The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-23
THE roNeUELEss MEN.

i''G GN60S Ni1iH
A threelne item records the death Of
Julian Ralph and but little more space is
given to NJ. de Blowitz. This is not because
the newspapers lack information but be-
cause modesty is a quality OF latter day
journalism and because the public feels but .
slight interest in the personality OF the men !
who serve up the needful and the thrilling .
news Of the day.
Millions Of newspaper readers on this side /
have been informed and entertained by the
correspondent who won his FIRST laurels on
the New York Sun, that nursery Of brilliant
reporters. Occasionally his name was signed
to a piece Of great news writing or valu-
able beat" but generally speaking the
public paid little heed and his fame was
mainly confined to the silent Fourth Estate"
in which be labored
More millions on the other side have been
informed aud entertained by the European
correspondence Of De Blowitz in the London
Times He enjoyed larger popular applause
because he figured personally and heroically
IN the tragic events of the French com.
mune Of 1871 but few modern readers
'NASh-llt ~ uFdl u IJuiu VI tue luulklludlllJ
OF the man vino was the terror Of all the
keepers Of State secrets on the continent
1t Ia related that in a diplomatic conference
once Bismarck as the members gathered in
closed and guarded room, lifted the cover
from the table and peeped under it with a
serious air When asked what be was doing
be answered that he was looking for De
Blowltz
or the men Of State in all the capitals the
public has a fairly intimate knowledge but
Of the men who tell of their doings the public
knows little or nothing a few great news.
paper propretors and editors and an oc.
| casona exceptional reporter arc known in
a vague sort Of way, but for the most part
it is the newspaper as composite entity,
rather than the individuals who make it,
/ that ia familiar to the masses
Yet by all the standards of real excellence
many Of these tongucless men arc as great
as the characters they herald News gather.
ne is no less a fine art than painting or
music OF poetry and the quality known as
the news instinct" is 20 less q divine he
eloHsl and vital element than that which
in othcr caIlngs VIC designate as gcuiua
But there Is that In the very nature Of the
art which obscures the artist He is pictur.
/ ing an exceptional event or personality. a
/ thing Of living interest Of present moment,
and attention is ceutered upon the substance
rather than upon the forms 1t is only in
newspaper circles that the manner Of it is
much considered. He is the greatest re.
porter who can most successfully center the
readers attention in what he is telling aud
so for very arts sake he must hide him.
self behind his work. The painting aud
the poem live for their beauty of form and
realism OF imitation and the longer they live
the more they body forth their creators
But the reporters story, once told is of no
! further interest than the meal that is eaten.
and We forget it and him together as we turn
again to table TO pacify the Unsuitable ap.
petite for news.
But these news gatherers are not without
then rewards and consultations. The news
temperament takes little thought Of per
sonal fame, Its delight is in its work. II
is an appetite of its own kind. a passion
which reyels in production and il can feel
no serious disappointment in the denial OF
what it has not keenly desired OF all the
arts it is the most artistic for it truly lives
for it's arts sake
Editorial or reportorial. Il lives for It;
achievements, and il INDUCES many smile
at the vanlties and conceits which daily pass
under its review.
So let the others have the fame. We who
are under the cloth in the diplomatic cham
Der and behind the canvases In the gallery
know how cheap it is.