The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-02
LONDON NEWSPAPER MEN.
Americans Easily Anuse the British
ers by Acting Natural.

Charles Theodore Murray in Pittsburg Dis
patch.
My conception of the London newspaper
men has been overturned. l used to think
them quite stiff and unapprOachable but
my experience thus far is to the contrary.
l have already met them in punches and
singly and l find them very chummy and
companionable. 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
it here. We amuse 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 or
party of seventy or eighty l saw but three
or four young men, such as one sees about
American Offices. They are substantial
looking, bearded fellows (fOr the most
parD some white haired-all apparently
brainy and cultured gentlemen; in contra
distinction to the sharp, nervous and too
frequently impudent youth, characteristic
of New York journalism. In glancing over
the product of their pens 1 commented upon
the American style.
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 reportorial work.
These liberal writers acknowledge the
American superiority in gathering news,
newspaper literature. In evidence Of the
latter they only point to the freedom with
which we crib their matter. A newspaper,
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 unless
you are prepared to prove it in a court of
justice. Nor does any London newspaper
dare even. report any news involving such
matters from American, continental or
other journals under the same penalties as
If originating the same.
The real humor of the London daily Pc
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 a 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 through
witnesses, jurymen, policemen, and even
prisoners take a hand in the common Joke
But. with the exception OF the late Justice
Duffy, the occupants of our bench have
not been humorists nor their sessions wildly
hilarious. 1t is different here. as the coll
umns of the Times. Telegraph and ether
ponderous London dailies show. The bench
appears to not only inspire humor, but the
extraordinary activity of brain to see
through it. For the word "Qaughter) -
carefully penned up in brackets, invariably
gets into the right place. In some cases
"Oaughter)" is sprinkled all through the
remarks from the bench as they appear in
the newspapers. 1t may be, however. that
this arrangement is to be effected later nv
the official reporter, or by the judge him
self, as our Congressman are accustomed
to doing. have known distinguished MEM
bers of our lower house to distribute
"Qapghter(,. "luproarious laughter, p
"tapplause)," "(wild applause)," etc. very
judiciously through a two hours speech
never delivered. except by manuscript to the
public printer. l may be doing the English
bench and the court attendants an Injustice
in even thinking of our Congressman in
this connection, but l must add that in
the latter case, there probably would have
been laughter and applause if the speech
had been delivered.