, 1891-08-21

MRS. HEAToN.
by women DESTROYS OF work Hundreds
of manuscripts daily solicit editorial
consideration. The vagueness, the indi-
rectness with which applications are
made, the subject and the treatment of
much Of The manuscript submitted
evince hat the majority of aspirants
have little or no conception of the cardi-
nal requisites of the journalistic calling.
The careers of such women journalists
as Mrs Emily v. Battey, the female
Nestor of the New York press, twenty
years editorial writer on the New York
Sun; brilliant Eliza Putnam Heaton; the
Bisland sisters; Helen Watterson, the
New York Evening Suns "Woman
About Town. Nellie BLY, and Nell Mel
son; Mrs. Nichols, of the New Orleans
Picayune; Margaret Sullivan, tariff edi-
torial writer of the Chicago Herald; Mrs.
Sallie Joy White, of Boston. etc, seem to
inspire armies of women, with or without
the capacity for writing, with the idea
that they, too, a write acceptably. To
the right woman, rightly endowed. sue
cess in journalism-that is, the ability to
earn a livelihood-is but n matter Of in
ahohA III ulbSltllOu- w llL dlt Nlt ~
sentials of journalistic success? | have
talked on this subject with wome jour
nRlists on both sides OF the water and
the opinions given are interesting
ii attribute my success in journal
ISM" said Mrs. Emily Crawford, the
famous English journalist, chiefly TO a
robust constitution"
Health is certainly an essential Skill
in writing must be seconded by the jour
nalistic sense, nose for news" the abil-
ity to grasp and treat tersely and bright
ly the gist of public interest. One must
also possess an inexhaustible fund of man
like indifference to Sights and snubs.
and the ability to hold ones tongue.
Journalism and domesticity are antag-
onistic. The true woman journalist
"a never be the true domestic oma
Something nus be sacrificed. The requi-
site journalistic qualities possessed, how
ever embryonic, scope for development
must be sought, There is a prevalent
impression that New York is the jour
nalistic emporium. Regulations made
there are liable TO become world wide.
Good reputation and success are synony-
nous. The field is crowded; the com
petition tremendous. On top, however,
is the traditional room.
There are several women now engaged
in legitimate journalistic work in New
York city who earn from fifty dollars a
week to five and six thousand n year
For the most part their careers began
outside the metropolis. Every newspa-
per has its regular staff to which nntu-
rally all assignments are given. Despite
this regular corps of paid writer's, how
ever, every live editor is on the alert for
catchy" readable articles. irrespective
OF their source. Herein is the novice's
loophole. Most editors are accessible.
To one brute there are a hundred gen
tlemen. A personal interview is worth
a bushel of correspondence. The advan-
tage of being on the ground may be
readily recognized. Letters of introduce
ton are of little or no value, beyond n
possible assurance of the bearers relia-
bility.
A timely article tersely, legibly writ
ten Is the surest passport to editorial
consideration. An editor wants to know
what you a do. The estimate of your
friends is immaterial to him. He is on
the outlook for hat which will make his
paper sell. Women who bring to the
editorial sanctum a personal tale of woe
are doomed. Editors are human. Or
ganized charity. however, relieves the
modern editor from the lachrymose
woman seeking ~pecuniary relief by the
pen. II you have literary aspirations,
ideals, smother them in the editorial
presence. Literary ideals are n drug in
the journalistic market. The successful
journalist is he who caters to the read
ing public.
81 would not feel justified" said one
Of the greatest Journalists, in response to
a woman's application for foreign CORE
spondence, sin asking even President
Carnot to cable me a column" Telegraph
and cable have somewhat lessened the
value of foreign correspondence. The say
ing Of Villemassant, the founder of The
Figaro, that "a dog killed in the Boule-
ward was of more interest to the Partisan
public than the death of an American
statesman" is applicable, with modifcn-
tions, to the readers Of newspapers the
world over, New York included
The introduction Of supplements OF
extra sheets on Sunday, and the wuman'-
page or column, has opened a vast field
for women writers. Many Of the supple
ments are of high literary merit and the
main revenue of much Of the best liter
AIRY talent OF the day.
How ADes a writer learn an editor
wants? MooGed question: What is one
cure is another's disease. Study th'
principle, the scope of each paper. Scar
daily Geographic and cable dispatches
Watch tha drift of nublir tboupbt Al