The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-07
NEWSPAPER MEMS BELIEF.
Life Behind the Scenes Makes Them
MiIdly Cynical but Not Pessimfstfc.

ftOcneSter DemOcTdt anu CHTOuiCle.
Rev. DR.. Talmage, endeavoring to explain
a endency TO unbelief among newspaper
men which he thinks exists, accounts for ii
by saying that its members see the conven-
inside out very much oftener than other
people and wonders that journalists believe
apinas That me he b fendg nofyica Or; does eai note AS sm a
matter of fact, exist. The proportion OF
u~nbelievers among newspaper men is no
greater than IL is among men of other pro-
fessions. Tnis statement is made merely
by the way, for the Chronicler's present
concern is not with DR.. Talmage's assump-
Of the attempt at explanation. 1t is true.
as DIR. Talmage says, that the newspaper
for seeing the inwardness Of men and things
that the world takes at their surface value.
Humbug and vanity are compelled TO be
frank with him He sees great men and
great movements, en- dishabllle. He is be-
hind the scenes of the world. He is not
awed by shams because he sees them In the
process Of preparation. He has not the
slightest respect for many people and many
things that claim and receive the respect
Of the world. He sees the facts OF life
pretty much as they are. but to contend
that this clear-sightedness tends to make
a man an unbeliever Is rather dangerous
reasoning for a Christian minister to in
dulge in. A man who has few decisions
concerning lifehs incidentals should be more
rather than less able than other men to
recognize and appreciate its great varieties.
He who knows humbug In all its varieties
Is little likely to mistake truth for il. DR..
Talmage's argument comes near 10 imply
ing that there is no such thing as truth.
Only very young reporters fall into the
mistake that DR.. Talmage thinks all news
paper men make. Youth Is prone to be-
come world weary and pessimistic on the
very slightest provocation, in newspaper
offices as elsewhere. But pessimism and
world WEAKNESS are generally discovered to
be moro trouble than they are worth by
the time a man has reached thirty. The
older newspaper man is gently amused by
the weaknesses good people are constantly
displaying foz his efification, but he is not
Temples to take them too seriously. He
makes allowances for the people unaccus-
toned TO the bright light of publicity upon
whom he turns II. He expects them TO pose
a little. II they do not attempt TO deceive
him he is generally willing TO help them
pose. When they do attempt 10 deceive
him he regards the attempt rather as the
he respects the after-dinner speaker who
frankly furnishes him with a copy OF his
imprornptu address before IL is delivered
far more than he does the less experienced
orator who will not trust him with the
secret of his grand extemporaneous efforts.
Even the respected citizen who lies TO him
he does not mistake for an habitually I'M
yeracious person. He recognizes that the
respected citizen imagineS that he must lie
in self-defense, and he knows that lying tO
a reporter is no more a proof OF moral
obliquity than is the unauthorized borrow
lpg OF an umbrella The folly OF the act