The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-05-27
NEWSPAPER TALK.
"Then, Now and Hereafter" by Frank
j. Cannon.
Peculiar Features of Early Journalism
Quantity and Not Quality the Object
Sought by Modern Newspapers.

newspapers; lnen. NOW anu mere
after, - was the title OF the lecture de-
livered last evening in the University OF
Utah by the Hon. Frank j. Cannon, and
was the concluding one Of the library
course of lectures which have been given
at the university the past winter.
Mr.. Cannon was warmly greeted by a
good sized audience, in which ladies pre-
dominated. He said the first newspaper
had marked the beginning of an era like
unto the one which commenced when the
creator said ''Let there be light.' With
the advent of the newspapers came men,
tai and political liberty to man
kind. The first publishers of
newspapers, like Martin Luther,
like Luther, suffered torture and perse-
cution, but the "idea'' could not be ex-
tinguished. Kings, potentates and powers
trembled when the first newspaper went
forth and sounded note which was heard
clear and distinct above all the din and
commotion around.
1t was generally believed that China
had the first newspaper, the newspaper of
the 'sthen.' He did not believe this.
China had been asleep for many centuries,
was still sleeping, and If, as was claimed,
she had even one newspaper in A. D. 1913,
she would have awoke from her sleep
long ere this.
The first real newspaper was published
in England in 1888, called the Mercury.
Its editor was Mr.. Burleigh, it published
facts and was great power in the cause
of liberty. In those days the custom was
to exhibit the proof sheets in public places
and invite the criticism of the general
public. This practice came to end when
ono aditor ipvitad oil hic crifiru 20 copd
in their objections on certain day, so
that all corrections could be made and g
perfect paper issued. The result was that
blank sheet of paper was issued, every
line, advertisements included, being
objected to by some individual.
The lecturer exhibited an original copy
of the London Times of June %, 1915,
containing an account OF the battle OF
Waterloo. 1t was little paper of four
pages, two devoted to advertisements and
two to news, and cost six pence, or 1873
cents. Yet the speaker affirmed that it
contained all the salient events OF toe
crisis which changed the worlds history,
and in reality was better newspaper,
quality considered, than those OF the
present day the ''now."
Newspapers of the present day had
degenerated; they gave quantity, but
paid little or no attention to the
contained. The Democratic New York
lStes he considered the greatest paper in
the world and Charles A. Dana the great
est editor and best journalist of the time.
Yet even the Sun, in point of quality, has
degenerated in the last ten years and lik e
the New York World, with its 100 page
issue, went in for quantity instead OF
quality. 1t was truly said that the news
pa pers had reduced Matchmaking to fine
or TO
the large papers were controlled by
the business Office. Anything that
was detrimental to the finances
of the paper was suppressed, and in place,
as it used to be, of an owner and editor
taking a pride in his editorials, the owner
simply ran the paper for what dividends
he got out OF 1T.
The newspaper of the hereafter might
not be newspaper at all in our sense of
the word. 1t would probably be a tele-
phone or a phonograph, which would
voice the news of the world in such way
that man would get it all whispered in
his ear by pressing button whilst he lay
in his bed in the morning. There will be
the finance button, the religious button,
the sporting button, etc.-whateyer kind
OF news was wanted could be obtained
by pressing the particular button.
In case the newspaper of the
future IS newspaper do all IL VIII De
greatly condensed sheet from the present,
and will DE delivered through pneumatic
tubes conn Getting London, Paris, New York
and all the large cities. 1t will simply be
little condensed folder, with the news
classified.
At the conclusion OF the lecture, Miss
Comorah Smith, Messrs. George, Shest-
Ter, Ames and Clifford rendered a mu-
steal piece on the guitar and mandolin
most acceptably and were called on for an
encore. Mr.. Thomas Ashworth sang the
sclo, Dreaming of Thee" to piano
accompaniment, and was recalled, con-
GLIDING the evenings entertainment.