New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-21
ENGLISH JOURNALISM.
Mr.. MarSUelPs Change of Base
Signs of Characterization.


Shoe Lane" He had fought with Lord Kitch-
ener at Khartoum. been shut up in Ladysmith
with Sir George White, followed Lord Roberts
10 Pretoria, explored the intricacies of Moroccan
diplomacy. watched the battles OF the YaIu and
the Sha-TIo and entered Port Arthur with NogI;
and when he lacked occupation a cor
respondent he was a witness OF stately func-
lions such as the marriage of Queen Wilhelmina,
the funeral OF Queen Victoria and the corona
ton Of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, and
accompanied the German Emperor TO Jerusalem
and the Prince and Princess Of Wales around
the world. When Mr.. Pearson purchased THE
Standard" Mr.. Maxwell was with the japanese
army, and while he questioning the Russian
officers at Port Arthur and learning the truth
about General Stoessers incompetency and IN
soldierly qualities he recalled to London
Sir Alfred HaTmsworth has promptly engaged
him for work THE Daily Mall and he is to
60 out 10 India with the Prince and Princess Of
wales and to await service in the next war,
large or small, whenever it may come Max
well Of The Standard" anonymous
writer albeit familiar figure in Fleet Street and
well known at army headquarters and at court.
THE Daily Mall" having set high valuation
on his work introduces him to the public with
a flourish Of trumpets and employs OF its
most accomplished writers in reciting the ro-
mantle and heroic adventures of the daring cor
respondent. AS he is one Of the ouietest and most
unassuming Of men, he must 4 by this
sudden glare Of publicity lifetime OF
loyai service and brilliant achievement; yet he
deserves his good fortune, for he is journalist
Of the best type who has never spared himself
IN the discharge of duty or betrayed anybodys
confidence.
The increased prominence OF writers Is one
Of the characteristic features Of the merry
In,
Anonymity was once the prevailing law in
Fleet Street, and the transfer OF a writer from
one Office TO another passed without observa-
ton instead of being heralded as a fresh stroke
Of enterprise and indication Of increased
facilities for entertaining the public. Signed
articles now appear daily in nearly all the half
penny and penny papers, which are struggling
for an enlarged circulation, and there is some
thing Ike an organized traffic In names and
regulations. Fleet Street veterans may be
shocked by the dissertation Of the once hal
lowed tradition of impersonal journalism; but
the writer's command higher rates when their
names are printed at the top the bottom
Of the column and the newspapers gain vivacity
and variety from individuality Of style 1t
cannot be doubted that there are large com
pensations for the loss Of dignity from what
is described by old fashioned critics as the de-
Cline Of anonymity and abstract influence. The
Daily Mall which has led the way in subsu-
tuting signed articles for oldtime editorials,
is an intensely interesting newspaper, and has
earned by its hexibiity Of methods and unre-
hitting enterprise the remarkable support
which It has received from the public THE
Daily News" and The Daily Chronicle" in be-
coming halfpenny papers have initiated the
practice Of using signed articles, but they have
not made the same effort TO collect the live
Hest news Of the world without regard for ex-
pense.
The older penny papers have all felt the effect
Of vigorous competition from the halfpenny
press The Standard" resisted innovations
with the inertia of conservatism long Mr..
Curtis was the editor; but since its purchase by
Mr.. Arthur Pearson It has been in a transition
stage and is making determined efforts in many
directions 10 regain its influence and to enlarge
its circulation. The Morning Post" on the
other hand, has profted by the vicissitudes Of
The Standard and has never been more pros
porous. Without sacrificing its traditional
dignity as an old Tory organ, it has relaxed its
heaViness Of style, shortened its editorials, en-
livened its pages with special articles and in
teresting gossip about books, theatres. music,
art shows and social life, and become a most
interesting paper. Perhaps its only successful
rival among the penny newspapers In England
is The Manchester Guardian" opposed to it in
with sound judgment and brilliant versatility.
The Daily Telegraph has also multiplied it's
resources Of popularity Each Of these journals
strikes the middle line between the pondeFous
heaviness Of the last decade and the frivolity of
the sensational press and entertains the public
with more yivacity than was possible under
the oldtime conditions of serious Journalism.
Each has gained thousands OF new readers by
relaxing severity OF style and introducing fine
variety in the treatment of the news Of the day.
The Times" retains it's unique position the
most dignifed and influential newspaper in
England; and 1t has justified considerable in
crease Of circulation by its literary. financial
and engineering supplements. 1t has not short
ened its leaders, but 1t has introduced something
Ike liveliness In its critical departments, espe-
cially the dramatic notices. which are written by
Mr. A B. Walkley with brilliant wit and charm
% style The Times" has the largest and most
expensive foreign staff known in Europe, and
this remains its chief source OF distinction; and
its correspondence columns are a dignifed and
stately forum where public questions are dis
cussed by experts and specialists with unrivalled
authority.
The process of popularizing, not to say Ameri-
canizing the English press has already gone a
long way; and with few exceptions the audi
euces are much larger than they were. Whether
the influence of Journalism has increased as
political force is at least doubtful When the
Chamberlain movement opened Mr. Moberly
Bell. Sir Alfred Harmsworth and Mr.. Arthur
Pearson were described journalistic trium-
yirate organized for the purpose Of controlling
public opinion on the tariff question. All the
T-nlouist journals except The Standard" under
Mr.. Curtis's management were strenuous advo-