The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-25
he IS NOT A KIPLING.
Arnot Reid, the Englishman,
Says He Likes Us.
OUR PAPERS PLEASE HIM.
American Reporters Are Brighter Than tn
English Newsg atherers, but Our Edi-
torials Are Weaker.


ticles on The English and American Press"
were widely and favorably commented upon
on both sides of the Atlantic. was asked
Yesterday to make some remarks on the
subject for publication in THE CALL
"Of course" he began. your journalism
is the most interesting feature to me in the
whole country.
"How would l compare our respective
styles? Well. sum it up as six of one and
half a dozen of the other.
Let me give you some statistics to prove
my statements. My remark alludes not TO
style but to substance. think my figures
Will surprise you.
81 took one weeks issue Of the five prin-
cipal journals of both countries. For in
stance, three London and two provincial
British journals, and three New York, one
Boston and one Cincinnati journal You
will be surprised to hear that we advertise
more than you do.
Your papers showed COZ columns of adj
vertiSements, Ours showed 1016, majority
OF Ala columns in our favor.
Taking the same papers for a weeks
totals | found in news and reading matter
1890 columns in the English and 1907 in the
American, that Is Il columns IN your favor
1.-The Eastern American and British col
umns contain much the same quantity of
matter.
Both are longer and contain more matter
than tie columns Of your San Francisco
dailies.
Those are interesting statistics and sup
port my comment on our relative SIMILAR
ity in quantity and substance
Il was surprised to find we advertised
more than you do.
That is not generally known.
Then as regards news, you must remem-
her we cater TO one race Only-our own.
Now your papers have 10 cater for all the
European races settling in your country, as
well as your own original people.
Now we come to style. OF course we
differ there materially.
Il should say that the British press aims
at being dignifed, and the American press
aims at being smart
And | think you are smart
There is a great pull on your side for
news which few English people think Of
"At 4 O'Clock in the morning il is IL
o'clock Of the night before in New York.
LAS consequence when we get important
and expensive information into our London
papers your correspondents get our early
morning issues and telegraph eff the details
TO America In ample time for your morning
editions.
"As a consequence some important matter
which is confined exclusively TO the readers
OF Que particular British daily is laid in all
its details before the readers of all the chief
papers in the United States next morning.
"Of course that is 10 the advantage of the
public and you get big pull over our
people that way.
For similar geographical reasons we can
not copy from you and are compelled 10 bear
the chief expense in special correspondents
and heavy priced exclusive information.
u think we can each copy from the other
in borrowing good points to advantage.
That, however, is being done every day
on both sides.
n hot fhar fso
among our journalists toward affairs AmeTi- |
can.
That is simply because few of them are
personally acquainted with this country.
They have not had the opportunity.
There is vast quantity Of absOr bingly |
interesting matter in the way Of social and |
political problems in your country which |
might we'll be written up in ours
But again. your magazines have a large |
sale in our country and the public demand |
for intellectual information Is so well met in !
those that the actual newspapers have not |
been called upon for sucAsuppies.
I'VE are slower readers than you are and |
as result our public demand the barest, |
cold news in brief paragraph. You prefer
your news in Il chatty cOnye rSational style. !
"Our deeply thought out editorials, con-
fined to our editorial columns, by expert |
scholars on their subject are represented |
in yOnr paper by the chatty personal de- |
scrption Of the reporter
Il think we beat you In editorials.
You beat us in brilliant reporters.
but that is matter Of national taste |
and demand.
Each nation gets what 1t wants. and | |
really think our Journalists come fairly zip |
to an equal mark in supplying that demand. |
Acrimonious journalistic comment?
yes, am afraid it exists on both sides.
but when you get behind the scenes
you Will make allowance.
I'VE have offensive people in our coun-
try as perhaps you will find in yours.
Carnegie, for instance. came over to
England and made the most offensive COM
PARSONS between the happy freedom of the
American and the downtrodden seryility of
the British people.
Naturally when the Homestead riots oc-
Cured We couldn't resist the opportunity TO
score him and his offensive public speeches.
1T is the same way with you. You have
offensive Britlshers touching you on the
raw now and again and score us back
"Steady-going folks who mind their own
business don't set much value on this jour
nalistic sparring on either side.
you seldom find an educated and refined
American who has been In England abus-
lug the English any more than you find a
similarly travelled and educated BrtisheT
do anything but laugh at our ayenging jour
nalist.
Speaking personally, / am charmed with
America and Americans. / have never met
with anything but pleasant treatment, and
consequently use my pen touphold America
and its institutions.
This is my first visit to the West, which
| have long wished to visit
"W hat do | think of it? WHY, everything
is conmendable. both in your press and
w