, 1892-01-08

him. Mankind IN our time draw their
knowledge, their morals and their man
ners from the newspaper. All the masses
of them ever know of unselfishness and
gracious courtesy, or of hat higher.
finer, sweeter culture that gilds human
life as the sunshine eliminates Il wild
and stormy sea, comes to them in the
sheet they scan so eagerly day by day.
Stop a moment, then, and think of the
responsibility that r ists on the Journalist.
After o have thought of that, think
again of the who brings into the
newspaper Office a batch of rubbish
about how Mrs. Shady wears black
tights, sleeps between black silk sheets
and greases her face every night. \
managing editor who is a thorough man
of the world tells me that really he feels
a little queer when young ladies bring
to him column after column of these
disgusting particularities. He says they
seem nice girls, too, and modest and
well educated. They write the stuff be-
cause they think that is what the read
ing public wants. If 50, then heaven
help the reading public! If to write
such as this is the mission of woman in
journalism, then should say that it was
a pity woman ever entered into journal
ism at all.
But | do not believe this is what
women journalists are for. They nave
a field, a grand one, and many splendid
girls AVE already entered its borders.
Journalism is something to which one
is called. But none are called who
merely look to writing as an easy way
of getting money, and throng to New
York accordingly. 1t is not an easy way
of getting money, quite the contrary,
even if you succeed. But not more than
one girl in a hundred has either the edu-
cationii training, health or pluck to sue
coed. And even if she had all these,
for every place vacant there are already
fifty applicants.
Yet there are women called to be Jour
n~alists, as many women as men. Do
you know how you can tell whether
you are called? If you feel as though
there is something you must say to man
kind or die, then prepare to say it in
some shape. Try newspaper work in q
small way at first. If you like it and
feel sure that you would put up with
any %privation rather than stop writing,
go on. If You are prepared to lose sleep,
be out in all weathers and climb ten to
forty flights of stairs a day, if you have
city reporting to do, go on. All fear
you must put aside, all sneering crit
cism you must brave. You must have
n temper that nothing can ruffle, not
eve a snub from some vulgar rich
woman If you take the delight of an
artist in your work, if you love it 80
much hat you would rather write and
get n mere comfortable living than do
anything else and become rich, go OF.
There is not much else han a comforta-
BILE living in journalism, sven at the
best, unless you can own a successful
newspaper. You must not stop and lie
by n day for n headache or small all
ment. 1t annot be tolerated in a news
paper office.
Spend your spare time in getting the
information l told you Of. When you
write, use the fewest, plainest words
that will fully tell your story. Go over
a piece of work after you nave finished
it, and cut out every line that you can
without marring the sense. Whatever
you write, no matter how strongly you
feel, try to express you meaning without
hurting any ones feelings. Your value
to YOU employer will largely depend on
your gaining and keeping the general
good will. One thing remember-news,
something really new, is always wei
come to an editor.
Begin first in your w neighbor-
hood to write, wherever you are. OF
all those who lave made a distin-
guished success in New York journal
ism l can recall at this moment scarcely
one, from Horace Greeley down, who
did not begin and make n success in the
country first. Never let your enthusi-
asm die out and know for certain that
good work is always rewarded sooner or
later. 1t must be so, for the law of
cause and effect reigns. Then if you
long to come to New York and enter
journalism, wait and hope. Newspaper
women are better paid and have more
respect shown to them in some of the in
terror and western cities than in New
York, but still if you wish to come to
the great city that is your own affair.
You ave a perfect right to cherish tina.
wish and to expect its fulfillment. But
cherish it silently and work enthusiastic-
ally to get a fine local reputation first at
home and then in the largest city that is
lear to you. Never give up a good place
which you AVE already for an uncer-
tainty somewhere else.
By and by the call will probably como
for you to go to New York, or to a bet
ter place. Strive always to improve
yourself and make the most of the
chance You have. Seize every larger
opportunity and make the most of that
too. l have the greatest faith in oppor-
tunities that drift to us of themselves,
without our seeking them. So work
and wait, and whatever is best for you
in this life will drift to you.
ELIZA ARCHARD CONNER.