New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-10
VICTORIAN JOURNALISM.
"REMINISCENCES AND REFLECTIONS OF
A VETERAN EDITOR.

There are signs that when Journalism was Sos
thought more respeetabie than TO edit It. Nor for
Ineligible reasons is that an extinct r many
MsSse FEELINGS IL Inform Them that whatever the
difference in emolument and n.Sonybu,ors than
TO sit IN the editorial chair Two senerati,Hns, agS
been much disturbed upon hearing that hSck ,hsre
might become editor Of newspaper wni zen same
distinction CLEANS out clearly in the lat, ro LG 9D1
BaehtSrds story Of how he 10 before
he had made choice of career he was repea'e sk
sSoI!np the RSs Ss sp
then urged to write for the paper ne am0s rreders
This ef doing things seems nsyt t. s
about the matter except private frTisns
s N S can r de qss m Ths aVo in $40 when
newspaper press had already made eO rnmnmnrnS
advance 10 the authority of a Fourth Estate OF the
i''"!"'' WRITING IN HASTE.
I, was good time for journalism, that seventh as
decade Of the century for siSsr '' smployed
and even the literary scribe wrote in much mere S
eyorable conditions than ne s aces p bs xpana
ton of the difference is that In those days nc
snSs u nnSsr aG
pressure IS often too great for comfortable ana
ia mnny aSoSer SPEAK
cepons being always Implied and hope under ere
not Very numerous. and they are probably becom,
Ing for the aim Of mS nod n1 Of more he
latest mater of Interest at ne a last hEnr 20
TO date is Of Course the life OF Journalism. as It's
10 excess. dramatic critic exactly illustrated my
SSga ns 9hT day II of hs marx the
maxim: Acknowledging the inconyenience OF dash
bes on he urher said that 10 wait iii next morn,
ing would be wiser. But what would you? The
rs1Sc t9 mmmedae nSc having 1t done we'll
The number Of persons per thousand who prefer
criticism done soon TO criticism, done well may be
larger than some of us could have supposed;
but what compels immediate notice. good, bad
or indifferent Is evidently the facts OF com
papers would be bettered If written next morning
Is not infexible matter of certainty considering
svncra l.I'' OF the critic Change The wording
and eS m h n Who qe Ss po H M
struction under the same law Of devil take the
employed in beating over certain Departments Of
political study Is usually prepared with an opinion
OF observation and expectancy. This is the answer
70 the reproach Of writing at an hours n0nEe on
even, is unrelated to past and present Both are
Come. Either as likely or unlikely therefore, most
political events ere matters OF speculation before
nay sometimes throw the most Judgmatcal OBJ
server into confusion, ii more often has con-
af bses ard
pense. In moment. long visias OF SPECULATION
which the pCticsI writer is able to conduct his
public with confidence at an hours notice
THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS.
These developments confirm rather than weaken
an old opinion that the most difficult ana least s
foreign Correspondents Its difficulty Is indeed, so
great even as p1acised by the wor{nesi among
nearly unattainabe. Consider what the position
British rm he IS sent to some great capital
obtain a constant supply Of a valuable COMMODITY
most esteemed being, usual the sort that is
S 1 bellies snG are the
prizes. but even the most precious Of these loses
y per 'f rm 81 at home When It is not
That it should be exclusive is eycrything-that Is
Ann should have a share in 1t, But in every great
capital dozen correspondence of similar firms COM
ppeii,,6 is because the success Of one man is in
It's own exact measure a reproach and hu .nili
what have the rival seekers after the @U,b,I the
nothing tangible Of course. In France good
deal of business is done in this commodity on
mostly financial operating FOR bourse purposes and
by no means supply the public with news. The
o oGn ffSpconarys debs or anything OF that
Sort, and would not consent to work in any suc1
his cvIIiiies' wherever he may seek what he is in
an inferior though still important part OF his
duties. he must studiously compete WIN me resi-
70 make himself persona grata With all the more
lofty functionares in court and government; or
sfste Festivities or on grand ceremonial occasions?
And then m gs h doce pCca n
ton? TO be sure. there is resort TO the British
EN- Empnbs orb our ne Foresn Office oca abroad are
a trife more yielding. ] believe, than they IN
DTThns Teyeaton in the world than the British
secretariat. The other Embassies afford better e
snort and II IL a matter Of great importance 10
be on friendly terms with them all. for II is I'm.
possible 70 say when any one 0a another BY the
revelation OF a haf-formed scheme or me puphcao
fn Sa 1I eorr@lponden, must stand wen with the
Government Of the country he lives m ana an! me
oHg waE of Information is to take friendly view
Of their policies and pr9ceedinIg{S whenever Is
possible 1be a e@ry " DAYS Of The Pail Mall Gazette
had visit from efTa al coming 9 directly f from tie
German Chancellor. with a propose. wi t on
Issg Se 'G Pa s TS9 and was greatly
pleased with much admired or sincerely respeciea
fhere On that account the Chancellor desired TO
be Of The Pal Mall as S he Pain miG
good information on foreign affairs II ha Wou 10
sespstehing such news from time to time-a regu-
lar correspondence at Irregular Intervals BENG INC
lind OF ,ng pro ds genuine ecr Von Bismarck
had intrusted TO Dr. p. a few lines in his own hand
10 nne and returned to DR.. P.s pocketbook. With
the best face at my as o a,so TO send
letters of observation and comment; to which the
reply was that both news and comment were m
tended WHAT then said do not remember: but
NV meaning TO point out az inorensiVely as
possible that 1.-THE Pail Mall Gazette" being small
paper the Chapceors kindness would be much
enhanced IL nothing but concrete news was sent,
Or such information could be conveyed In a
simple paragraph of affirmation, explanation cor
rection or denial. We seemed to understand each
other at once: and though DR. =. said very politely
tbat no doubt this could be arranged, never heard
another word of the business he came about after
he had left the room.
The bearing of this little story lies In the fact
that brief phs of plain statement bring the
writer to full 5ense Of his responsibility while he
Is .ndting them and that the language OF report
ing Is neither fluid enough voluminous enough
10 carry any great amount Of feeling innuendo,
whether for business undersigned. DR.. p meant
business no doubt. though 10 my mind not very
culpably: is the recognized instrument CT
every diplomacy innocent But
In nal mol Is a thing