The morning call., 1891-10-18


and then asked him if in his opinion Lon
don offered good field for American news
paper or literary men.
The poet editor paused and twirled his
thumbs moment.
Glow can l answer that?" said he at
length, reflectively. mo one knows Lon
don better than [ do. 1t is pretty full. but 1
think there is always room in for energetic
apt and capable people. l have the highest
opinion of the American people L don't
know what part of the world they would
fail in if they put their backs to it. Look
at this last invention OF Edison's, for in-
stance. What place would not open to such
a genius as ;hat?'
Edison cut of it, how about the ordinary
mau-fairly endowed with intelligence and
pluck?'
"Wel," said Sir Edwin, slowly and
thoughtfuliy, Il should say the average
smart American would not have so much
chance as an Englishman, just the same as
the latter would be somewhat at a disad-
vantage in america. Energy and genius
will succeed everywhere. Still, London is
pretty full, as have said before"
Naturally, American literature came up
for discussion. If you want to see variety
at its most bewildering pitch. you want to
gather together the opinions of English
authors upon American literature and study
them. So l felt some misgivings when
asked Sir Edwin point blank as to his own
opinions. He leaned back in his chair and
smiled when | put the query.
"Of course | expected that question" he
said. " | was quite sure you would not go
without asking it. l may say" he contin-
ued, seriously, Il am an immense admirer
of American literature in its highest
branches. Emerson and Longfellow, espe-
cially Emerson, | knew well; he was the
godfather OF one of my boys. Lougfellow
l knew too and had great respect for him."
This was good enough so far as IL went,
but it did not go far enough. | so suggested.
Emerson and Longfellow are dead Sir
Edwin. and we have still other writers. 1t
is of American literature as it is now that [
asked"
This" he said, sis rather wide subject.
| should like to see America strike out lit
e-ature of her own, as l told the students at
Harvard-paint her own pictures, also carve
her own statues. This is why | admire
Walt Whitman. He seems to me the most
genuine American living writer. have the
honor of q personal acquaintance with Walt
Whitman"
some of our younger writers and their
works, but he fought shy Of this and was
forced to be content. Besides time was
precious. There was another question |
had TO ask him, aud that was his opinion Of
American newspapers. Englishmen gener-
corning American journalism. and il may
be said some very erroneous ones. But the
opinion of this talented man, who for thirty
years has been at the head of England's
great news aper in point of circulation
why that was another thing. SO put the
question directly.
ION the whole. / must say that your
newspapers make me shake my head.
There are many good ones, but the general
tone is distressing. Once l picked up a
paper in Washington, while was waiting
in the Presidents room. glanced down
the column, aud the following heading
caught my eye: Sunset Cox Is Dying 1t
shocked me. just fancy speaking so of
statesman, whose name should be sacred TO
the heart OF every true American-one who
has done so much for his eountrymen. This
sort OF thing makes me sorry. on need not
be dull, heavy or goOdy goody, but journal
ism should be dignitied, and these American
headings shock me sometimes. However,
the American press was very kind to me,
and | owe nothing but debt OF gratitude
to American journalism"
All this was certainly plain, even if it was
not complimentary to American journalism.
Sir Edwin spoke so freely and earnestly that
l was disposed to urge him on.
what, in your opinion. will the news
paper of the future be like? Will it differ
much from that OF the day"
81 don't think" said lie seriously, "that
the newspaper of to-day can be improved
very much In point of composition and
writing. l consider that our own paper
and the Times are almost perfect monu-
ments of composition, but L think that art
as applied to newspaper illustrations will
come into very general use. | don't know
how it is to be done, but the pictures will
have to be perfect Illustrated journalism
is in its infancy yet. The reporter of the
future will have to draw Of course"
Then he went on speaking of the require
ment of the journalist of the future. "a
man cannot be too well educated for the
press; nobody can be good enough or too
good. The more you have read the more
you know; the more fit you are; but you
never can be perfectly fit 1t deserves the
very best work"
You are an enthusiast on the subject of
the press?"
.Yes, am" replied the great editor. 'be-
cause it is such mighty instrument for
good. | am very proud to have served the
have written 5000 leading articles besides
my editorial work. / look back upon this
labor with very great satisfaction"
Sir Edwin was then led to speak of
woman in literature. her place and her pros
poets. OF course he talked eutertainingly.
II think everything is possible to
women" he said. 81 / do not believe in the
inferinrty of women. The minute you adj
init them to academical hOnors, what hap
pens? Miss Fawcett becomes Senior Wrang-
Ter. and ladies take high degrees. There is
no question whatever about their capacity"
Passing on, Sir Edwin spoke OF the in
come earned by women in journalism or in
literature generally.
81 am not good at the financial side Of
journalism" he said. "My impression is
that no woman at present makes any large
income, although there Is no reason why
they should not be rs well paid as men,"
The editor of the Telegraph was not dis
posed to talk upon personal matters, but