The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-10
FROM The SANCTUM
Continued From Page ~

gathering and dissemination of news.
This statement Mr.. Kimball said reads
today like futile prophecy against the
inevitable. The enlargement of the news
paper and the widening of its field he
attributed to several causes particu-
larly to the introduction Of typesetting
and typecasting machines, which en-
able the publisher to get out a greater
quantity of matter. Even the New
York Sun, which always has borne
great reputation as first class paper,
that published the news of the day in
compact form, has been forced by its
rivals to increase it's size. This In a
way too is an explanation of why jour
nalism is not conducted on higher
plane.
Some men, Mr.. Kimball continued,
say that it should be a criminal offense
to print certain kinds of news, and
then go out and buy extra copies of the
very papers they condemn, and read
their sensational features in a corner.
Many people that cla1nor for a relig-
ious newspaper do not always support
such papers. He cited as an instance a
Kansas City paper that tried the ez-
pertinent of printing page of religious
news. The editor sent reporters around
to find out what the Christian Endeav-
orers and other church workers
thought Of it. Out of so such persons
approached, So had not seen the page at
all, and when shown it, expressed the
belief that the sporting features were
the most interesting.
The same conditions exist in England.
Mr.. Kinball read long extract from
the London Spectator, according to
which the people were highly interested
in the daily movements of the Prince
of Wales, the German emperor, the
~ \
like matters Personal news is today a
great factor in building up wide cir
culation.
The influence of the newspaper is
seen at the bar, even more than in the
pulpit One often hears Of an eloquent
preacher, but who today hears of an
eloquent lawyer?
The passing Of oratory is one of the
significant signs of the times. Chaun-
cey Depew once said that in 20 years
the colleges have not produced a single
orator. During the campaign of 1896,
Mr.. Bryan had it thrown at him that
he was a mere orator. We now look
at oratory in the light of entertain-
ment.
Col Ingersoll, too, he regarded as
mere entertainer.
Save in rare cases, the speaker did
not believe that the great agnostic was
ever regarded seriously. He spoke, too,
of the decline of the literary lecture,
once so popular.
The newspaper style is influencing liz
erature. Julian Ralph, Charles Dudley
Warner once told him, wrote literature,
yet the style of Mr.. RalpAis the same
today as when he wrote as a reporter
on the New York Sun. Mr.. Kimball
read extracts from the writings of
Richard Harding Davis, and from the
unsigned story of reporter on the Sun,
to show that their styles were almost
alike, both being in the true newspaper
vein. Journalism influences the maya
zines, too, and the great monthlies are
edited today upon the plan Of the news
papers. Great current events, like the
Spanish war, are covered in the maya
zines.
Allan Thorndike Rice set a new ex-
ample when he acquired the North
American Review. He secured men
with great names without literary rep
utations, to write for his publication.
Very often, as was charged in regard
to the article signed Mary Anderson
on acting" it was openly charged
that the supposed writer had merely
affixed his or her name. Gladstoi.e e. ne
said, was once pretty much wrought UP
because, during controversy with Mr.
Blaine in the North American Teview
on the tariff, Mr.. Rice allowed MI
Blaine to examine Mr. Gladstone's ar
gument, so that he might the better re-
ply to it, The decline Of the book re-
view, once a great feature of me magd-
zines, was also attributed to the influ-
ence of the newspapers.
At the request of Mr.. Howells. Mr..
Kimbal once compared the old maya
zines of % years ago with the same
magazines of today. He found a steady
increase in matter of a journalistic
stamp and short stories, and a falling
off in purely literary articles.
Mr. Kimba1l in conclusion, spoke for
the highest ideals of the reputable
newspaper publishers. and said some
way must be found to realize them.
On motion of Dr. A. 2. Conrad a
vote of thanks was extended to Mr..
Kimball by the club.
Led off by Dr. futile, questions from
all sides Of the banquet hall were hurled
at Mr.. Kimball. DR.. futile wished to
know something In regard to the Sun
day press. Mr. Kimball defended the
better class of Sunday newspapers.
The last speaker was e. NJ Morisrty,
editor of the Worcester Evening Post,
He spoke much along the same lines as
Mr. Kimball and said that the public
ity given by the press was the best re-
straint upon dishonest public men.
Adjournment was reached ut 10
o'clock.