The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-27
People With Whom Trained Writers
Have to Contend.
QUALITIES OF A REPORTER.
Marion Crawford Tells About tho Com
Men Find 1t the Hardest to Struggle.


ing with appalling cynicism the number of
words he was expected to write as criticism
Of each production.
"About a hundred words apiece" wrote
the literary editor, "and please return the
books with notices Monday at IL o'clock,
II the latest"
IL was Thursday, and there were six
volumes to be read, digested and writ
ten about. George made a short calcular
ton. He most do two each day-Friday,
Saturday and Sunday-in order to leave
himself Monday morning as a margin in
case of accident. Six books, 600 words, or
rather more than half a column of the
paper for which he wrote. That meant
five dollars, for the work was well paid, as
being supposed TO require some Judgment
and taste on the part OF the writer.
There was of course nothing OF much
Importance in the heap of Rayly bound
printed matter, nothing to justify serious
article and nothing which George would
care TO read twice. Nevertheless the ext
gencies of the book trade must be satisfied
and notices must appear and editors must
find persons willing and able to write such
notices at prices varying from fifty cents
to one dollar apiece. Nor was there any
difficulty about this.
George knew that the pay was very good
as times went and that there were dozens
of starving old maids and hungry boys
who would do the work for less and would
perhaps do it as well rs he could. Nor was
he inclined TO quarrel with the conditions
which allowed him SO short time for the
accomplishment of such a task. He had
worked at second class reviewing for some
time and was long past the period of sur
n
the batch Of publications with considerable
satisfaction.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A JOURNALIST.
The regularity with which such parcels
had arrived during the last few months
was proof that he was doing well, and it
seemed probable that in the course of the
coming year he might be intrusted with
more important work. Once or twice al
ready he had been instructed to write a col
umn, and those were white days in his
recolections. He felt that with perma-
nent engagement to produce a column q
week he should be doing very well, but he
knew how hard that was to obtain.
No one who has not earned his bread by
this kind of labor can have any idea OF the
crowd that hangs upon the outskirts Of
professional journalism. A crowd not
seeking to enter the ranks Of the regular
newspaper men, but hoping to pick up the
crumbs that fall from the table which ap-
pears to them so abundantly loaded. To
be professional journalist in America a
man must in nine cases out OF ten begin as
a reporter. He must possess other qualifi-
cations besides those Of the literary man.
He must have all iron constitution and un-
firing nerves. He must be able to sit ia
crowded room under the glaring gaslight
and write out his impressions at an hour
when ordinary people are in bed and asleep.
He must possess that brazen assurance
which sensitive men of taste rarely have,
for he will be called upon to interview all
sorts and conditions Of men when they
least expect it, and generally when they
least like it. He must have keen in
stinct for business, in order to outwit and
outrun his competitors In the pursuit Of
news Ever on the alert, he must not
dwell upon the recollections Of yesterday
lest they entwine themselves into the re-
port of today.
Altogether the commencing journalist
must be remarkable being, and most re-
markable for a set of qualities which are
not only useless to the writer Of books, but
which, If the writer possessed them, would
notably hinder his success. There is no
within the precincts Of great newspapers
offices, whereas the outer doors are besieged
by amateurs of every known and unknown
description.
PARASITES OF JOURNALISM.
In the critical and literary departments
the dilettante is the cruel enemy of those
who are driven to write for bread, but who
lack either the taste, the qualifications, or
the opportunities which might give them
seat within, among the reporters desks.
Crueest of all in the eyes of the poor scrib-
bier is the well to do man of leisure and
culture who is personally acquainted with
the chief editor, and writes occasional criti.
cisms often the most important, for moth
ing Then there is the young woman who
has been TO college, who lacks nothing, but
is ever ready to write for money, which she
devotes to charitable purposes, thereby de-
priving some unfortunate youth OF the dol
lar n day which means food to him, for
whose support the public Is not already
taxed But she knows nothing about him,
and it amuses her to be connected with the
press and to have the importance of ex-
changing word with the editor if she
meets him in the society she frequents.
The young man goes on the accustomed
day for the new books 81 have nothing
for you this week, Mr.. Tompkins," says
the manager of the literary department as
politely as possible. The books are gone
to the vassar girl or tp.the rich idler, and
poor Tompkins must not hope to earn his
daily dollar again till seven or eight days
have passed. His only consolation Is that
the dawdliug dilettante can never get all
the work, because he or she cannot write
fast enough to supply the demand. With
out the spur OF necessity it Is impossible to
read and review two volumes day for any
length Of time.
Ii is hard to combine justice TO an author
with the necessity for rushing through his
books at a hundred pages an hour. IL is
indeed important to cut every leaf, lest the
aforesaid literary manager should accuse
poor little Mr.. Tompkins Of carelessness
and superfciality in his Judgment, but ii
Is quite impossible that Tompkins should
read every word of the children's story
book, Of the volume Of second class ser
mons, of the collection Of fifth rate poetry,
and Of the narrowing tale Of city life, enti.
tied, "The Bucket of Blood; or, the Wash
erwoman's Revenge" all Of which have
cone Al once and are simultaneously sub-