The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-11
QUALIFICATIONS OF A JOURNALIST.

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 col
umn, and those were white days in his
recollections. He felt that with perma-
nent engagement to produce a column a
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, bat 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
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 an iron constitution and un-
tiring nerves. He must be able to sit in
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 a 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 a remarkable being, and most re-
markable for 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
such thing as amateur journalism possible
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.
CrueleSt 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- |
mi Vii o. Soma I, 4yO,,tk Of
lar day which means food 20 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 a 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 to 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 dawdling 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.
1t is hard to combine justice to an author
with the necessity for rushing through his
books at hundred pages an hour. II is
indeed important to cut every leaf, lest the
literary manager should accuse
poor little Mr. Tompkins of cRrelessness
md supericiality in his judgment, but it
S quite impossible that Tompkins should
-ead every word of the children's story
book, of the volume of second class ser
mons, of the collection of fifth rate poetry,
Ind Of the narrowing tale of city life, eDti.
led, The Bucket OF Blood; or, the Wash
Revenge" all of which have
,ome at once and are simultaneously sub
nitted 70 his authoritative criticism.-Ms-
ion Crawford in Homemaker
How He Gained Time.