The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-02
LONDON NEWSPAPER MEN.
Pittsburg Dispatch.

Pittsburg Dispatch.
London, December 24.--My conception
of the London newspaper men has been
overturned. / used to think them quite
stiff and inapproachable; but my ex-
perience thus far is to the contrary. /
have already met them in punches and
singly, and / find them very chummy
and companionahle. They are the only
people of my profession I've ever found
who will gather around and let me do
the talking. My friend, Joe Howard.
would be right in 1t here. We amust
these people without trying to do So
just like monkeys in a cage. All we have
to do is TO be natural You don't have
to understand the language. If you did
you couldn't speak it, There is another
distinct difference between the London
newspaper men and our fraternity. The
former are OF mature years. Out of
party of seventy or eighty saw but three
or four young men, such as one sees about
American offices. They are substantial
looking. bearded fellows flor the most
parD, some wbite-hared all apparently
brainy and cultured gentlemen; In con-
tradistinction to the sharp. nervous and
too frequently impudent youth, character
istic of New York journalism. In glancing
over the product of their pens | COM
mented upon the American style.
Yes. 1t is an affection" admitted
bright writer. 1T broke out in London
with Bennett and has been spreading ever
since. IT Is chatty. conversational light
and easy reading. and ten years ago was
unknown in London reportorini work"
These liberal writer's acknowledge the
American superiority in gathering news,
but claim higher standards in general
newspaper literature. In evidence of the
latter they only point to the freedom with
which we crib their matter. newspaper.
as We understand It, would be impossible
here. owing TO the severe English libel
laws No statement concerning any indi-
vidual or interest can be printed here un-
less You are prepared TO prove 1t in a
court OF Justice. Nor does any London
newspaper dare even reprint any news in
Tnlying such matters from American, con.
tinental or other journals, under the same
penalties as II originating the same.
The real humor in the London daily ma
pers is TO be found in the court reports.
and invariably comes from the bench In
fact, the bench is the only parsonage per-
mitted by law to crack Joke at some
other fellows expense and have the joke
appear in the Newspapers. In our wild
and woolly country counsel usually do the
sparring and incidental humor. though
witnesses. jurymen. policemen. and even
D. isoneis. take hand In the common Joke.
But, with the exception OF the late Justice
Duffy, the occupants OF our bench have not
TEN humorists. nor their sessions widely
hilarious. II Is different here. as the col
unlns of the Times. Telegraph and other
pondeiois London dailies show. The bench
appears TO not only inspire humor. but the
extraordinary activity Of brain 10 bee
through 1t. For the word i.laughter"J
carefully penned up IN brackets. INVARIABLY
gets into the right place. In some cases
l"laughter'l Is sprinkied all through the
remarks from the bench as they appear in
the newspapers. 1t may be. however. that
This arrangement is effected later by the
official reporter. or by the Judge hiinself
as our congressman are accustomed to do
Ing. l have known distinguished members
of our lover house 10 distribute l"Iaugh-
tsr"l Isuproarious laughter."l zap
piause,''l f"wiid applause" u ETC.. very ju-
dsoiously through two hcJfs' speech
never delivered. except by manuscript to
the public printer. ] may be doing the
English bench and the court attendants
an injustice in even thinking OF our con-
giessrlen In this connection. but must add
that In the latter case there probably would
have besn laughter and applause II the
speech had been delivered.
Charles r. Murray.