Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-24

likes to read about other things in his news
paper than money and business. Nearly
every French newspaper publishes a serial
| story, and these form very important part
for some of the French journals"
"How about such stories in an American
newspaper, Mr.. Reid? Would it not pay to
introduce the feuilleton into American
journalism?''
Two Opinions on Story Publications.
II can't say" was the reply. SIT is hard
to determine what constitute the most at
tractive features of great newspaper; al
most impossible sometimes to tell what in
creases and what decreases its circulation.
We have published a number of good nov
els, but have never noticed any apprecis-
Bile increase in our sales from them. The
people read them, and if they are good we
hear commentators, and If bad the COM
plants come in; but couldn't prove that
they have really ever affected our circula-
tion. BY the way, met Dana, the editor
of the New York S1n, just as I was starting
to Washington and had few moments talk
with him. During this he spoke of news
paper novels, and told me he had been buy
ing story by w. D. Howells and also one
by Mark Twain. asked him if he thought
they had been profitable ventures. and he
said they had pleased the Sun readers, but
whether they had paid from a dollar-and-
cents or circulation point of view he could
not say"
Speaking of newspaper individuality,
Mr.. Reid, how about signed articles in
newspapers? Does the use of signatures
injure the paper in which they appear?"
The Individuality OF Newspapers.
'If signatures were general would say
yes" The people get to look upon the
newspaper as an individuality; and when
no signatures are used, they relv upon its
statements or opinions, in proportion to
their general estimate of its character.
at the end OF so pieces of news, or OF edi-
torial matter in its columns, the result is
confusing and if detracts from the news
paper as q whole"
The conversation then turned to the IL
lustrated features of our newspapers. Mr..
Reid said that he thought newspaper illus
rration might be overdene by the American
papers.
'In so far as pictures are associated with
the news of the day." said he, "they are a
good thing, but do not believe in putting
pictures in the papers merely for the sake
of having pictures The methods of fast
printing and the quality of the paper which
a large daily must use make it impossible
to have newspaper pictures works Of fine
art; but they often add to the expression of
the news and convey better ideas of men
than can be given with the pen. The pict-
ure of a new witness in a sensational trial
taken by good artist when he Is in the act
of giving some testimony which is to startle
the world next morning is sure to be q good
thing to have.
Secret Of Ls Petit Journals Circulation.
"Psris is 50 located that nearly every
part of France can be reached by the trains
before the death of that days paper. The
life of daily newspaper is, you know,
only little over II hours, and an outside
circulation larger than that in the city
would only be possible in a country like
though many of them are good. are not
equal to the papers of Paris and they do
not compete with the Partisan journals as
those of our outside cities do with New
York. I don't think we will ever lave a
paper of q national daily circulation. LIE
Petit Journal sells for one cent and its profits
are very large. Its chief director is its
founder, NJ. Marnoni, who began its publi-
cation in 1861. Its circulation was first in
creased by feuilletons and in 1864 single
novel gave it a jump of from $4,000 to
230, 900 within few weeks"
''You say the price of this paper Is only 1
cent, Mr. Reid? How about our big
newspapers: will they be cheaper than they
are?"
81 think not" was the reply. "Almost
the cheapest thing that is created by man
on this earth for sale is the newspaper at its
present price. Three cents is little enough,
and don't believe the best newspapers will
again reduce the prices they now charge.
We will, of course, have many smaller
newspapers and many cent papers ~ ---
Increase OF Newspaper Reading.
"An interesting thing, by the way, Mr..
Reid" said 1, ''is the more rapid increase
of newspaper readers than the increase in
population. The cities of the same popu-
lation take proportionately q much larger
number of newspapers to-day than for
merly, and this proportion is said to be
steadily increasing. What do you think of
that?"
'That 1t Is only another illustration of
the old saying that if a newspaper has any
real reason for living, other newspapers are
not in its way. People will buy it for what
it is. Then, if q new paper is started, they
will buy that. to read the other side. Many
people now read four, five or more daily
where formerly they confined
themselves to one; they wish to see all
sides.
"Itis good thing for the newspapers; and
I think it also good thing for the preven- |
tion of hide-bound views and the promotion |
Of liberal spirit among the readers and
throughout the community at large. OF |
course it is not without some draw backs; |
people don't read SO thoroughly, and they !
are sometimes less Influenced even by the |
best work" FRANK G. CARPENTER