New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
LONDON NOTES.
FORTUNES IN PERIODICALS. WITH OPEN
INGS IN ITICS-LITERATURE
AND ART IN WAR TIME.

London, April 2S.
The owner Of the new halfDenny journal is
sef-made millionaire. Mr.. Arthur Pearson
born not far from the beautiful cathedral group
of Wells and his father, vicar of narrow
means. sent him to Winchester School, where
his education completed with tutoring at
home He Joined the literary staff of Sir George
Newnes about the time when Mr.. Alfred Harms
worth entered the office of The Illustrated Lon
don News" He became the manager of a little
weekly paper called Tit Bits" and in the course
OF a few years left the employ Of Sir George
Newnes and started rival print of his own
known "Pearson's Weekly" This was
most profitable enterprise, and he followed it
with a string of publications. such Home
Notes. 'Pearson's Magazine" Short Stories"
Royal Magazine, M A p and many more.
Meanwhile Mr.. Harmsworth had founded An
swers" and made a fortune out of it, and had
multiplied his literary properties until he owned
score OF magazines and weekly papers of all
sizes and conditions. Mr.. Harmsworth finally
entered the field Of daily Journalism in London.
and Mr.. Pearson has followed him after a sea-
Of book publishing.
The careers of these two rivals offer many
points Of correspondence. They are of nearly
the same age-about thirty-five-and starting
without capital university training. they
have made large fortunes as publishers of
strnssa @ papers metropolitan and provincial.
weekly. monthly and daily. Each has kept his
eye upon the other from the time when they
were energetic and ambitious clerks drawing
small salaries. and now that they are rich and
prosperous the laurels of viii not suffer the
other to sleep. Mr.. Harmsworth did not follow
Mr.. Pearson into the book publishing business.
but widened the sphere Of his activities by pur-
chasing The Evening News and founding
Togf, Toll Mr. in iS tllrO has
started The Express" and 1t is essentially an
other Daily Mail" bright, entertaining, enter
prising and attractive. Mr.. Harmsworth is a
Conservative with club connections at the Carl
ton st. Stephens and the Cons stitutional; and
his Parliamentary ambitions are not concealed.
Mr. Pearson is member Of the Devonshire, and
takes less interest in politics and club life con-
tentlng himself with the recreations Of rural
England. especially riding and cycling, at his
country house at Farnham, in Surrey. These
energetic young millionaires seem destined to
remain rivals and imitators. If Mr.. Harms
worth goes into Parliament, Mr. Pearson is not
likely to stay out.
.Jr Harmsworth has already shown signs of
being an undiscpned Tory, who can be in
dependent and aggressive. During the early
stages Of the war his journals attacked the
Government with more zeal than discretion. Not
conrent with bonlbarding the War Office week
after week. they employed their energies in
undermining the influence Of the Government
and Ia opening the way for reorganization OF
the Ministry and the creation of new coalition
headed by Lord Rosebery. This political in
trieue failed through the adroitness of Mr..
George Wvndbarn IN conducting the defence Of
the military administration and through the
genius Of Lord Roberts in transforming an ap-
perentIy hopeless campaign into one Of in
eyitable triumph THE Daily Mali abruptly
abandoned the discussion OF gun ranges and
engineering bores Of every calibre, and graciously
allowed Lord Salisbury to remain Prime Minister
and Secretary for Foreign Affairs. without re-
organization Of the Ministry.
Mr Harnsworth was in the way of becoming
the enfant terrible of the Unionist household,
but little gentleman in South Africa familiarly
known as 'Bobs" interfered with his pranks
and broke up the game. Mr. Pearsons new
Journal proclaims itself Imperialist, without
party, which is a safe method OF popuarizing
the politics Of The Express but the owner
understands the art Of advertising. and will
easily be drawn into any course OF action which
viii increase the value Of his property.
It is barely than fifteen years since
these two bright young men were drawing
modest salaries as the managers Of little weekly
sheets Of which the world took notice; and
now they are the owners OF dozens Of periodicals
and magazines and the editors of well organized
caily journals Of widening circulation and in
huence They have made large fortunes by
multiplying their literary and newspaper prop
critics and by refraining from keeping all their
eggs in a single basket. Answers was the
foundation Of the Harmsworth enterprises, and
equally Insignificant was "Pearson's Weekly"
the cornerstone Of the rival business; but the
owners have gone from one project 10 an
other, untii between them they now control as
many fifty publications OF all kinds. and they
are competing boldly with the powerful metro
politan journals and aspiring 70 be political
MarWicks, who can overturn Ministries, create
coalition Government, and incidentally add
hundred thousand TO their daily circulation.
america is not the only country where fortunes
are made hand over hand These two newspaper
owners have got during fifteen years by
sneer force Of energy and practical ability, and
al thrtyfive are knocking at the doors Of Parlia-
m"ht for entrance into public life.
iTere is much controversy over the effects OF
protracted upon literature and the arts.
Fublic interests have been thrown out of balance