The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-02-08
X K JOURNALISM.
Enterprise and Startling Headlines sun
day Farers-Cousic Fapers--society Pa
pcTs- 1ountTs Paper.

\ = JOURNALISM.
Enterprise and Startling Headlines Sun
day Farers-Cousic Papers society Pa
pcTs- Country Papers
By his discovery of America Christie
pher Col ,ulols has furnished the old
world win an inexhaustibie source of
amusing novelties. But ii Is To Amer
lean journalism that the palm must be
awarded.
The fir thing that attracts your al
tention II tie titles Of the articles tire
qu.Tcsa .,ecIal genius for the work to be
adj" 10 IN upon such eve tickIers-
The death of Mrs. Garfield, mother of
the late president, was announced with
the heading: Death of Grandma Gar
field"
TIL marriageo of u Maurice Bernhardt:
"Sarah's Boy leads his Bride 10 the
Altar"
The execution of criminal was an
nounced by Chicago paper under the
heading; "Jerkcd 10 Jesus
The reports Of two divorce cases at Chi
caGo were entitled respectively: Tired
of William" Mrs. Carter finds fault
WIN itsi iluSDtIIl , hlSS1llR.
An article on Prince Bismarck was
headed in large letters, Bismarck With
draws" Just underneath in very small
print was: His resignation as chancel-
lOr Of the German empire"
The marriage of young Earl Cairns,
who had been betrOthed several times.
was announced to the American ladies
thus: "Garmoylc caught at last"
Mr. Arthur Balfour, having refused to
reply to some attacks of the Irish Ma
tionaliots. prominent New York paper
thus announced the fact: "Balfour
doesn't c; re -
During his late visit to America Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain was invited by the
members Of a New York club to q din
ner given in his honor. At the eleventh
hour, being detained in Washington on
state business. he was obliged to send
and excu : himself Next day | read in
The New York Herald: One dinner less
for Joe"
While I was in the United States the
papers were constantly speaking of ia
cob Sharp. One morning the newspa-
pers were obliged to desist; poor Jacob
had passed away from earth. The same
day met the editor of one of the large
daily papers.
"Wcll," said, "here is fine occasion
for grand headline tomorrow; you are
not going to let it slip, SUPPOSE"
"What do YOU mcan:''
"How can you ask! Why. Jacob gone
ND the ladder, Of course
..... .".SSRll.endid!" he eNcklmed,,. u. must
it,
''I'll make you a present Of it" said.
Next morning the death of the finan-
cier was told in two columns, headed,
Jacob gone up the ladder"
American journalism is above all a
sensational journalism. If the facts re-
ported are exact, 50 much the better for
the paper; il not, SO much the worse for
the facts. But the papers are always
lively reading.
| To succeed as a journalist, the only
| qualification necessary is to be able TO
| amuse and interest the reader; all styles
are admissible except the heavy.
| l, who never read tribunal reports in
tIis INV : 10 " IL4''LS tliSil
/ once surprised IN america to find myself
| deeply Interested in the account Of d trial
for murder. following all the details Of
! the case, and unwilling to miss word.
/ The American journalist must be spicy,
| lively. bright tie must know how TO-
| not report, bat relate 9p accident, trial
8 contiagration. and at a push make VI
orrirla If ono tlx-n ratEfrurs in, iAD CrfE
upon the most Insignificant incident. Ii,
must be Interesting, readable, His eyes
| and ears must be always open, every
sense on the alert, for. before all anC
above all. he must keep ahead in his rac'
for news. if he should once let himself b
outdone 10y a confrere, his reputation
would be blasted
But you will perhaps exclaim: "Wha
is the poor fellow to do when there is n,
news" What is he to do: And his i'm
agination is it given him for no purpose
If he have no imagination. he had bette
give up the idea of being a journalist il
America
Grimes. divorces, elopements. mesalli
ances, gossip of all kinds, furnish tn
papers with three-quarters of their cor
tents A mysterious affair skillfull
: handled will make the fortune of news
, paper.
1t is when there is criminal case {
, handle that American journalism be
comes simply sublime. The criminal
no sooner arrested than the reporter
hurry to his cell and get him to underg
the curious operation, now know
throughout the world as interviewing
He is treated with all consideration. I
r be accused of an important crime give
: a man certain standing in America
: The more atrocious the crime, the NOR
interesting the accused, and column
3 upon columns of print supply the publ
with his slightest sayings and doing
| He is the hero of the day. From th
prison the reporters 60 to hunt up ii
a witnesses, whom they also interview
[ their turn. Regular examinations, thes
c interviewsi If there is any love stor
. mixed in with the affair. if there are
few piquant details, you may inagir
that the public gets the worth of its tvs
cents.
The American is gallant, and when Il
victim Is of the feminine gender, ca
r assure you the accused generally gets
b pretty drubbing in the press
+ know of several American newsp
pers having quite a staff of detectives
yes. detectives. These detectives are er
- ployed. not only in cases OF crime, b
= work just as hard over a divorce or {
elopement; it is journalism turned priva
detective agency.
Il The slightest thing that can make &
" paper attractive is seized upon wi
/ avidity There is nothing, down to t
y mere announcements that viii not 81
IL gest TO wide awake editor one Of the
= wonderful eye tieklers. Thus the Satr
= day list Of preachers for the morrow
y headed in The New York Herald: IS
> yation for AH." or Guiding Sinne
II