Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-17
thing that 1t is possible for him to know.

tnlng tnat IL is pOSSipie. ioi I'LL " hhow'
IT never saw newspaper man." he said,
''who knew too much, except those who
knew too many things which were not So"
He went on to say that de was a believer
in old-fashioned, classical education as q
training for newspaper work. The young
newspaper man, too, ought to be familiar
with the sciences, especially chemistry and
electricity; with history especially Ameri-
can history; with the Constitution and con-
stitutional law. He did not believe much
in political economy.
Mr.. Dana went on to speak OF the devel-
opment of the association for news gather
ing an element in modern journalism, and
said that this emancipates the manager and
editor of the paper froA the necessity OF
the strenuous attention, the watchful vigil
lance which they were formerly obliged to
apply to their news columns so now
they can make their paper more interesting
by correspondence and literary and scien-
tific or romantic articles, and they can do
it in the same time that used to be eb-
sorbed in getting the petty news OF town
and in reporting, for instance, that Mrs.
McTabby had fallen down in the street
and broken her toe. The consequence is
that not quite so many men are employed
on the newspapers, but they are apt to be
better educated and more capable men,
The writers, correspondents and reporters
are better paid generally than they were
five years ago. A great many ladies are
also employed on the papers writer's,
artists and valuable assistants in almost
with them was that they wouldn't stay.
AS soon as they become Indispensable they
so and marry some rich man, especially II
they pretty.
Illustrations.
An interesting chapter of Mr. Dana's dis
course was that devoted to the manner OF
illustrating the daily papers. There has
been a great diminution in the cost of these
illustrations. Twenty years ago the pro-
cess was very cumbersome and expensive
II should think he said, Ito make a good
and adequately extensive portrait of Mr.
Cleveland after the old fashion would cost
forty or fifty dollars" He described the
pre- cess of modern cut making, and Sald
that the finished picture now costs si.3o
on the average. He did not think much,
he said, of the latest inventions in the way
of color printing. He said, There are lots
of pictures of men dancing on tight rope,
and ladies dancing without any tight rope
These are supposed to be very popular. L
dare say they are. ] know of one of the
most distinguished newspapers in the coun-
try which publishes an actual edition or
GU, 900 on week days, but on Sunday 1t sells
23O,o00 Or 250,WD, mainly. as they think,
on account of the pictures.
Mr. Dana said he did not believe that
many pictures are going TO be required lor
any great portion of the next century.
Legitimate illustrating, he thought, would
always prevail.
Qualifications of ~ Reporter.
The qualifications of a reporter, said Mr..
Dana, cannot too highly be estimated. He
must know the truth when he hears 1t and
sees it, and there are many men who have
no such faculty. There are some men, how
ever whom lie cannot deceive. Such a
man is sure to live long and prosper, es-
pecially if he is able TO tell the truth which
he sees. and to state the fact or discovery
for which he has been sent in a vivid and
interesting manner. The inyarable law OF
the newspaper is to be interesting.
MIR. Dana agreed with Mr.. Greeley that
the exchange editor is one OF the greatest
men on the newspaper. Next to him comes
the city editor, who is the man with whom
all fault is found. The managing editor is
q man OF real and vital Importance. Mr..
Dana gave at length NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
his belief that the fiction, poetry and fancy
articles in newspapers ThaSie an excellent
tendency. These We're poems cut from
daily papers, the one humorous and the
other patriotic. o the latter, called High
Tide at Gettysburg" he said: AS long as
such things can be produced in the news
Papers OF the country there is no danger
that the love of art and beauty nor the
spirit OF patriotism can tie out.
Value OF the Press.
In conclusion, Mr.. Dana said: The value
of the free press is not now sufficiently
appreciated in this country. 1t is only
some particular circumstance, some un-
usual occurrence. that can make it rise
clearly before the eyes, OF us all. l don't
know that / can state il with sufficient dis
tinctness. but in my Judgment the highest
function OF the press is that ut last il toI ms
the final barrier which Stands between the
people and any gross wrong that may be
attempted. by dominant parry or by
ruling public favorite II such Crcum-
stance should ever happen, and Goa grant
that it may not, the mission of the press,
lifting its voice in defense of the Constitu
ton and in defense OF the spirit of liberty,
will be recognized; and the free press will
be appreciated as the defender of the pub.
lie welfare, OF the Constitution, and of
liberty itself.
And let me finish with two or three
DlaximS which seem to ME OF value to
lew Spaper maker:
Il Never he In hurry.
80 Hold fast to the Constitution.
''3. Stand by the stars and Stripes Above
ell, stand for liberty, whatever happens.
~ a word that is not spoken never does
any mischief.
-, All the goodness of n good egg can
not make up for the badness of a bad one.
90 Ii you find you have been wrong don't
fear to say so.
There is 4 tradition in some newspapers
of the Old school that You must pretend to
silly infailbility, and never admit you
have been wrong. That is a silly rule. If
a man has not the moral courage to say,
Yes, | was wrong, and l don't now believe
what l said at some former time; if he has
not courage to say that, he had better re-
tire from business, and never try to make
another newspaper