New-York tribune., 1896-12-28
against careiessness in substituting political
INck5 from fnn ni,i1lic trn2SurX.

aralns, carelessness in substituting political
hacks from The puhlic treasury.
ENGLISH NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION.
Mr.. Iahouchere was subjected TO only an
noyance during this trial The question was put
10 him: What is the circulation OF Truth :?
About twenty-six thousand" he answered.
Whether he was sensitive or not on this point,
ne concealed his annoyance admirably. The
value of newspapers here seems not to depend
upon circulation or advertising. l know OF one
weekly Journal which has been steadily losing
money, but which cannot be purchased. even at
an extortipnate price lis selling value appears
20 increase with the annual loss incurred in con-
ducting IT, | have also heard of an evening
Journal whose value represented by capitalized
stock is now eight times as great the price
paid for it Only short time ago: and this IN
crease can hardly be attributed to ary substan-
tial gains in circulation and advertising. One or
the latest newspaper ventures has been under-
taken on the novel plan of limiting the circuia-
ton to 1000 copies and of asking hign pI.ce p,
for each imprint. though IL were an etchl's
or engraving Newspapers here seem to nave d
fictitious value Independent OF circulaton anu anu
advertising. Rich men who wish TO pe kl,lem,.u M
or elected TO Parliament are always IN tne mar
kst looking about for "A losing property "nICh
viii bring them into nctorety and IN the course
OF time carry them into The peerag1 o,ono 20 tbls
Mr. Labouchere's paper does not pc'uis ~ '
class IL is a most profitable property out U,
which he has amassed great fortune. Radical
Journal as il is IL is found on the library taple
OF every country house in England. and Is eager
ly read on account of its trenchant style ana me
accuracy and variety of It's social GOSSIP Mr:
Iabouchere has succeeded in making Truth
Indispensable to the titled and fashionable class,
whose interests he opposes as a consistent and
irreconcable Radical Like William Morris. he
ministers to the pleasures of the rich while
pleading the OF the masses. Moreover,
with strong scent for Pecksnifilan hypocrisy
and cant he has done useful work in exposing
shams. humbugs and imposture. 1T has cost him
heavily. he admitted when in the witness
stand but il has been a public service which
has digniiied his journal and rendered IL re-
fOrmatOry agency in social life. The foreman OF
the jury in the Brooks stated in court that
several of his associates considered that Mr.. La
houchere had conferred great public benefit by
exposing the letter-writer That is a testimonial
one Of the choicest memories of his checkered
career. His hatred of shams and his sympathy
with the path0s of neglected child-lfe in London
are the crowning virtues of Mr. Labouchere and
Truth"
The court scenes with their boisterous merri-
ment and holiday eNelry. cannot he said to have
enhanced or deepened the dignity Of English jus
tice. 1t sport for the spectators. and
duly licensed b, the bench The cubhouses and
country houses to-day are ringing with their
echoes or 1t. II was variety show described by
clubmen who chanced to he present funnier
than His Little Dodge" any farce on the
boards at the theatres. The poor. bewildered.
seN convicted letter-writer was worried and run
down like rat in pit. while every spectator
sport for holiday crowd, But something was
sacrificed before the play was played out and the
curtain rung down. II was the dignity Of an
English court Of justice. l. y. +.