The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-28

liam Pitt which was favorite, and
invariably brought forth applause. 1t
began: THE atrocious crime of being
young man 1 shall neither attempt
to palliate nor deny"
Bill Pitt Didn't Do 1t.
Now, William Pitt never said that.
The words were put in his mouth by
DR.. Samuel johnson, the colossal lit
erary character of his time, who at
the age of 80 was employed to report
the proceedings of the British parlia-
ment, for the "Gentleman's Maya
zine" and continued to do so for more
than three years.
He wrote in a garnet. When asked
at a dinner how it was possible for
him to write the speech, he retorted,
'Sir, 1 wrote it in Exeter street.
never was in the gallery of the house
of commons but once in my life. Cave"
(who was his employer) had interest
with the doorkeepers; he and the per-
sons employed under him got admit
lance, they brought away the subjects
of discussion, the names of the speak
ers. the side they took, and the order
in which they rose. together with
notes of various arguments adduced
in the course of the debate. The
whole was afterwards communicated
to me, and 1 composed the speeches in
the form they now have in the parlia-
mentary Debates
Voltaire, on reading these debates,
exclaimed, 1.-The eloquepce of Greece
and Rome Is revived in the British
senate
Many statesmen and orators of Eng
land in those days, whose speeches dis
play such force of argument and
splendor of language, owe to Doctor
Johnson. who has impressed posterity
with their genius, the place in history
which they since have found.
Credit to Associated Press.
10 the Associated Press must IN
given the greatest credit, not only for
the daily collection and dissemination
OF news, but for the manner in which
it is condensed and set before the
reader. The expert writers EMPLOYED
in that service give us the details of a
battle, political convention, or a
prize fight In direct language, without
flourishes or ornamentation.
With what care is all expression of
opinion by the writer avoided.
AS befits the truthful narrator of
current events, ne gives the facts only.
If I were teaching the art of news
paper reporting, I would compile a
text book from Associated Press re-
ports of important happenings and say
to my pupils that when they had mas
tered this style of presenting news they
had reached the highest degree of pro-
ficfency to be attained in the profess
sion.
Reporter of Today.
An English writer says:
The reporter of today has to be
courageous, sharp as u hawk, mental
ly untiring. physically enduring He
comes in contact with everybody from
monarchs to beggars, from noblemen
to nobodies. He sees the tragedy and
comedy of human life, it's cynicism
and toadyism, it's patient struggline
and feverish am bition, it's shams and
subterfuge, its lavish wealth and Deep
est poverty, its joy and sorrow, it's good
deeds and most hideous crimes. His
is strange career, with its constant
predicaments. difficulties. and ankle
ties; but it is an attractive. fascinat-
ing career to many because of its won
drous variety"
Finally. let us inquire what, other
than dissatisfaction. is the report
er's reward for his contributions to the
progress of mankind?
Retiring, unknown, his patient mer-
it has received no just recognition
Willing to serve, he goes on working
diligently for the enlightenment OF
the world, and is content with seeins
even the unworthy prosper, while he
! standing aloof, hears, in the words Of
the hymn,
1.-THE shout of them that triumph,
The song of them that feast