The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-11
JOURNALISM
TWO KINDS
By N. poWD.

To one acquainted for years with the
ways and means Of provincial Journalism
in the British Islands. it is q decided
education 10 observe the methods of the
daily press in the American Capital. The
weekly papers in the smaller towns on
the other side present. in many cases,
mixture OF intelligence and tomfooiery
that must appear highly amusing to the
American city journalist The leading
article" as the first (and often the only
editorial is invariably termed. is usual
" eoucted in ponderous phrases, intend
ed. no doubt, to demonstrate to rural
readers the profound literary erudition
OF the editor. Be it known that in large
percentage of cases the editor. proprie-
tor. leader writer, manager, and report
ct may be all found wearing the same
hat at one and the same time. The per
sonage who fuIfIls the many-sided func-
lions of provincial editor in Great
Britain or Ireland puts forth his best
effort at q literary composition once
week in his leading article. He frequent
" deals with matters OF national or even
international Importance 50 as TO give
ample room and verge enough" in which
TO reYeI in the Iuxuriance OF his yerb1-
age. And even when he condesceGds to
treat of local topic-something Of ma
teriaI interest 20 the locality in which he
Iabors-he generally manages to show
the close and intimate relation that II
his mind exists between his homeIy sub
jet and the highest interests and aspir-
ations of his country. Nay, if you fol-
Iow his studied web through the intri-
cacies of his logic yeu viii presently
discover that the proper and judieious
settlement Of d village grievance in his
bailiwiek is bound 10 have an ultimate
influence for good on The progress OF tnS
world at large,
Most Of the weekly provincial papers
there nave no use for q reporter in the
sense IN which that term is usually IN
derstood in this country 4 man who
goes out among the people, attends the
meetings Of the local boards, political
meetings and other such gatherings, and
brings back a pithy account Of the pro
eeedings, giving his impressions. and
perhaps quoting a few Of the remarks
that seemed worthy Of note-such q man
would stand a good chance OF being
dumped il the waste paper basket Of an
average Irish weekly In the rural dis
tricts. The reporter there must be a
strenuous stenographer- Il would be
more than the continued existence OF
that paper would be worth if its repor;
should omit a single sentence from the
grafton Ct. say. Mr. Hugh Cryan, ?. l.
G.. or Mr.. John GiImarttn, vice president
of the BaIIymote branch Of the league
Often have seen the unfortunate re-
porter CT the local weekly investing two
pence in a new notebook. and an equal
amount in lead pencils-a1 pointed at
both ends-Iest he should miss one pre-
cfous word of the torrents Of eloquence
which he anticipated on starting out TO
report one CT these local gatherings. But
The most cruel part Of his work consists
in the effort he is obliged to make TO
translate the orations OF thu village
statesmen into readable English. aad to
insert imaginary applause. It is nothing
unusual TO find q whole page devoted TO
the eloquence of few rustic orators,
every speech" being generously inter
spersed (5y the reporter with cheers
and loud applause" Indeed there is one
ease on record in which the reporter was
saved the last mentioned trouble. 1t was
in the early days Of the first Land
League agitation \ farmer OF very
scant education. being a bachelor. and
anxious 20 pose. as some CT his neigh
bors had already done. as al orator at
one OF the local meetings. confdeuuaHy
approached the local school teacher on
the subject Of his intended speech The
teacher-a man of my own acquaintance
bearing the thoroughly Irish name O;
O'CoDncr- set 10 work TO
prepare the speech" Being Of hui
uorous turn. and having 4 penchant for
practical joke, he inserted with lavish
generosity such intersections Gs hear,
hear, cheers and laughter" loud ap-
pIause," etc, and the farmer committed
The Whole carefully TO memory by the
scclusion of his lonely Preside This IS
one Of the instances il which the pos
session CO q sensible wife would have
prevented a man from making 4 fool OF
himself, The day Of meeting AT length