The morning call., 1894-11-27
A FRENCH JOURNALIST.

Few newspaper readers in this country
ever heard of Francois Maynard, yet he has
been power in France for nearly twenty
years, and his death creates a vacancy
which will be herd to fill. He was the
editor of the Figaro, which. though it was
originally started as an organ of society
and vehicle of gossip, rose TO be the most
influential daily paper in Paris.
Magn ard was plodding hard worker,
who had no briIliancy, but lots of common
sense. Originally Belgian, he migrated
to Paris in early life and joined the staff
of the Figaro when NJ. de Vilemessant
converted 1t into daily. Its aim at that
time was to be the leading organ of society
and fashion. and il was largely through
Mr.. Magnard's tact that it attained that
object. 1t became the arbiter of taste.
Its judgments On letters, theatricals,
music, dress and sport were final People
gradually came to look up to it for what
the English call the correct caper," and
as in Paris frivolity and pleasure engross
more minds than the serious concerns OF
life, the Figaro grew to be very influential
indeed. Fifteen years ago its founder, NJ.
de Villemessant, died, and NJ. Maynard
succeeded him in the chief editorship. II
was then that the paper became political
sheet.
Mr.. Maynard was a Republican, and his
politics did not go much further than that.
He never identified himself with the
factions into which French Republicans
split. His chief support in the days when
the Figaro was the mOutbpiece of French
artistic and social life had come from the
nd do
voted himself TO the task of converting
these classes TO belief in and adherence to
the republic, and he succeeded so veil that
at the present time the auti-Republcan
parties in Paris have ceased to be factors
in politics. He owed the influence which
enabled him to accomplish this result to
the general belief in his honesty and COM
mon sense.
As a rule the Paris press is In famously
corrupt, as the Panama investigation and
the Abeiiie case proved. 10 almost all the
Paris dailes an iTrepressible conflict IN
ceasingly RACES between the proprietor of
the paper and his writers which shall
pocket the brides which are offered.
Sometimes one party wins. sometimes the
other; in either event the journal is sub
sdized. Maynard neither took money him
self nor allowed his subordinates to do so.
His readers could rely upon the honesty
Of the opinions he expressed. He almost
always wrote the leading article himself
and signed it with his initials. It was
short, rarely exceeding fifty lines;
teTSe. clear and to the point; the
views he expressed were never die
tated by fear. favor or affection. 1t
was waste time to tell him that his sub
>cribers did not iDdorse the policy he was
pursuing He would reply that if they
did not like the Figaro there were sixty
odd other dailies 10 which they could sub
scribe; as for him he was going TO tell the
truth according TO his lights without pay
ing the least attention to what other peo-
pie thought. he had the serene courage
of his convictions. and he got his reward
in an enormous circulation and general
public respect.
Now that be is dead it is remembered OF
him how stoutly he opposed the plots of
the adventurer Boulanger The class
which supported the Figaro sympathized
with lie brav general. and they threatened
to withdraw their subscriptions. Maynard
smiled contemporary at the threat, and
lived to hear them confess that they had
been wrong, and that he had been wiser
than they.
M. Maynard was classed as a conserva-
tive. He saw no chance for France out
side of the republic, and he bent his efforts
to convincing the mOnarcbists. Orleanists,
Bonapartists and socialists that they had
better accept the situation aud assist the
Republicans in conducting an orderly Gov
ernment. In this endeavor he rendered
good service to his country; how good
those who recall the mischief done nearly
half century ago by the National news
paper, with all its rectitude of purpose
and all Its political wisdom, are in posi-
ton to appreciate.