davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
HANDLING THE NEWS.
Here Is the Secret, Says the City
Editor of the "Report.''

VI thS fNCkIOits
"The ideal newspaper" said Sutherland
F. Sutherland. city editor of the Report.
should be interesting and true.
when there Is demand for certain
class of news. such as fights, crimes, sui
cides. etc, 1t doesn't do any harm nor de-
moralize any one to satisfy that demand.
IAN account OF prize-fght doesn't make
prize-fghters nor of suicides 'suciders.' TO
coin word. People would fight and sui
eide IL they were reported or not. As to
nights. L believe that interesting boys in
fsticuffs will be more likely to result in
leading them to settle disputes with fists
rather than having recourse to the knife or
pistol.
Regarding scandals, think that when
they touch public man they belong to the
public as helping it to apprase his character
properly.
But think that II is not right unso-
iicited to touch private scandal, unless of
course the circumstances are ventilated in
public, as for instance in the courts.
ION the point Of special articles the pa
pers are LARGELY taking the place of the
magazines, which brings a-surerior class of
matter within reach Of people who cannot
afford to take the magazines.
"flSsfs VINO were considered strictly
magazine men are now contributing to the
daily press. as quicker, reaching wider
field and just as accurate
ms is'daily increasing the value off the
newspaper toward an ideal value.
As to size. don't think you can have
too much of good thing, and every reader
finds something Of interest in large paper.
think the present space allotted To the
different classes Of news is about! right.
There should be an absolute divorce
between the editorial columns and the
counting-room: In fact the business mana
ger ought not to be allowed ftoisee The edi-
torial until next day.
But right here would like to express q
strong opinion that the news and the edito-
rial comment should be eontemporaneous.
For my part would have the edito-
! rial page abolished and the editorial CON-
mentfollow the Item commented upon. The
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10

graphs direct, and this process will soon
be applied for use by the rapid newspaper
press.
ut will thus be possible to send out a
camera, obtain an exact photograph OF a
scene and then reproduce it exactly In the
mornings ISSUE
This will immeasurably widen the field
Of the newspaper.
ION the subject Of sport would like to
say that | consider amateur sports. such as
college football. baseball. etc.. of great i'm
portanee. as being wholesome and of ever
increasing interest. Much more space is
devoted in the East than here TO such-as /
may call it-clean sport
Lastly. / don't believe in holding over
matter. Every issue should be as COM
plete as If it were the last to be issued.
I'm considering the ideal paper / wish to
confine myself strictly to the news and
feature sides OF the question. There are. of
course. many other sides; but for an opinion
as to those, must refer you to Others"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
be fully abreast of the

editorials should be fully abreast Of the
news.
illustrations are good il true; spurious
Illustrations lower the whole character Of
the paper.
Advertisements should be distinguished
from news matter in some way, unless a
paper is interested in promoting some great
public benefit. in which case notices plainly
assisting that end should not be marked.
II should say the ideal news item will b Q
expressed in the fewest possible words. the
shortest possible sentences, and wherever
possible words of Saxon origin will be used
in preference to words OF Latin or Greek
derivation.
Finally, the ideal newspaper must be
popular and must be moral in its tendency.
Details of crime may be published either
so as to elorify the criminal or otherwise,
and L think that il they are published it
ought to be otherwise. Young people are
wholesomely influenced to abhor crime by
newspaper pursuing such a. tendency"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
1T is ON THE WAY.
Associated Press Manager Diehl Be-
Iieves in the Ideal Paper.

