The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-17

ARTHUR BRISBANE
 On this page and in this column there appears almost every day a feature of such brilliancy and fndi- viduaiity that were it unsigned, care fui readers of newspapers would inn medfateiy identify its authorship.
 For there is but one editorial writer in the world who is such a cogent and convincing reasoner. It is not improbable that something like so,o0o,00o sturdy middle class Amer jeans, including thousands of writers, believe that Arthur Brisbane is the greatest editorial writer of all times. For Brisbane has clarity, breyity and euphony so domesticated that they will eat out of his hand. He can take the most complex material and translate 1t into Kindergarten epic. For example, if he wanted to put over" dissertation on hygiene and dietetics. he would entitle it Pity 7 Poor Moses: He Had No Ice-Box."
 His editorials, read daily by mill Hons, have achieved a reputation for bluntness, brilliant paradox and originality. He is the highest priced editorial writer in the world. He wouldn't and couldn't be so high priced. if his clear, attractive phil osophy was not worth the money.
 Some years ago when great edi- torial writers were receiving less than one-tenth of the sum, Mir. Bris- bane was paid a salary of $100,0o0 n year by William Randolph Hearst. He arrived at his enormous salary by asking for it and then earning it by producing results. He received t1,oo0 for every 1000 increase brought to the circulation of one of Mir. Hearst's newspapers. Now that newspaper has the leading circula- tion of any American publication.
 
 Journalist, athlete. philosopher, phi1anthropist, orator. Arthur Bris- bane has been described as the enig- ma of American personalities. Will liam InGiis once wrote of him that.
 His originality. benevolence. cour- age and brilliant style set him apart from all other writers He Is an orator unsurpassed in holding the breathless attention of his hearers: yet he disdains alb the artifices of the elocutionist and shoots his ideas forth in swift stream of simple words.
 There are so many Arthur Bris- banes that he is difficult to de- scribe. Not one of them will stand still long enough to be weighed and measured. At one moment he is busy with the editorial 13-inch shells he hurls against the predatory ric;l;' the next he is all wrapped up in the fate of a nest of helpless little mice who must die because their mother has been trapped, or gravely and reverently discussing the character of God, or urging men who criticise others to find their own faults first, or speculating about the happy fu- ture His writings have the power of Niagara's torrent and the delicacy of the radiant bow that hovers over 1t. Beneath a surface of the utmost simplicity his prose Is possessed of a subtloty and force that captiva;e every reader.
 "He is urging, exhorting, driving his readers to think for themselves The crowd believes in him implicitly. At first glance one is aware of the mans abounding vitality. He radiates energy Although he is athletic, likes golf and hunting, 1t is from the bulging brow and keen, strong face that we receive the most vivid im- pression of strength. Any expert looking at the man would believe Mike Donovans assertion some years ago that MT. Brisbane is one of the hardest punchers in America today. as we'll as the old Park Row legend that he wrestled the eminent Mat saea Sorakichi to a draw, and in time of need knocked the champion of England down stairs"
 MT. Brisbane is known as the in- yentor of the modern newspaper. As a matter of fact he did what no other editor had ever done-he made an editorial page that created great cir culation. Editors before Brisbane en : tered the field, had written wholly for. the highly educated portions of the community-the lawyers. the doc tors, the clergymen, and men of af- fairs Brisbane. realizing that the bulk of every population is composed of men and women who have received only a common school education. con cluded that he would write for this larger class. He chose for his sub jects every day topics in which they would not fail to be interested. He discussed the rearing. of children, qualities of character that make for success, sthe. need of clean men in politics, generosity to the poor. He wrote philosophy on religion in simple language. avoiding the use of technical words and making things plain by the employment of simple illustrations.
 The new editorials soon attracted the attention of the people for whom they were designed and they began to read them. The shop girls. the stenographers, the young men who work in the factories, the truck drivers, porters in stores. men who conduct small business enterprises. found in Brisbane's editorials soms- thing that made them think and aroused their ambition.
 q This is the Arthur Brisbane whose .Today" column is now one of the great features of The Age Herald. They are strong in their uplifting power; they appeal to the best there ia in men and women. they kindle ambitions and, awaken desires for knowledge.