. lie gave
his leadcr-writers TWO clear da' in each week
and two months clear holiday in each year.
Chcnery. who succeeded Deare was an able
and cultivated man. but great editor lie not;
nor even good editor Mr. NicoM remarks
dryly that under his editorship Mr. Walter took
more prominent position. No doubt he did;
that is why he chose Chenery 10 be successor 10
man under whose rule he the printer and part
proprietor and nominal manager had cnafed AID
chaicd for the most part in vain. thcnery. how
ever had IDEAS and had fixed policy, which. as
if did not interfere with Nh Walters desire u
control the politics of the paper. h. was allowed
70 carry out. His ambition was u appeal 10 l
wider circle: TO make the paper hind % organ
of scientific thought, and he strovc IL attain tbs
end by inserting from time to time long essays
on whatever was newest in the scientific world.
or on whatever other scientific topic s)me great
man in that world could he induced 10 discus
ANONYMOUSLY. 1t canno, be said tlat this was a
brilliant conception of tie editorial junction, or
that its success justified lis novelty.
There is instructive reading in thee PAGES Tor
those who think writing Tor the paPrs an easy
business. Nac,loncn was always busy With books
when he WAS not busy with his pen. Ic got up
his subject thoroughly before he wrote habit
NOT pcrhaps universal in the profession. 'ut COM
manor than is always supposed. He Vas con-
.,ntious in his work. not less 50 hccaus OF his
natural commllnlcaiiyencss with the pen lie
had convictions: he even had enthusiasms,an 4
.ens, of responsibility. The work NE aIt was
,>,cllently done his life a whole was wei
lived His reward is TO De totally ior-ot'eI by
thc public hay. he cannot have been lorso''n,
for lie was never known, any more IMAM ne
Tines Underwriters Of to-day are known MI
Ni.olrs Life of him is out OF proportion 10 the
place he occupied in the world, ana Is over
crowded with details. OF which too many are ""-
important That, at amy rate, wouh re " ""S
criticism on the book were IT the biography u
an Euglishman. and meant for reading py 'n
English public Bat believe the Scotch 'ni"N ~
monument too high for any one born north OIL 'n'
Tweed. and no book aboat Scot TOO D'S 10 ~
read from end TO end by the whole Sco'uSh P'o-
nile Nor will they be wrong IN any e'o' |" w
honor to a character 50 pure and true Is -''''
doncls.
So much has been said Of the miSeraNe 'o'-
l,iou of Ireland in the eighteenth century unuef
Enrlish rule that any scrap of testimony Oh INC
o,hcr side is curious If it comes with I''"'
tnsiinLnnN viii scr-l nlv-e