Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-01-26
Friday, January 28, 1900.
THE WHY'S AND waEREFoRE's

THE WHY'S AND wHEREFORES.
Among the hundreds of news
paper men in the State only four will
represent their constituents in legis-
lative halls during the waning XIXth
century and the opening of the new.
-Four only out of one hundred and
forty legislators are members of a
craft which, to greater extent than
any other, moulds public sentiment,
and which is the instrument that
creates politicians, elevates them to
craftsmanship and writes their names
on the pages Of history. While il
might be better for the public good
If more of the fraternity would take
active parts in the affairs of the
country it seems that the journalist
has himself chiefly to blame for
this dereliction. An exchange says,
AS rule a man is not obliged
to stick to the profession which
ne enters in early life. Lawyers
stray into other occupations; min
listers abandon the pulpit; doctors
become planters, nd teachers sue
coed rs business men. Even poll
ticians occasionally reform and set
tie down to the useful pursuits of
private life. Men of strong will
power give up forever old associa-
lions and habits and form new ones.
The conspicuous exception is the
journalist. He may be convinced
that he will find more honor and
profit in other occupations, and he
may go into them, bat his old pro-
fession will always tempt him, and
nine times out Of ten he will return
to it sooner or later. You have read
Uncle Remus' tar baby story? Well,
journalism is the tar baby of the pro-
fessions. 1t clings to man closer
than a porous plaster, after he has
once come in contact with it. There
is some mysterious magic in printers
ink.
A contrary view of the matter is
taken by the Hee Lance, which
paper ascribes it to the public's
ignoring the "knight of the grey
goose quill" On this line our con-
temporary writes;
Among other reformeIs should not
newspaper men be prominenty In the
good old days OF the fathers and mothers
n wedding notice Of less than a dozen
lines sufiiced. Now at least half column
notice Is expected. The groom is always
one Of the most prominent men OF the
society OF his place, or else a very promi-
nent buainess man, albeit this is news to
those who read IL. The bride is second
only to Venus in beauty, though, per-
haps, she IL hardly comely In appearance.
The organ music Is the finest ever rem
dercd. Wedding presents were such as
never seen before, and IL there be a car
riage drive around the square or q trip
fifty miles from the place of the wedding,
In any direction, IL Is given out that It is
an extended Northern or Southern tour.
Then, II some plain person dies whose
name is scarcely known beyond the
iintels of his own door. the happening ia
written up and the man is not infrequent-
ly described as being very well and wide
ly known. All Of this, too, goes on the
"free" list, and probably elk months
afterwards some friend Of the family
wishes a half column ain memoriam"
notice printed. and this. too, "free."
Again, II some gentlemen sneeze they
desire local notice made of the fact, for
the benefit Of the public and their many
admiring friends. II young man by
dint Of effort gets a situation, it is printed
that he has accepted" Instead of Its
being plainly and fairly stated that In
the wild scramble for place he has been |
lucky enough to get one.
These things ought not so to be, but,
perhaps, like the purchase of the Philip
pines, as Senator Daniel would say, I'VE |
have gone too far to turn back" At all |
events, II it can't be cured and must be
endured, there may be no harm, In at
least noting the new departures"