The Republican journal., 1901-04-04

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blunders when they attempted to write
up the proceedings of Congress. But,
leaving the question as to thedesirability
of journalism as profession for women
an open one, the fact remains that hum
dreds of women, whose names rarely
come before the public. are to-day doing
good work and earning fair incomes in
journalism.
1t is often said of the professions that
there is always room at the top. That
may be true of journalism; but the
newspapers of to-day employ a great
array of talent under conditions that
make the attainment of individual dis
tinction extremely difficult. 1 do not
believe there is a journalist to-day who
has the hold upon the public that Horace
Greeley once had. Then the Tribune
was Greeley; the Times, Raymond, ard
the Herald, Bennett. Now the man be-
hind the newspaper is not so much in
evidence We quote The Tribune, The
Times or The Herald; but not their edi-
tors. Henry Watterson of the Louis
vile Courier-Journal is perhaps tt only
active journalist to-day whose reputa-
ton is greater than that of his paper
Charles a. Dana of The New York Sun
also enjoyed this distinction, but he has
joined the silent majority.
1t is within my recollection when it
was the rule rather than the exception
for newspaper men to be dissipated;
and this was true of compositors also.
There was an impression abroad that
printers ink was poisonous; that the
handling of type was ruinous to health,
and that the unhappy printer, in order
to follow this deadly calling must resort
to intoxicating liquor as an antidote. l
can recall no tangible reason assigned
for the too general habit of dissipation
among editors and reporters. In some
cases Byron's example seems to have
suggested the combination of gin and
genius. Henry Watterson when asked,
in 1871, as to the condition of journal
ism in Louisville. replied: ''All the
offices are stocked with the riff-raff of
dead beats and drunkards." The men
Of that day have all passed off the stage
Some twenty-five years ago | was IA
miliar with two newspaper offices which
had pensioned their old employees, who,
by hard drinking quite as much as by
hard work, had become incapable. They
used to hang about the office reading
exchanges OF, idling away their time,
while young men temperate men
were doing the work
No matter how talented a man may
be-no matter how highly educated or
experienced-he cannot hold his place
in the journalism of today unless he is
sober as well as Industrious. The work
is ten-fold more exacting than it was
third of a century ago, the pressure
more intense; and the newspaper man
must have a clear brain and a steady
nerve There are other requirements
also. A New York correspondent said
the other day of Whitelaw Reds lee
ture before the, Yale students, that
Journalism cannot be taught by lee
lures any more than war. Reid started
in life with powerful physique and
with unusual brain talent, to which was
added college education. Such an equip
ment ensures success; but how few
possess il"
In Canada journalism is stepping
stone to government positions, with a
life tenure. A young man studies law,
is admitted to the bar and becomes a
briefless barrister. He begins to write
for the press, attains the editorship of
a party organ; and, sooner or later,
when his party is in power, steps into a
government office, and his future is as
sured. In this country there are no
such rewards open to journalist-thati is
no permanent appointments. OF late
years there has been disposition to
bestow consulates and even Ambassa-
dorships on newspaper men. Whitelaw
Reid, for example, was made Ambassa-
dor to France But at the end of a
four years term, perhaps sooner, such
are usually found at their
accustomed desks in the newspaper
offices.
Occasionally newspaper man goes
to Congress; but rarely remains there
long. Henry j. Raymond, James Brooks
and Henry Watterson are among those
who have written M. c. after their
names-the latter merely filling an I'M
expired term.
The history of two young men who
began their journalistic career as re-
porters on Washington, D. c., daily,
at salary of s. week, may be briefly
sketched as illustrative. One was Henry
Watterson, the other was George W.
Adams. The latter was born in Indiana