New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE ENGLISH REPORTER.

NEWSPAPER REPORTING IN oLDEN TIMES A M
TO-DAY. BY John Pendlcton. 1omo, PIP. 40
A. &. Armstrong d Son.
The latest issue of the " Book-Lovers Library
is bright and gossipy little volume, IN whlcn
n GOOD deal is told about reporters ancient ana
modern, though it cannot be said that the auonoi
has carried his researches far beyond the limits Oh
the information to be obtained from histories Vi
the press such as that of Andrews. IL Is mort
over English reporting that is exclusively uediO
with and this restriction of the field necessarily
detracts from the value of the book, since 30 lat
as adventure is concerned American reporters arc
far ahead of their transatlantic COUSINS MI
p.ndIeton nevertheless has brought together much
interesting and amusing matter lie treats VI
the reporter in Parliament incidents ana traul
lions of The Gallery" reporting to-day In the
House. gossip about shorthand, the reporter
work some experiences and adventures of re-
norters: and he closes with chapter OF ploll-
ography on newspapers and reporters which, while
it is by no means exhaustive, will be found help
full to any one wishing to study the subject more
fully.
Among the amusing pranks played by reporters.
the practical Joke played his colleagues by
Peter Finnerty the old-time Parliamentary re-
porter remains one of the best on record, ana
though often told deserves TO be told again
The special victim in this case was reporter
named Morgan O'Sullvan, who, feeling too drowsy
during dull debate to keep his eyes open, asked
Finnerty to supply him with any important
speeches made during his nap, and then went TO
sleep. When he awoke Finnerty gravey informed
him that during his nap there had been an I'M
portant speech delivered by Mr.. Wherefore on
the virtues of the Irish potato. Morgan never
pausing to think that the subject had suggestion
of the ludicrous, would not be pacifed until the
boA IN flunprtV.
The speech entirely Finnerty's concoction, made
Wilberfore say: Had it been my lot to be born
and reared in Ireland, where my food would have
principally consisted of the pOtatO-the most nu-
tritious and salubrious root-instead of being the
poor, infrm stunted creature you, sir, and honor
able gentlemen, now behold me, | should have
been tall stout, athletic man, and able to carry
an enormous weight l hold that root TO be in
valuable, and the man who first cultivated IT IN
Ireland regard as benefactor of the first mag
ntude TO his country" Morgan took all this in.
and so delighted was he with the speech that he
gave it to his colleagues, with the result that
next morning every paper of note Except Fin
nertys paper, The Morning Chronicle y had this
amazing report of Wilbcrforce's great speech on
the potato
Naturally Wilberforce himself failed to perceive
the fun of the thing at first, for all the clubs
were laughing at him, and those who did not
laugh shook their heads and thought he had gone
out of his mind. BY the time the House met, how
ever his anger had cooled, and though he thought
il necessary to repudate the speech, he did not
demand vengeance upon the irreverent reporter
who had contributed his mite toward the gayety
of the nation at the expense of the dignity
of the House of Commons. The gallery Of
the House has long been training school for
authors journalists and lawyers. and many OF the
l;rbt. and haV IL
ated there. The Parliamentary reporter to-day is,
however, quite distinct from the general reporter
1t is TO the latter that adventures mostly 1all
and with the increase Of competition these be-
come more numerous and exciting. volume
could easily be prepared on this branch OF the
subject alone but Mr.. Pendcton has cOntentcd
himself with a mere outline sketch. Even this is
sufficiently interesting, and serves to show the
extent of the dificulties and dangers which are
continually met and overcome by this body of cool
and indomitable adventures, who in the pursuit
of news and above all of sensational news. take
chances which veteran soldiers might not lnfre-
ouently shrink from. Mr.. Pendleton's book Will
he found very well worth reading, and it should
inspire some American newspaper man to write a
still better book in the same line, with the Amer
ican reporter subject