The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-31

Perfection does not come ohe
way very often. Sometimes one sees
a perfect gem, Sometimes a perfecf
woman. nobly planned, and all tee
rest of i,--and usually hides from
her. Now and then one sees per
feet newspaper story, says Herpef
Corey.
Such a story was that OF Harry
Hawker's attempt to fly over Inc kt
lantic. 1t had every ele lens 10
cheer the news editor. IT was
great sporting venture, y Vas
superbly advertised. there vas me
element of national competition. ~
last Hawker died in the sea aod
world mourned. Then he was rssur'
rected by miracle ana a world &C.
joiced.
There have been fewer thoroughly
good" newspaper stories OF .nat
sort than one realizes Sc Hfst
thought The Lusi:ania's SINKING,
fo- example, WAS not great story.
It was great tragedy, true. ous IL
lacked tho needed element u me
dramatic, and its horror Was some
wias obscured against the bleak
background of wa.
On the otter hand, tss s:o:? o. the
iiTi,snic's deeth Il All ICY sea was cae
q. the most wonde;:a! nsw7rao.I
stories ever printed. TIE picture o.
the great sre2ias---tne nEssr snip
ever 1oated, called unsi.:Sa5.c. re-
plete with srsry luxury, ladeS with
passengers who weTe wealthy and
notorious ana famous and beautiful
and great, on itx FIRST trip-the pic
Iture Of that great steamer sinking
in an 5y ses. hor band playing and
her lights going out. tier after tier.
is che that will always finger in the
memory.
Stanford Whites murder by Harry
Thaw was another perfect story.
There again were all the elements
to whet the popular interest White
was the typical man Of the world. as
shown in the Oppenheim studies OF
spies and high life. Tnaw began as
the upright young man who did muir
der to save lady's honor, and finally
slipped into the insane asylum. 1t
gave US all a chance to throw brick
at Broadway, that beng not only
one of the favorite but one Of the
thoroughly justified amusements of
America. The killing was on a roor
garden in the midst Of New York's
beauty and chivalry. New York's
most sensational prosecuting attor-
,ney engaged in battles Of wit with
the young woman In the case and
was regularly worsted on the flrst
page. II Increased Americas vocaD-
ulary by dementia Americana and
something brother Praecox. Both
had a seasons run. It gave US our
first closeup of the American expert.
I But the Thaw case was not the
only perfect case in recent news
paper recollection. ANY one who
sets himself to thinking can remem-
Der others. 3ses
| There was the Cassie Chadwick
affair. in which the more or less fair
heroine managed to borrow coolies of
money on the strength Of a gauzy
story backed by a scared envelope
locked in the bankers own safe.
Therese Humbert in Paris did a
European version OF Castles borrow
ling. There were suicioes and bank
| ruptcies and hickory nut sized dia-
monds and oriental pearls scattered
through both. Both had all the color
land sparkle and atmosphere the most
cxacting news editor or reader could
demand; but that was not what
made either a. perfect story. Each
gave each reader a chuck1e. Each
i gave the reader a sense or superior
jity In his inmost heart he laughed
at the folly Of these superior beings
called bankers. It was wonderful
opportunity.
/ The Pearl Bryan murder In Cinein.
natl was perfect story. 1t would
have been nothing more than a sor-
/ did murder except that the murder