The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-08
FIGARO" AND MS POLICY
Inscriptions Optimism
Carried on Successfully by Mag

If we sometimes wonder how the
press of Paris keeps itself in af11uence,
we need not wonder how it contrives
to entertain it's readers. 1t achieves
This purpose by the rare talent of per-
Iect arrangement and a light hand.
Ihat part of 1t, at least, which is not
polemlcal never approaches a serious
topic with serious froWn. The citizen
may read his Figaro without lashing
himself into fury or examining his
incident brain with the platitudes of
The political leader writer. And it is
because the Figaro processes an in
terest in something else than the scan
Gal of the moment that its influence
has endured for forty years. 1t does
not represent Partisan journalism, for
it's tradition is all it's own; it repre-
sents the middle-class intelligence of
France. 1t has no principle and no
views. AS rule it is content to follow
the lead of it's readers; and on the rare
occasions on which it has attempted
to shape public opinion it has retreated
from the truth directly a falling circu-
lation proved the truth unpalatable.
But the real distinction of the Fig
aro' is the continuity of it's method 1t
remains to-day very much what it was
when M. de Villemessant founded it,
and M. de Villemessant was man of
genius. Like Delane he was master
of the ceremonies rather than a writer.
He never contributed a single article
to his own journal, but he handled his
staff as practical coachman handles a
hand, and not for an instant
did he relax his control. If he could
not write he could suggest and many
of his most famous articles were in
spired and even phrased by the man
who never welded a pen. He was bru-
tai, INSCRIPTIONS, self-centred; he
knew but one mbition-success; and
but one god-opportunity For
while failure logged his steps, but
when once fortune had smiled upon
him he became the masterful tyrant
whom all men feared, and whose pos
thumous influence still rules the Fig
aro." He was hampered neither by 10y
atty nor respect,
A contributor was nothing to him; a
single word of disapprobation heard,
as M. Daudet says, between the cheese
and the pear at breakfast, was suff1ci-
ent to insure the discharge of the most
trusted colleague. One interest alone
dominated him-the prosperity of the
"Figaro"-and his judgment told him
that the Figaro" was better served by
a brilliant succession of occasional
contributors than by the continued
scintillation of the same talents. "Ev-
cry man." said he, with his habitual
frankness, has one article in his bel
ly''; and it was Villemessant's bust
ness to get that article out. One day
for instance, he picked up a sweep in
the street, brought him to his office, had
him cleaned, and set him down to a
writing table The sweep achieved his
article, and Villemessant was rewarded
by the curiosity of all Paris.
Thus, while the world of letters pass
ed through the t'Figaro," nobody stayed
there long, and this fierce editor never
hesitated to destroy contracts or to for
get services He professed few opin-
ions, and the one principle which he
cherished until the end was to preserve /
the popularity of his journal. He fought /
no battle, he led no forlorn hope he |
recognized the existence of no man,
writer or politician, until he had arriv
ed. To vaunt his skill in prophecy, to
say exultantly II told you SOL was no
part of his ambition, he merely ignored |
1t; and thus he fulfilled a useful mis-
sion, since it is but just that the old, as
well as the young, should have their
champion in the press He admired fine
writing, or said he did; but he knew
that 1t was Of no use in his shop" and
the profit of his shop was superior in
hts eyes to the credit of literature.
None the less the result of his govern
ment was colossal triumph. He made
the Figaro" the perfect representative
Of the well-fed, gay, intelligent Paris
an. The writer maybe despised it, but
he read it none the less, and he used
t, too, whenever it served his turn. The
1rst article in the Figaro" was for
many years, and still is, the end of ev-
cry mans desire. To sign it is to pose
)ne's self definitely before the public,
whether for praise or blame. To be crit
cised in it, an honor only paid once in
!, life time, is to taste the perfect joy
# arrival Such, in brief, was the end
attained by Villemessants cynical OPP ,
,ortunism, and it is to the founders
lndying glory that the tradition he es-
ablshed remains unbroken to this day
1t Villemessant's death the torch was
handed to Francis Maynard, who, be-
tes being an editor cut to the pattern
# his predecessor, was also a writer of
orce and CONCESSION. For many years
lie contributed daily comment upon
he situation to the columns of his jour- :
lal, in which he brought to perfection
he art Of jumping with the cat. He,
90, was called cynic, and a cynic he |
vas, but at least he presered the Fig
ro' at the high level Of cunning OPP !,
,ortunism at which he found it; and !
e was never persuaded by any private l
r public interest to outrage the worldly l
onventions of the founder.
Indeed, it was not until last year that /
he Figaro for the first time sacri $
ced its subscription list to what APP c
cared the cause of truth. 1t espoused I
or brief week the cause of M. lola $
nd of Captain Dreyfus, not, we may I
,ell believe, for any abstract love of S
lstce but because it imprudently a
bought that it was following the pop e
lar lead. However, PREPARATION was E
peedily made. The editor offered h
emporary resignation; the Figaro" c
rinted a public recantation, and has a
ly brought back its allegiance to the r
rmy. To our more literal appreciation h
his conduct seems cowardly, or even
'eacherous We should argue, and ar
ue sincerely, that before it undertook
I, n,,tl In nf he l.