The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

As an Offset TO the many disadvantages
accruing from the long session Of Con-
gress. and the immense amount OF work
inflicted on not only the high professional
branches, including the vast army OF
newspaper men. but upon the porters and
poEtmen and police. and all whose duties
are increased without corresponding
financial Increment, is the fact that the
press Of the country viii probably escape
the silly season comments which usually
act as literary life preservers when the
mercury climbs so high there is nothing
doing" and timely topics have 70 be man
ulactured.
Not even the most exactiug can com
plain OK a paucity OF events this summer:
columns for months have been filed with
variations OF the theme. What will they
DO to the TARIFF" Now. 1t can be an
swcrcd in classic slang. They didn't DO
q thing" and more columns yet can be
filled with an enlargement of Jack
Bunsby's query. II not. why not?"
II is significant Of the growth OF the
country and the world az large that
taking" Of matter is becoming a lost
bat unwept-art for there is in reality
more Of thrilling event occurring all over
the land every twenty-four hours than
any ono paper could print But once on
a time when telegraph was not and mails
no faster than a pony express could go.
there was evidence TO the most casual
reader Of newspapers that the editor
knew as much about padding as a tailor.
For years after the colonies had ceased
10 feel any interest In English events the
papers Of the American PEOPLE were but
an echo OF things British, and columns
were filed with the speeches OF Hon. N.
P.'s brought over in the last packet. The
Washington Herald once commented on
early journalism IN Washington al the
time that a Vice President was dylnz
here; Tor though Clinton. a most dis
tlnguished American, was ill a month.
from the first comment that the Senate
adjourned owing 70 the uluesc o. the Vice
President, there was no other news until
his death was announced briefly A quar-
ter column TOLD OF the greatest pageant
the city had known up to that date In
the train that followed Clinton TO the
grave. the same issue OF the InteIIlgencer
which told so briefly OF this local hap
pening gave one page 10 English matters.
Not only was the gentle art OF padding
and taking INDUCED IN by the early press
but something was known OF adapting a
compliment 10 the home town, and &
could be attempted with safety as there
was little exchange OF newspapers in the
early 3JS. II a town owned a paper,
II was satisfied not 90 seek one from an
adjoining town. AS an evidence Of this
statement. see an "ad" in the aforemen-
toned Intelligence for barmaids in New
Orleans. Young ladies' OF that calling
were requested TO apply at 81 Camp
street. New Orleans but were warned
that beauties from New York. Savannah.
or Charleston would be preferred. TWO
months later the Rhode Island Patriot
commented editoriany Oh the advertise
ment. and quoted 1t. but tactfUlly added
TO the list OF beauties by including Rhode
Island beauties, who would be given
first choice.
American newspapers may once have
filed up with English news IN lieu OF
any other. but the English paper OF to-
day unless IL is one OF the lively Ameri-
canized type Of which London now owns
two fills in with police news, IL is no
eXaggeration 20 say that news OF that
kind sometimes fills three columns and
is loaded and headed even If no more
important than a record OF wire steal
ing. one day during the inquiry into
the conduct OF certain aImshoGses. en-
inmate Of one died suddenly. and the
paper gave 90 words and caption read
Ing "Pauper Dimes Too Well." and states
that the coroner was Caustic in comment
ing on the extravaganza Of feeding an
inmate OF an institution on such nigh
fare as he had broakf3sted on
tea, bread, butter, and sam" Toe ex-
travaEance Of tie diet must have been
in butter as well as jam, one delicocy Of
the kind being considered enough il that
economical island.
Within the same week another London
paper made great display OF the death
of woman from drinking tea and eat
ing meat. and the coroner. who seems
TO be considered a modern Solomon in
England. lectured the audience on the evil
OF eating anything so solid as steak while
drinking tea. Verify the Defeating Eng
Hshman OF Dickens day seems 70 have
vanished with the era Of the beef trust.
so il may be the part OF wisdom I'm the
modern Solomon TO prove the danger in
overeating. in which case the display OF
the tiny story may not be so stupid after