The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-11
FUNNY PARIS NEWSPAPERS.
Things About Them That Are Odd to
American Eyes.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Late one afternoon last spring an Amer
lean newspaper man ran across the editor
in-chief of one of the most prominent Paris
evening newspapers. He was sitting on the
terrace of the Cafe de la Prix, and upon
the dimfnutive table beside him was a glass
OF abSlnthe. Hardly an hour before had
occurred a calamity which had stirred
Paris to its center More than hundred
people, the flower of French fashion, had
been burned to death in the ruins of the
Bazaar Gle la Charlie. 1t was the biggest
piece Of news in twenty years; all Paris
was aghast
The editor-in-chef beckoned to the Amer
lean and pointed to a seat beside him. He
was greatly excited, although he assumed
calmness.
What desolating thing it ISL he cried.
All my friend, France has received a
cruel blow! Well, we must bear up; we
must have fortitude. We French, whatever
else we are are brave"
Presently the Americans nose for news
impelled him to remark that none of the
papers seemed yet to have got out an extra.
The Frenchman's glance was really re-
proachful. Always thinking of the dol
lars! What practical people, you Ameri-
cansi'
The American explained, rather strongly
that trustworthy news regarding the
calamity would relieve public anxiety, as
yet there was nothing but dreaded rumors
and each was becoming more distressing
An extra" echoed the editor again.
Then, with an injured air, he pulled out his
why. my dear fellow, do you know that
1 dine in half an hour
The American laughed impolitely.
Tomorrow, my friend. Tomorrow said
the Frenchman gently. You will be able
to read It all tomorrow. 1t is too late this
evening" .Ss
1t was then not 6 O. clock At the Presse
puny little sheet published late to give
the result of the races. had no information
about the fire. At 10 n religious paper. the
Croix. got out an extra. Its printing office
adjoined the scene of the disaster. and some
of it's compostors had helped at the rescue.
but it printed nothing but the rumors of
the street Toward midnight two or three
of the evening papers, the reporters of
which had finished their dinners and made
the usual rounds of the theaters on free
lice station nearest the scene of the dis
aster. They got no news, but some extras
came out. announcing in big black type the
facts that everybody knew. In the morn
ing each of the papers had two or ~ v
columns, not more than TWO thouSd ~
words still mostly rumorS.
On the second day they printed the police
reports, which were curious things to read.
On the third day the news began to be
something like trustworthy. and was of the
character that American paper would
have had in press within an hour. There
two or three hasty sketches of the ruins
were given in one of the most interprising
papers.
! But it was only when the weekly Illus
that the real story of the calamity was
told From that time until the expiration
of three weeks the news came out in drib-
let's and at the end of the month the French
press, with many repetitions, mad told such
a story of the Bazaar de la Charlie as an
would have told upon the following morn
ing.