HeVeS IN the Ideal Paper.
"Such an Accordingly interesting subject
as you present." said Charles S. Diehl.
manager OF the Associated Press, 'would
take Carlyle a week to decide.
81 don't think the ideal newspaper has
ever been printed, although IL must have
been born in the thoughts of all good news
paper men who have been long in harness.
II sometimes question whether the ideal
newspaper ever could succeed. IL Is BUSH
ness enterprise and has to be shaped &C.
coTding to business features and local sur
roundings.
There is no question that there are great
newspapers.
while great many people in a thought
less way condemn newspapers and all that
goes TO make them up. l am inclined to
think cur newspapers nave done more for
civilization than any profession or calling,
not even excepting the pulpit.
ga newspaper in large sense Is con-
centration Of an army and the larger it is
the greater chance it has OF doing good
work-If il have proper generals.
al have always looked upon a newspaper
Office as an aggregation of very bright peo-
pie, and If they comprise general who
could win a great battle, he will make a
great paper.
"But not in day.
ut is hard saying, but true, that the
identity of the chief is essential for turning
out thoughtful and strong newspaper.
"The chief has to keep In touch with the
force he organizes. He cannot create a
paper at long range.
"a newspaper Office Is like a big uniyer-
sity, where bright. thoughtful men work
silently In harness, and are never heard of,
but are essential to the success OF the insti-
tuition.
1.-The editorial side OF the newspaper is,
IN my opinion. one Of the features which is
most often neglected.
Perhaps twenty papers In our country
are we'll edited in this respect and have a
great deal to DO In fashioning thought and
turning elections.
"The newspaper which does not Incline
people to think with Ii or at least debate
with people 10 that end Is not strong
paper.
There are three papers In this city which
are very strong in this respect, and they
are in line with the ideal paper so far.
"Of course the news side has the first
call and has to have; but after that would
say the essentials for the ideal paper are
cleanliness, strength of.editorials and good
tyDograDnY
THE public has no ordinary conception of
the forces which are making the newspaper
ideal.
"There Is more jealous effort to-day 10
securing news than was expended in the
old days in conquering nations, and the
gentlemen who wave the newspaper aside
as unimportant, or who 90 through life
without approaching the honest aud brave
efforts of newspaper men, are certainly IN
dervaluing great factor OF life's enjoy
ment
AND these are the men who would feel
badly bereft il they failed to get their news
paper regularly every morning."
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
1T WILL BE CONCISE.
The Growing Pressure Will Bring
Brevity, Says Harry Tod.


An ideal newspaper, In my opinion, will
never be reached until the cash drawer and
the editorial column are completely d.
vorced. IL this separation should ever oc-
eur a newspaper might be reached far
superior TO those Of to-day, and it will have
three characteristic features - clearness,
conciseness and absolute reliability. The
growing pressure upon the space will neces-
state brevity. and that will mean a better
trained school Of writer's. In fact. the
newspaper man Of the future must be a
man OF education, and his style must be
terse and brilliant. Every line must glitter.
The reporter aud not the editorial writer
will be the most important factor, for the
reason that there is growing demand for
facts as opposed to theories and opinions.
A newspaper TO be successful must be
honest, fearless and independent. The man
who directs Its policy should have no eue-
mics to punish and no friends TO reward.
They should shape their course so as to
bring about the most good without fear or
favor and without regard to the financial
result.
When all this is reached the ideal news
paper may be regarded as possibility and
not till then. HARRY NJ. TOD.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
FOR THE ENDEAVORS.a
A Concert Given at the Twelfth
Street Christian Church.

Mrs. Alice Waltz Gray gave an excellent
concert last night at the First Christian
Church, on Twelfth street, near Howard.
The proceeds OF the entertainment went
to the Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor of that church.
Promptly at o'clock DR.. r. L. Rigdon
appeared on the platform and announced
Mrs. Gray. who was received with loud APP
plause. Her soprano solo Because of
Thee" by Tours, was beautifully rendered,
and PLEASED the large audience TO such an
extent that she was obliged to respond with
another song.
Nelson Bower, young amateur, came
next with barytoue solo entitled 1.-THE
Skipper" Mr.. Bower is member OF the
Twelfth-street Church and was known TO
most of those present and the mere men,
tion of his name called forth rounds of ap-
plause.
Miss Retsna Owens of Oakland recited
twice. the first piece being mice at Play"
and the second 1.-THE Child Martyr" These
pieces are. as their names would signify.
the reverse of each other as far as moods
are concerned. and Miss Owens did Justice
to both, causing the spectators to laugh
loudly at the first and to weep at the last
selection.
THE Will-o'-the- Wisp," rendered by
Harry Lawrence Jr., was the next on the
programme. Another song by Mrs. Gray
and duet by that lady and Mr.. Lawrence
completed the entertainments.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
1T IS IMPOSSIBLE.
The ideal Cannot Be Attained, Saws e.
e. Curtis.

