The Washington times., 1901-11-15

| ing on in the world, and not very much
of anything else outside their own lines
| of business. 1t pleases them, however.
| to explain on occasion that the news
| papers are not to be credited, because
when their Uncle Silas' barn was burn
| ed the account of the affair was not
| correct, the reporter having said that
| there were four cows in it instead of
| five
1t may be said without exaggeration
| that the amount of energy, knowledge,
| brains, and executive ability which has
been spent on the making of American
newspapers during the past fifty years
would, if put into the shape of poems,
novels, and histories, have had the ef-
feet of doubling the volume of Ameri
can literature without decreasing its
| quality. There are men in the news
paper world who as all their friends
know, could have done brilliant work in
less ephemeral form if they had been SC
minded. But they drifted into news
paper work early in life and were
caught by Its fascinations, so they be-
came identified with some great news
paper, and gave their best years TO it,
or they exhausted their powers by
| working late and early to give the pub
lie the news, and there was no time or
strength left to them for writing fiction.
These men seldom discuss the things
which they might have done. In fact,
they are as rule content with their lot
| in life They have gotten over the idea
that it would be fascinating to see their
names in print on the back of an edition
de luxe. Most men who are in literary
work outlive that sort of ambition be-
fore they reach old age. The difference
between the successful author and the
successful maker of a newspaper is
simply this: The former leaves his
thoughts in form which posterity will
recognize and appreciate, while the lat
ter is part of the life OF the nation,
living force in his time, but leaving no
fossil remains by which men may know
what manner of man he was.
1t is not, of course, to be assumed that
newspapers ne,ser make mistakes. If
they did not they would be miraculous.
Even great historians poets, and novel;
lists, to say nothing of common men,
make mistakes sometimes, but il is prob
able that blunders in this profession
are at least as few as in any other.
When it is considered that the news
paper mans knowledge absolutely must
extend over a vast range of subjects
all the subjects commonly discussed in
everyday life in all grades of society
some Of the critics of his work will APP
pear unnecessarily ridiculous.
In a recent issue of a religious news
paper there were some well-meant in
structions to ministers wives, and as
ministers are often not reluctant to
abuse the newspapers. perhaps it viii
be well to consider their case, as it COM
pares with that of the average editor.
This wade mecum for the clerical house
hold contained the statement that the
clergyman is very tired, even exhaust
ed. after preaching his Sunday sermon,
and that he is therefore entitled to a
day of rest on Monday, and should not
attempt to do any work. His wife
should as far as possible relieve him of
all the burdens of life on Sunday and
Monday and make due allowance for
strained nerves arc fractured temper.
This, be it remembered. is the result Of
two or three hout OF work on Sunday
morning, occup.sd By the preaching of
a sermon which tn speaker has had six
days to prepare. ghe average writer
on daily paper works seven days in
the week. and his hours are so irregu-
lar that they would stagger anybody
but physician, who is also apt TO be up
at queer times of night. He may write
all his leaders for the day. in serene be-
lief that they will be published as they
stand next morning, and in the mid
die of the night a piece Of news may
come in which will necessitate the re-
vision or rejection of part of the work,
or even the dumping of the whole mass
of manuscript in the waste basket, and
the writing of something quite differ
ent. The same emergency will confront
the editor of the paper. OF course, such
extreme cases as this are not frequent,
but the newspaper man has to be ready
for them, and competent TO meet them
when they arise, or his reputation is
gone. 1t Will not do for his hasty work
to fall below the level of his more care
fully arranged productions; he must be
able to write as well at five minutes
notice as II he had had weeks to think
about 1t. All this makes II necessary for
the thoroughly competent editor or
writer to be a sort OF encyclopedia on all
conceivable subjects. He cannot, like the
college professor, go to a library and
prepare himself carefully to give lee
ture on the subject in hand he must
have his information in his head, for he
may have to use it at time of night
when the libraries are all closed, and
there are no sources of information
available outside the office; and, as most
of the knowledge required is not Yet
written down in books, because it deals
with living persons and uncrystalllzed
opinions, the library would not, in most
cases be of much use. Yet if the mat
ter produced under these tremendous
difficulties, and with the necessity of
suiting the tastes of several thousand
people as well as may be. does not hap
pen to agree with the views of some
particular clergyman or college profess
sor how quick he is to inVeigh against
the newspapers. If 1t were not for the
newspapers, this same clergyman or
teacher would not know any more about
politics or national affairs. outside his
own personal acquaintance, than his
great grandfather did. The clergyman
would not admit that one of mis- congre-
cation had any right to criticise him on
a recondite point Of theology without
having studied the subject. nor WouId