The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-03-07

with them as much as many " hIS , rsau
ers His articles serve the gooo purpose
of making people Think
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER
downright, 1915, by King Features Syndlcate)
No fair American newspaper hand would
insist that Hritair's imitation OF our journal
istic methods and ideas has been altogether
salutary It is a fact that in the efforts OF
London's popular press, as distinguished from
the more stately blanket sheets, to jazz up
news and features, British Journalism pro-
duced some grotesque effects. They developed
something which their conservatives called
1.-The stunt press and it was pretty awful.
Nevertheless they did learn to put the
punch in the lead and to publish the news
quickly instead of next week. They also adopt
ed our professional rule against killing off a
story by backing into it with some such IN
PRODUCTION as last Wednesday, at the ShreWs-
bury assizes-.
| Ironically, when Charles Lindbergh fled to
England to escape the publicity which he
| had so deeply resented at home and while
the British were preening themselves on their
virtuous respect for mans privacy, our
English friends turned out gang OF reporters
and photographers to pursue him, whose num-
| Der and clamorous conduct seldom have been
equalled in this country. They mad automo-
biles to chase him if he should try to elude
them by road, speed-boats to track him ashore
should he leave his ship in the Irish sea,
watches posted in Ireland, planes aloft, and,
again, the horde in Liverpool.
| In the course of the education OF the Brit
ish there came to New York and Washing
ton one OF the friendliest and most enter
tanning individuals who ever delighted our
craft His name was David Blumenfeld, the
son of an American and a West Pointer, at
that, who had gone to England a long time
ago and had become, editor of the London
Express, noted exponent of both American
hustle and directness and British restraint or
dignity.
| Dave had been soldier in his majesty
forces in the First world war, leaving the
service with the rank of major and by an
arrangement with influential friends In New
York, the young man was shipped out to
| America to learn our ways. He was hearty
and eager but he had trouble with that style
of ours which tries, with varying success, to
combine literary effect with startling lnforma-
ton Some have called it the up the dark
and silent stairs school of journalism. 1t has
been cramped during this war by the econ
omies imposed on us, but there was a time
when every rewrite man tried to compose
drama in four-line item about an unidenti-
fled man found in the river Oft East 23rd
street.
This was about the time that Dave was In
our midst and, because that was the Aneri-
can style, which he had been sent over to
learn, he tried hard He would fret and pom
der and chew up flimsy and carbon Oft in
corner, beating his machine with fingers like
bananas, but usually, the desk would hand
over the item to someone WHO really had the
native knack and patiently explain to Dave
that in our journalism we didn't start a story
about conspicuous divorce by writing lone
is distressed to learn that a tragedy of in
fidelity has destroyed the happiness OF one OF
our most respected families
After time they sent Dave down to Wash
ington to learn our ways. There he wrote
historic lead a story Of vast importance
for which he is as well remembered by those
few who had the privilege to read it as
Frank Ward OMalley will ever be for his
interview with the mother of the murdered
policeman.
The United Press kept only a casual watch
on Sunday nights in Washington in those days
and Dave was sitting on the lid. The telegraph
operator across the desk was the only other
man on duty. Dave was beating out a long
letter to his pater in London when the tele-
phone rang
Someone told him that Senator Boise Pen
rose had died suddenly.
How unfortunate Mr.. Blumenfeld ex-
claimed with just the proper degree OF SYM
pathy. Pm dreadfully sorry. am told he
was capital chap"
He resumed his letter to his father.
After some time, an excited query came
down over the wire from New York. The
International News and A.P. were out with
the story.
Opposition says Penrose dead"
Dave scanned the message and resumed
his letter to his dad.
Some telegraph operators reluctant to
cross the desk. They stay on their side and
mind their own business and let the news
people attend to theirs. This fellow was friend
ly however, and knew Dawes ignorance of
some of our abnormalites in the handling of
news. few minutes later he asked tact
fully Dave, did you see that message from
NX?"
Yes, yes,' Dave said II am afraid it is
only too true. Chap rang me up half an hour
ago to tell me about it. A great pity. Awfully
painful to the family, I dare say
But, Dave, they want story from you
about it. Hadn't you better phone his hotel
and check and then do a piece?
"Of course, Splendid Mr.. Bumenfeld said.
Topping idea. Thanks for reminding me-
So Dave telephoned the hotel and said he
would like to speak to Senator Penrose. He
was told that this impossible. The sena-
tor had died within the hour. Over the phone
he heard the music of an orchestra in the
lobby.
Our student now spat on his hands and
prepared to turn out something for posterity
I will let you decide whether he did, for,
of STRUGGLE this