e. Curtis.
The ideal newspaper, l believe, Is Just as
impossible of attainment as are the thou
sand and one other ideals which mankind
has ever pursued. Like the Holy Grail, II
is something which mortal eyes may not
expect to see, and 1t is doubtful whether
there will be any newspapers at all in the
next world.
good newspaper is all that we can
reasonably expect to produce, and that
ought TO satisfy all sensible people.
My idea of good newspaper is that il
should present all the real news OF the day
in an attractive manner. with timely and
instructive editorial comment. 1t should
be well printed. 80 as to please the eye, and
written in plain vigorous English. Obseur-
ity In expression should be avoided, as well
as straining after sensational effects in the
relation OF commonplace incidents
Crime should not be given undue promi-
nence. nor should the movements of prize
fighters crowd out other news, unless the
pugilists happen to be the most prominent
people before the public as was the case
recently with Corbett and Sullivan.
Petty.quarrels. scandals or even tragedies
in low life should not be given much space,
except when the details are of exceptional
interest. Indeed. unless there is a story
connectd with a crime or a law suit in the
civil courts it is scarcely worthy of men
lion. The same is true OF all kinds OF news.
The mere fact is OF little value unless 1t
furnishes the key to unlock q narrative
worth reading.
On the other hand. so long as human na-
ture remains as at present constituted, GRIM
inal events cannot be ignored, nor can n
paper, with due regard TO its Income, afford
TO slight the sloggers and other more or less
disreputabie members Of the sporting fra
ternity. Neither can 1t ignore the churches.
for, as representatives of the moral element
OF the community. they should be given all
possible encouragement
The telegraphic service, especially for a
San Francisco paper, should be ample but
not out OF proportion to the space devoted to
home affairs. Every item wired from the
East bearing on local affairs should be
worked mp locally, and, IL deserving special
mention and received before midnight.
should be referred to editorially on the
same DAY it appears in the news columns.
Above all, every item containing a state
ment OF fact should be absolutely reliable.
There Is no place Tor fakir on an honest
journal.
Advertisers will probably be tolerated as
necessary evil. but they should be held In
check ana not permitted to mar the typo-
graphical appearance Of q page by heavy
type or inartistic cuts.
OF course all this only goes to show how
difficult will be the task before the ideal
editor of the Daily Morning Utopian. but
have simply given my ideas for what they
are worth. T. E. Curtis
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
SOME EXAMPLES.
Henry BigeIow Points Out Samples OF
the Ideal.

At the present time In the United States
the paper which prefer to read is the New
York Evening Post. 1t gives the news In
an honest fashion and leaves out a lot Of
nonsense that finds its way into the sensa-
uonal morning papers.
For the American morning newspapers
are necessarily sensational. They are
made mp" at night in hurry and during
hours when news is ill-considered.
The American people are by nature excit-
able and their papers are fit representatives
of the country.
For good all-round morning newspaper
1 like the Daily News in London, but of
course 1t never would succeed for moment
In New York or San Francisco
In the matter OF interviewing will con-
Tess that think 1t has been oyerdone. The
silly talk" with a popular actress or a
murderer who is being showered with bou-
Quets just before his hanging Is to nv mind
as uninteresting and as silly as the opinion
oil wealthy merchant on the question of
What shall we do with our poor?"
l trust at some day the "blanket-shee
journal will come TO an end, and that the
newspaper OF the coming century will be
concise, conservative and clean.
In San francisco one cannot help admir-
ing the competition for news which has
been maintained for some time past be-
tween the morning papers, and certainly it
must have done much to improve the trade.
Certainly, so far as the public is concerned.
the morning dailles have met with the
greatest favor, so far as style and makeup"
is concerned.
without any prejudice to the newspapers
mere. Will say that / have continued 20
READ the evening Bulletin for news just as
did In childhood. This has grown from
matter Of habit to an actual preference.
OF course have been STEPPED in the gore
Of the morning newspaper for MANY wears
In other cites as well as San Francisco. and.
just as the woman who has led an evil life is
apt to make fierce and diligent guardian
for youth and innocence when she grows
old. 40 i feel that couid IA falv hacop,a IN .
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
POWERFUL AND GREAT.
Special Writer Nicholson Recites a
Newspapers Essentials.

