The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-22
The Sun.

1t Is q light-beaded and Unbalanced
management which is swept of its base
by the frantic struggle now in progress
between the journalistic Anarchists who
have recently invaded our noble profess
sion. From a competition whereof the
field ranges from mere inanity to the linn
its OF obscene enterprise, reputable pub
fishers and self-respecting editors would
better keep themselves wholly sloof.
Let the scavengers with an in born taste
for that sort of research, continue to
discover ali the coprolites, and to shout
them for sale in the open market place.
Let the same fellows likewise monopolize
the traffic in that sort of harmlessly
vulgar train literature, which no man
with clean linen on can read, even In q
smoking car without sense Of personal
ignominy and degrade tion.
lhe intimate contest between the pro-
prietor of the New York World and the
proprietor of the New York Journal for
the primscy OF the sewers proceeds with
undated energy on either side. One Of
them is spending lavishly. in the attempt
the money amsssed during a long and
happy period OF absolute monopoly Of
shsmelessness. The other Is pouring into
the campaign money earned by older
and probably wiser men in more honor
able business, in a desperate eff ort, fore
doomed to failure to prove that Harvard
graduate with the training of gentle
man can out-pulitzer the original Pulit-
zer himself. Foredoomed to failure, be-
cause the new conner is, after all, only an
amateur. II he succeeds in buying away
from the older shop every artist whose
pen or whose pencil has been educated to
proficiency by the master OF ell the arts
which have made the World what 1t IL,
other artists will spring up like mush-
rooms under the brass dome. Pulitzer has
only 10 raise his somew hat hooked fore
finger TO summon to his aid special talent
of an order not at any other new jour
nalist's command. Besides, his nose Is
longer than young Mr.. Hesrst's, and his
scent keener by far.
Meanwhile, what a conte0 IL Is, and
what struggle young Mr.. Hearst is
making, though hopelessiy, for the full
flment of his astounding ambitionl The
hideous projeetiles are hurled back and
forth every day in the week, but partlcu-
larly on Sundays. 4 here Is yet discernabie
no sign that the ammunition 10 low In
either arsenal. As two wrestlers change
their grip or shift their ground from time
TO time, so the desperate competition
passes through varying aspects of the un-
speakab bic. At one time 1t is porDo-
graphic. Then IL lie pustular, then u be-
comes more sociological than pustulor or
pornographic. When the multifarious
appeal TO pruriency seems to pail upon
the two constituencies, the exploitation
OF the horrors of NOR bid anatomy and dis
gushing pathology begins. Pictures Of
diseased tissue sprawl across whole pages
formerly occupied ~ the imaginings
of lssciviousuess. Crime ~ illustrated In
all It's phases, with charts and full work.
ing directions for intending criminals.
When the Harvard graduate rabsacks the
shelves OF the library hells for forgotten
nastiness OF erotic literature, the OK
kellner sends forth bis men and women
to collect froin the cooks of the aponyma
Of today their mistress favorite receipts
for Christmas plum pudding. when the
ox-kellner goes to the hospitals with his
camera to photograph for the tenefit OF
worlf readers the latest running ulcer,
tho Harvard graduate promptly furnishes
the readers Of the Journsl explicit instruc-
ticns. with plates. teaching how murder
nav to dono with a single low OF the
fist upon the chin by driving splinter OF
the under jaw up into the brain. So II
goes on. sunday after sunday, with the
bright sun shining In the heavens, and