Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23
-Burlandl

L lHouSnl not NV audience. you see.
did not take the same view Of my rhetoric
as you do. Mr.. Lampirthy.
You must be more practical reiter-
ated the millionaire. You must show
them the practical good you wish to do
In the world. That was your idea at
first. But you are losing sight OF IL now
You thunder out denunciations; you paint
gnastiya pictures: you brighten them into
conversion. All that is no good. You
must appeal to the intellect. not the
heart. You said yourself that emotional
religion never lasted"
do things in my own way" replied
Father Francis, sternly: lin the way I'm
which l can do them best. leave the
business. the practical side Of the cam
paign. in your hands. That is why /
came to you I'm the first place"
Mr.. Lampirthy did not reply, but. OPEN
Ing the folio book which the secretary
down column of dates and paused AZ
one only three weeks distant.
Let us come to business" he said.
after a pause. THE paper combine is
now an accomplished fact Paper has
never been so cheap as IL is today"
SO cheap" repeated Father Francis.
mechanically as If he did not understand
what Mr. Lampirthy was talking about
Yes. but your scheme-for the great
cause? II paper is cheap"
Mr.. Lampirthy smiled. He did not trou-
bic TO explain.
That is what / want to talk to you
about. Father Francis. The time is ripe
Tor a great movement But we must go
slowly to work. We have, I'm fact, a very
difficult and delicate job before Us We
cannot stand over these fellows with a
revolver and force our views upon them"
why not?' asked Father Francis.
hercely. You are the master. You ex-
planned IL all to me. They must do what
You wish. You have been given "A sword.
Strike with IL and slay this cursed SER
pent that is crushing out all the life-blood
or the nation in its coils"
am glad that you are not managing
the business" said Mr. Iamp,rthy. la
conically. 'or We should be the laughing
stock of England. Well. what is your
program? L suppose you have definite
views which you want to force upon the
which will not make the papers ridicu-
lous. You must remember that. news
paper is not the place for a sermon. We
snail defeat our own ends by doing any
thing OF that sort. anything that will ex-
cite ridicule. What do you wish me tn
request the editors and proprietors to
dog"
I'm the first place" said Father Fran
els. there must be no betting news and
no stock exchange quotations.
Hm-yes. Well. what them
All news must be true: there must he
no scare headlines; no fabrication of
news"
..Yes?"
Then such matters as police court
news, divorce cases. murders and all
things of that sort must be treated diff
ferently. AT present they are not given
as mere items of news. but are recog-
nized as pleasing subjects for perusal.
The details are dwelt upon and enlarged
The more terrible the murder the more
space is given TO the subject. These are
items of news that ought to be merely
touched upon In brief paragraphs. There
should be no f1aring headlines II speaks
very little for men and women that they
should be induced TO buy a paper by the
words. CHASTITY Tragedy in Clerkenwell"
or Shocking Disclosures in West End
Scandal.
You speak sensibly." said Mr. LAM
pirthy, grimly.
ION the other hand" continued Father
Francis. "all acts OF heroism all stories
of self-sacrifice, of suffering nobly borne
or devotion to a father or mother. or a
wife. or a child. or religion. or ones
country, or anything that claims respect,
should be dwelt on and made the most Of
At present the man who gives his life
Tor another is accorded a small para
graph in an obscure corner. while the
name of the murderer is blazoned forth
on every placard. 1t is not fiattering to
the public to suppose that they would
rather read about murderer than
hero
Every word you say is true"
Then less space must be given to the
doings Of the rich, to the advertising Of
those who are merely wealthy. There
must be no more Interviews With the
Richest Man in the World"
Mr.. Lampirthy laughed, but there was
no answering smile on the speakers face.
Then there comes the question of poll
tics" said Father Francis. II do not
wish to favor one party more than an
other. But ii must be made clear that
party views are subordinate to the good
OF the general public Statesmen must be
taught that measure is not necessarily
iS intrn lt- Ii
itical opponents. The man of high ideals
the man who resolves TO do the best. not
for himself. but for the whole nation,
must be supported No measure must be
1t must be regarded on its own merits
I'm afraid We shall have some diff
Guilty in the political department"
1T must be overcome" said Father
Francis. Then there is the question of
war. l am an advocate for peace. but
war is inevitable when the sorong desire
to spoil the weak. But this war OF news
papers must cease. 1t must be the first
duty of paper to speak kindly of other
nations. There must be no more pin
pricks. no more of that perpetual irrita-
ton. caused by the comments Of the
press. At one time we badger France.
at another Germany. at another Russia.
And they return the compliment. All
of mischief
81 believe you said Mr.. Lampirthy.
"And what else do you PROPOSE"
Those are the main principles which
you can and must inculcate.
You have not mentioned religion"
NO" said Father Francis. slowly. II
have not mentioned religion. You seemed
to think that anything OF the nature of
sermon would excite ridicule. / am in
clned to believe that you are right. The
newspaper must teach by example and
not by precept. 1t is their place to record
news and influence public opinion. They
will do il best by following out the lines I
have Indicated
do you mind repeating the various
items?" said Mr.. Lampirthy. Il will take
a note of them. and consider how far they
can be reasonably impressed on the minds
OF the various editors and proprietors."
Father Francis repeated his words I'm
calm. buSness-like tone. When he had
finished Mr.. Lampirthy placed the notes
in his pocket and lit another cigar.
THAT is the way to talk he said. after
a pause. Il am sure If you would only
speak calmly and sensibly you would do
fervent oratory. You can drop all that
choose"
Father Francis rose to his feet and his
thin body seemed to tremble. He
stretched out his hands
1T is not thus / would speak 10 the
world he cried. God does not save sin
ners by argument. He speaks 10 their
hearts, not to their intellects."
Il dare say you're right" said Mr..
Lampirthy. coldly. You seem to be
clever enough Well don't think / need
detain YOU any longer. In three weeks