The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-29
PERSONAL JOURNALISM.
EMPHATIC REMARKS FROM MRS.
LOGAN ON RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
The Cruel Injustice of the Report That
She Was About to Remarry-The Re
ports About Mrs. DimmicI< and tho
White House Housekeepership.

White House Housekeepership.
Not long ago society reporter on local
daily paper printed a statement to the effect
that noted lady, widow of distinguished
man, was about to marry a well-known busi-
ness man. This rumor was at once taken up
by the correspondents, who telegraphed all
over the country that Mrs. John a. Logan
was about to marry again. Then number of
enterprising journalists, male and female,
called on Mrs. Logan to obtain particulars of
the coming interesting affair. Mrs. Logan is
an amiable lady, but this sort of thing natur-
ally annoyed her exceedingly. To reporter
who called on her about different matter
just as newspaper man who came to inquire
about the rumors of her approaching mar
riage left, Mrs. Logan talked with dood deal
of feeling There was lightning in her black
eyes as she spoke.
II scarcely have words to express my indig-
nation at such unjust rumors,'' she said. s'In
way they are cruelty unlSind. / have no
charity for those who circulate such un-
founded reports. If | had no sentiment
about remaining the widow of Gen. Logan
and l haye-I have no desire or need to re-
marry for other reasons, since, THANKS to Con-
gress and the Generals friends / anu we'll
provided for, and now enjoy the friendship
of many good men who were his friends, and
whose wives are MY friends. Why should l
want to sacrifice all these present blessings
and the associations of thirty years OF happy
welded life for the uncertainty of other tiesP
fully recognize the legitimate scope of So
ciety writing. In sense much that pertains
to even the domestic life of public man
the public has right to ask about. But
there is limit to this curiosity
and interest The world for instance.
is interested in Mrs Harrison's housekeeping
because she is Mrs. President but the cor
respondent, male or female, who drags Mrs
Harrison's private relations with members of
her family who may be in sense dependent
upon her into publicity with scandalous tales
about their reception in society is both vulgar
and vicious. The world may want to know
her opinion on the marriage question, ard the
servant problem, and other domestic affairs,
but when it is stated that Mrs. Dimmick,
niece of Mrs. Harrison, is being ostracized by
Washington society because 1t bad been dis
covered that she was drawing salary at the
White House, that is bit Of journalistic en-
terprise sufficiently vile to call for public
reprocf The absurdity of the story to those
who know Mrs. Dfmmick as [ do is patent
Mrs. Dimmick is the widow of wealthy coal
miner OF Scranton, Pa, and she was left in
independent pecuniary circumstances. She
was on the Continent with her sister when was
and she Travelled first-class put up at the best
hotels, took lessons in French, and pursued
the usual lines that cultivated people of means
usually do when on journey for improve
ment and pleasure; and that was before Mrs.
Harrison was Mrs. President Mrs Dimmick
was then regarded by her relatives as the best
situated OF any OF family. These stories of
her dependence probably have their origin in
some one about the White House who has
malicious motive in circulating them. Jour
nallsm pursued on that line lowers the stand
ard of the Guild, and does an injustice to
many who are honestly striving to not violate
the propreties of life while doing Journalistic
work. 1t is not pleasant to have to be on
ones guard the moment society writer
comes into ones presence for fear that the
most innocent remarks may be made the sub
Ject OF an exaggerated newspaper Paragraph.
Ladies in society here know full we'll that
The friendship and goodwill of ;, society
writer can be of immense adyantag To them
III Washington, and they also know that the
sting of scandalous writing may blight life
and bring tragedy into the home circle as
there are several well-known instances in this
community where women of station and re-
hnement have been made to weep bitter tears
over Misrepresentation of some ambitious
and unscrupulous society writer.
''lf this kind of reckless, piraticai social
journalism continues ii will not be long before
it will be difficult for society writers to get
anything of social life but rumors Refined
women will be afraid to open their homes to
correspondents on social occasions, or submit
to be interviewed on any subject for fear of
being mierepresented. There are worthy and
lovely young women coming here all the time
to enter the journalistic field to earn "a living
for themselves and those depend at upon
them. 1t is cruel to close the doors against
them because others have forfeited all claim
TO recognition as correspondents Public peo-
pie cannot tell whom to trust and whom to
ignore. 1t rests wholly with the correspond
ents themselves to drive out of the profession
all dishonorable persons, male or female, as
matter of selfpreseryation. Women should
cultivate a spirit of justice and char
ity, sustain the right and expose
the wrong, and refrain from giving
publicity to any rumor when they cannot give
names and proof of their statements. We
should be banded together for the protection
OF the good names of our sex, and should be
desirous of establishing the reputation of
American women for intelligence, yirtue, and
good sense. Daily young persons me 60 me
for help and wishing for items. am always
glad to do anything in my power for them,
but never think of repeating any gossip that
may have heard, as | think it unkind TO
them and unjust to the public to imagine they
relish such unedifying journalism. E. l.. s.