wide range of views succinctiy arranged,
and all having the ideal newspaper as their
focus was presented by Charles Nicholson,
the Examiner special writer.
THE ideal newspaper" said he thought
fully. sis unfettered by interests and is big
enough to have enemies as well as friends.
1T recognizes no connection between its
news columns and its editorials.
'lt gets the news, and is willing and able
to pay the expense of getting Ii.
at properly balances its different depart
ments of news.
Il don't think the modern newspaper
gives sufficient space to editorials; their in
nuence is underestimated.
LAS to features, they ought to be mildly
sensational BY sensational l don't mean
dressing up an unimportant article by
means of type display. but putting really
important news item up on the topslde. to
speak technically.
"The modern newspaper should have so
much influence that people will know when
an article is thus prominently displayed that
IL Is really important.
'Iu conclusion will say that the ideal
newspaper is truthful, independent and
above suspicion"
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
NEWS AND FEATURES.
The City Editor of the Examiner EN-
phasizes Their Importance.

The city editor of the Examiner, T. L. 81.
Noble, was both frank and discreet In his
expressions ON the subject.
''To start fairly the modern news
paper should contain for the most part
news. This leads to the inquiry, What is
news?'
Every one has his own ideas on the sub
tect. Ii would be rather presumptuous,
therefore, for me to express mine.
THAT which is deeply interesting news
for one class is often of little or no interest to
another. and the ideal newspaper will size
up the classes and all0t space accordingly.
Take prize-6ghts, for instance There is
native interest In the human species, even
emong the women, centering around per-
eonai conflict, even in the form of the glove
contest. and don't think the papers, as
whole. give too much space to this branch
OF news
"As to scandal and personal journalism,
am opposed to them.
They are becoming rarer In metropolitan
papers, which Is partly the reason that the
smaller papers cling to them.
"When scandals affect the standing of. say.
royal family, then they become legiti-
mate matter of news. as do church troubles.
where otherwise biased accounts NAV leak
out In such cases the newspaper forms
an important means of redress for the
clergy.
''The modern paper must have q great
many so-called special features.
''rhese should be handled whenever It
Is possible by famous men familiar with the
special subjects-as, for instance, Glad
stone. Bismarck. Blaine on diplomatic or
national subjects; Kipling, Howells. Cable
on literature; scientific men on astronomy,
polar expeditions. education and the like.
''Such authoritative special articles are
really of interest TO readers. and such au-
thority is imperative in the magazine field,
which the modern newspaper is rapidly en-
tersng.
illustrations are of great Importance In
the modern newspaper.
"fhe art, believe. has scarcely more than
begun. 30 far only line drawings can be
reproduced. but by the new process OF pho
togravure 1t 10 possible to reproduce photo
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
SHE HAD TO INSIST.
The New Servant Would Not Tolerate
Any CareIessness.


$ The queenly creature sent by the intelli-
gence Office expressed herself as satisfied
with Sc a week, with alternate evenings to
herself and the privilege Of utilizing the
front parlor for the reception Of company.
A look OF ineffabe calm pervaded her
countenance.
There is one thing more" she pleasantly
observed, .'of which / imagine it is not nee.
essary for ME to speak. -"
She cleared her snowy throat.
assume that your husband
The lady of the house knit her brows
anxiously.
'-buids the fire In the morning."
A sigh of relief escaped the lips of the mis-
tress.
"Oh. certainly" she cordially rejoined.
Eyes, indeed"
The queenly creature expected as much as
a matter OF course.
what / am getting at" she continued.
sis 10 insist that he must never use kero-
sene oil to kindle with. cannot tolerate
such carelessness."
Loftily then she murmured an au reyoir
and departed. promising to return for duty
the next day.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10

