The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-17

| be fiourishing like the green bay tree.
Its huge prizes to flying men have done
a great deal for aviation in France
| The Matin was the first European
paper to announce the conclusion of
peace between Japan and Russia, and
to publish the fulr text of the treaty.
This was due to the energy of their
principal foreign correspondent, Jules
Hedeman. whose name Is known all
| over the world. He is a remarkable
lingufst, and speaks six languages with
extraordinary fuency
The Edit0r-in- Chief
The editor in chief, Stephane Lau-
zanne, is a brilliant journalist, who re-
Gently visited the United States.
splendid staff of writers, including
"Gyp," Abel Hermant, CASTOR Leroux,
Marcel Provost and "Severine," supply
| the "feuilletons" and short stories
which are an Indispensable part of
every French journal.
The Matin is organizing a series
of prize competitions this year, and is
offering prizes to the value of s2OO. 600.
The brains bask of the Matin are
supplied not by Frenchman but by an
enormously wealthy Colombian. Maurice
Buena- Varilla was born In the little
South American republic. His brother
PHILIPPE is well known in the United
States as the chief exponent of a sea
| level Panama canal
Although welding enormous national in
nuence, Maurice Buena-Varila is one of
the least known men in Paris. Until the
Humbert trial, where he was called as a
witness, the general public did not even
know of his existence. Even at that time
the Matin was beginning to be all power
fll In France, and 1t was whispered that
1t could make or break cabinets at its
own sweet will; its owner was credited
with having said:
MY armchair is worth three thrones
His appearance in court was, therefore,
awaited with breathless anxiety, as few
had ever seen the mysterious potenta,e
and he has never been photographed. Inc
Usher called Monsieur Buena- -yarilla
and small bearded man, neatly dressed
in gray, with an amused smile on his lips
entered the court.
Although the proprietor of the Matin
detests publicity and never goes into So
ciety, he takes an active part in the man.
ageinent of his paper. He goes to the Of
fees regularly at midnight and does not
leave until the paper goes to press.
Journal Is Great Rival
The Journal, the Mathis great rival, was
founded 20 years ago. 1t is better known
for its literary contents than its Journal
ibtic "coups," although 1t has a brilliant
staff of foreign correspondents. 1t has
altogether well over 100000 copies day.
1t is chiefly read by the leisured class 1T
publishes three short stories every day,
and two "feulletons' all of the best writ
ers. The Journal is, in fact, chiefly read
for its fiction, news taking a secondary
place. The average Frenchman does not
mind waiting "a hours for foreign news;
he is supremely indifferent to what takes
place outside Paris.
The Journal short stories, which are
contributed by such men as Charles
4 Ii 81 /
Rosny, are masterpieces of their kind. The
usual price paid is $50 for a two column
story. Francois Coppee was the best
paid contributor getting 500 for story
of a column and half. The principal
'feuilleton" writers are Octave Mirbeau,
Edmond Haracourt and Victor Mar
guerite. They get $4,000 for 60 chapter
''fouilleton.''
The Journal does not carry as much ad-
vertising as its rival, but its rates are
about the same. 1t makes a feature of
small classified wants on Wednesday
and Saturday, running three pages at 81
line, but 1t gives too much space to
'fakirs' and marriage" advertisements
which prevent it from becoming family
paper.
The Journal also claims to be the first
daily in France to use, illustrations ana
the first to send out war correspondents
There is no doubt that this paper pos
sesses, in Ludovic Naudeau, the finest war
corr espondent in Europe. His dispatches
from Manchuria during the Russo-Japan-
esa war were masterpieces of accurate op-
servation and description. He recently en-
tered Adrianople with the victorious for
the moment Bulgars, and his vivid word
pictures of the woes of the vanauished
have shown the stay at home Parisians
what war really means.
Another interesting personality on the
Journal staff is jacques Dhur, the great
social reformer. Wherever there is op-
preston or injustice, Jasques Dhur stands
by the victims side, and fights unul the
wrong is righted. His campaigns in the
Journal have made him so popular that
he carried his first parliamentary elec-
ton by an overwhelming majority.
Feature of Sport
The Journal makes a feature Of sport
and has organized a number of great con-
tests. The general manager, M. Fordyce.
Brought the brothers Wright to Europe at
described them as 'mountebanks" ana
'imposters.'' Sensational competitions
have contributed in no small measure TO
the rapid success of the Journal. About
eight years ago it offered a first prize of
$4,000 for the correct calculation of the
number of grains nf wheat in a pint bot
tie. Other papers Immediately followed
suit with moro or less success. IL has
JUST started another competition of the
same kind-s01, 000 readers sent in solu-
tons. This competition is to be followed
by others, as the two great rival papers
are. now. song in for a sort Of "beggar
my neighbor' struggle They have met
before In the law courts on ruut tal