El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-22

IL all the unfortunate men IN other
callings could make their eriefs the
talk of the town, as authors make
theirs. we should see that the latter are
p. to be envied rather than to be pitied.
! ITO conclude. Many other advan-
/ tageS of the literary profession suggest
themselves besides those 1 have tried
I to set orth; but my space is full, and
!, 1 must consent myself with barely
| naming one; that is, the social con-
sideration which the successful writer
enjoys-'the equality, if not of rank,
yet OF standing, with the highest'-a
reward richer than any which money
or titles can give"
| Newspaper Work.
AS a profession, or trade, or what
| ever it may be termed, newspaper
writing is probably as well paid as any
other kind of mental work. In the
large cities the man of ability invari-
ably commands large income and Of
ten the position he occupies is an en-
viable one. Washington correspond
ents roll in luxury and even the war
correspondent sent to the front with
the army often covers himself with
more glory than the general in COM
mand. The salary paid him by first
class journals is often enormous. The
Ordinary newspaper reporter 1Evari-
ably gets sufficient remuneration for
his work to maintain him in the best
society. while to pay for one month
the army of desk men and editors con-
nected with each of the large papers
would require sufficient money to
found a national bank. In the east,
also. newspaper work is probably con-
sidered far more desirable than it is
| in the southwest. and college gradu-
ates, whose parents are often independ-
...4l %r
editorial rooms and seek admittance,
hoping to gain a foothold in liter
ature by serving an apprenticeship as a
reporter. Nor are they far from right.
For newspaper men have contributed
many good books to the libraries of
the world. In modern times especially
is this true. Charles Dickens, Stephen
Crane, Eugene Field, Mark Twain,
Opie Read, Rudyard Kipling. Richard
Harding Davis, and scores of other
popular writers. were all reporters in
their day-some of them exceedingly
poor ones.
Newspaper writing is not an art that
lean be taught but it must be acquired
by hard knocks and perseverance.
Many young man with ample ambi-
ton has been discharged from more
than one paper to turn up elsewhere
and make a name for himself as a re-
Iporter. correspondent, or even a writer
of books. Ample energy is required. OF
course, as well as liberal education
and for reporter experience is prob
ably the best and only teacher
The present century may be regarded
as the golden era of journalism and
the great journals of the metropolis
are veritable wonders of the world The
field is broad for all classes of literary
labor and men or women with any tai
ent whatsoever may be sure of finding
a strong demand and fair remunera-
ton for any article that is gotten up
in readable manner. Sensational
writings find ready market with the
yellow journals; higher class articles
Or poems are invariably seized on by
the magazine publishers and good
stories of adventure or sentiment may
be sold almost anywhere.
| AS a matter of fact the writer who
at the present time fails to earn a COM
Portable living by his labor. generally
has no one to blame but himself With
| the Sunday editions of the larger news
papers paying space writer's from So
to S25 per column for ordinary matter
and with the magazines Offering large
prizes and space rates of from $40 to
$50 per page and large sums for short
poems. there is no reason why writ
ers who are at all capable should not
thrive and rejoice that millionaires'
sons like w. r. Hearst have seen fit
to invest their money in newspapers
and spare no expense to get the best
that the market affords.
| Even In FL Paso.
Even in Ell Paso it cannot be said
that the newspaper workers are less
literally paid than those of other vo-
cations. When it is considered that
there are no immensely wealthy men
| in Ell Paso and that the majority of the
inhabitants are wage earners it will
be found that the incomes of the news
paper writer's of the city compare very
favorably with those of other citizens
engaged in various callings.
The men who have acquired repu-
tatiOns as correspondents of eastern
journals; who draw salaries from local
papers and are paid space rates for
their contributions TO the metropoli-
tan journals, fare the best. Some of
these have incomes of $4,000 per year
and it cannot be said that they are
overworked. OF course the man who
relies solely upon his ability as 4 re-
porter to earn his living in FL Paso
fares but i'll; for reportrs' salaries in
this city range all the way from s12
to S25 per week and were it not that
many things are free to the press
such as theatrical attractions. railroad
tickets. and almost all functions of a
public character-it would be a hard
matter for an Ell Paso reporter to eX-
list and associate with that class of
people with whom he is expected to
hob mob. in order to keep in touch with
the pulsationS of the community.