through the sack Into
the meal. l have already mentioned in a
former note that oatmeal purchased from
grocer near the university contained the
worms or larvae of this pest.
1t is clear that mills infested with this
enemy are distributing it by the wholesale
in their manufactured breakfast foods and
other products all over this coast
This distribution should be checked
1t is endangerng public health by COM
polling consumers to discard worm-eaten
breakfast foods.
1t would be useless for ono mill to en-
deavor to eradicate the pest unless all others
infested carried on the work Of destruction
at the same time.
Can we not urge the millers of California
to meet in convention and discuss this most
serious question that has confronted them
since the establishment of the first mill ON
the Pacific Coast?
Every mill. whether infected or not,
should be represented by one or more dele
gates. At this meeting could be discussed
the methods that have been most success
full in ombattng this insect in other places,
and some remedy adopted by means of
which every miller in the State could wage
war against this ravenous pest at the same
time.
IL the moth is kept in check at all ii must
be by eternal vigilance aud simultaneous
destruction all over the State wherever 1t is
established.
We would be pleased to meet with such
convention and give such suggestions as
our experience presented.
The details of my Investigations on this
moth we're given In a paper, a copy of
which is to be sent by the chronological
Society Of San Fran cisco to very miller on
the coast.
This paper is now in the hands of the
printer. but the present condition of affairs
will not warrant millers to delay the work
of destruction Of this pest waiting for the
paper. W. G. JOHNSON,
Department of Entomology. Leland STAN
ford Jr. University.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
THAT AWFUL MOTH
The Millers Must Combine
Against 1t.
SO SAYS PROFESSOR JOHNSON
He Urges That They Call a Conven-
ton to Take a Determined
Battle at Once.

The millers who are worried over tn
advent OF the Mediterranean -four m 9th
are now urged by Professor w. G. john
son OF Stanford University to hold q con-
vention ana adopt some definite plan OF
action in which they can make y COM
binsd fight against the terrible pest.
Professor johnson, who 10 recognized az
an expert sntomologist, declares that the
presence OF the moth in cur -four aud
meal Is dangerous to the public health,
and he thinks that the millers cannot too
soon effect the needed combination to
fight the plague.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10
HERO OF THE PAMIRS.
A Brief Sketch of the Leader of the
Russian Expedition.
London Daily Graphic.

1OuUVH
Colonel Yonoffs the hero of the Russian
expedition to the Pamirs. has earned for
himself a position in the estimation Of
patriotic Russians which is likely to pre-
serve his fame for many years to come. He
has not only carried the Russian standard
further into Central Asia than any of his
countrymen, but be is the first Muscovite
officer who, in pursuance Of the historic
testament Of Peter the Great. ha. led the
troops of his fatherland to the very thres-
hold OF Hindostan. To Englshmep, of
course. the proceedings Of Colonel Yonoff
have not been palatabe; but the indigna-
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10

ness enterprise cannot long be kept from
returning to the realm of the ideal.
There is In my mind an ideal newspaper
about which l have said nothing because
am talking as practical journalist of the
year 1892. There is no use in writing Of
that lovely vision since its birth will depend
upon parent who has not yet been Gre
ated-a public sufficiently civilized to be
capable Of begetting 1t.
ARTHUR MCEwFN
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10

dealer 10 San Jose q few
days ago. T he sack
bears the name of one OF
the largest mills in Sac
ramento. | would not
infer, however, that the
moth infests that mill.
The spread Is so easy it
is possible eggs were
laid on this sack after
1t left the mill, from
which arvB b ave
Matched and eaten
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-10

Philip j. Koran, a lad 16 years of age, has
been missing since November IA last, and
his friends now fear that he has met an
untimely end. The boy was tail for his
age and proportionately built He wore a
suit of dark gray tweed and hard felt hat
when last seen. z. Koran, his father, who
resides at Eleventh and Bryant streets,
would be pleased to receive any iuforma-
ton regarding him.