The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-30
MAKING
AN IDEAL
NEWSPAPER
MIR. Blair Reads Interesting
Paper Before Baptist Min
iSieT'S Alliance.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Rhode Island Baptist Ministers Alliance
was held IN The vestry Of the First Bap-
tist church at u o'clock this morning.
The occasion was Of unusual interest
! from the fact that the speaker Of the
morning was Mr. Albert l.. Blair, an as
sociate editor OF the Boston Journal
Mr. Blair's subject. The Ideal News
paper" was full OF interest and elo-
qnence. 10 was, moreover, punctuated
throughout with the kecnest satire and
bright flashes OF wit which at frequent
intervals. convulsed his bearers with
laughter.
In beginning the speaker asserted that
the opinions he had formed on the i'm
portant subject OF which he was tn speak
had grown out OF an experience OF 25
years IN one OF the most eXacting. nerve
rackng yet fascinating of professions.
lie then went on 20 give the definition OF
said:
1T is a vehicle for the CONVEYANCE Of
Information about current events
1T is a literature that is born I'm a dav
and 80 far as the public is concerned per-
ishes in a day
IL - driven by the pen OF medlocritv.
OF genius. by fakirs and by truth tellers.
by the mental bum and the intellectual
si"Ht' KNOW or no other agency"
continued the speaker. that 40 directlt,
so constantly represents the progress and
the hopes OF mankind
IN dwelling upon the mission of the
newspaper the speaker took the ground
that the newspaper held the relation of
a supply 10 a demand and the question
Was-Nhat is that demand. 'The roval
part OF the daily paper Is the local de-
partment, he declared "and excellence
there
mas the best local department will be ant
10 nave the largest circulation, and | hold
that there Is no more fitting place for
local news than the first page OF the
paper, but the local page Is usually the
bulletin board OF neglect" 1"
Turning TO another part OF his subject
Mr.. Blair pictured I'm eloquent phrnseol
ogy the marvels accomplished nv the
Jumbo presses" I'm the modern newspa-
per OFFICES or today. He then dweIt upon
the possibilities OF making the newsna |
pers OF the future
why gentlemen" he declared. 1--WE are |
lving today In a barbaric age I am con- |
HueHt that IN 100 years the jumbo presses /
OK today Will go 20 the SCRAP heap
To-day we have cumbrous methods NJ
securing news
10 be sure. we have the telephone
put the time Is coming when we shall |
have the pneumatic tube.
me time Is coming. too when n very
rev OF the editors will live under the
same roof There will editors I'm all the
great news centres OF the world for one
great metropolitan paper"
Al this Juncture the speaker maid /,
glowing tribute TO the much feared
much maligned reporter"
Characterizing the reporter as a "hu-
nan machine, Mr. Blair gave a most
AVID description OF the life and manifest
~ duties OF reporter for one of the big
iaiiy papers. Continuing, ne gave a most
Intelligent criticism OF the editorial COL
INNS or the average daily paper believ-
hg that the day was not far distant
Vhen much OF the space now devoted IN
ditorials would be devoted 10 nrst
lass news, and that the fetish wor
mp OF the editorial page would soon be a
hing of the past
Mr. Blair also emphasized the imnort-
nee OF writing editorials for the public
interest not essays in which the general
ublic had no concern.
IN closing the speaker dweIt unon the |
any paper I'm the time 10 come when |
e declared. The ideal newspaper will |
rive out of It's employment a tribe NJ
astard English and hobo contingent that
,ouid disgrace the camp following of a
'ahomy chief In western Africa.
In Illustration of this final assertion Tho
peaker cited large number of unpray,-
laticoi words and expressions sucb a.
nc hnds In the columns OF all news