The record-union., 1898-09-28
ONE INSTANCE OF THOUSANDS

Last week sensational journals in
San Francisco were overlooking their
columns with detailed accounts of a
quarrel between two new -fledge1 act
.resses, then and now On the stage III
that city. One of them is the daugh-
ter Of a distinguished soldier, and the
other, like her colleague. is g novice
in the profession. Each is well
known as a modest and respectable
young woman. These Two wcIe held
up to the world as fighting termagants,
as tearing each others hair; as indulg-
ing. in the silIiest and most childish
back talk; of flying at each other like
snarling dogs, and on account Of stage
jealousy as making themselves not
only ridiculous but absolutely shame
less.
There was such circumstantial detail
in the stories, in the actual language
alleged to have been used, and the ac-
tions charged as indulged in, that
everyone with particle of pity in his
composition who read must have had
it stirred into activity for these un-
happy young women who were charged
with having so disgraced themselves.
1t is now set forth in another San
Francisco paper, and with the emphat-
ic statement that its revelation is
strictly and circumstantially true, that
no such quarrels have been INDUCED
in fhara Hx-ac M fof1 n
vulgar and coarse language; no hair
pulling; no interference by friends; no
battling with finger nails-in brief, there
has been no misunderstanding between
the women, no words, no jealousies;
and they are, as they have been from
the outset of their professional en-
gagement, friends.
The story was manufactured out of
the whole cloth, greatly to the morti-
ffcatiou Of the two women, one Of whom,
because of her more sensitive nature,
having been prostrated by the shame
full scandal. The incident is valuable
only as Illustrating the methods of one
style Of journalism-heaven save the
IldIh-WlIn WHICH lIlG EOultIy IL dillICl-
ed. Instead of the office of the news
paper man being esteemed one which
calls for the ascertainment and publi-
cation Of the truth, and the rejection Of
falsehood. the yellow system demands
that the publication of that which VIII
crafty morbid tastes, and cater 10
vulgar and brutal sentiment regardless
of truth.
The reporter is sent out to find some
thing sensational, snappy, scandalous,
out of which to carve a story. If he
finds nothing of the kind he must man
ufacture the stuff to order and this
he does rather than incur the judgment
of his employer that he is lacking in
capacity for the work to which ne is
detailed.
We have had this truth revealed in
recent confessions by woman news
paper worker in the East, who has told
the whole story Of shameless service
upon an Eastern yellow journal IN
which she gives numerous instances of
having been compelled to manufacture
precisely such stories as that now de-
clared In San Francisco to have been
made out Of the whole cloth concern
ing the two women.
But the evidences of misrepresenta-
ton, mendacity and outrage upon per-
sonal rights by the sensational press,
are too familiar to the public 70 call
for any special instances by way Of
illustration The wonder is that the
people stand this sort of assault, and
suffer and endure its evil. In the nat
ural order of things 1t must cease. So
ciety viii not forever permit the in
famous course Of "yellowism" 20 con-
tinue.
Proceeding in libel is an inadequate
remedy, costly to those who invoke it,
and rarely effective. The corrective
viii come in due time, in the reform of
the public sentiment, under which
these outrages will be visited oy a
withdrawal of support by the social
and the business world-and that will
make an end of the scurrilous business.
Out of nearly 250,0O0 men enrolled
in arms, the Surgeon General finds that
the United States to a very recent date
has lost by disease 1000. or three-f1fths