Year: 1879

literature and journalism Contrasted.


In q paper in Sc1ibae,'s Monthly
On journalism as Exempted by the
Late Mr.. Bagehot," the writer says:


Literature and journalism are not
only very distinct, they are very far
apart; they are in some particulars al
most irreconcilable. The one point
which they have in common is that tho
professors of both express ideas by
means of alphabetic writing. Authors
usually write short articles before they
write books, and these are printed in
newspapers. It thus happens that there
are few men of letters, particularly in
this country, who, have not written in
newspapers. This is about the sum Of
the connections between the two pur-
suits. In almost all respects they are
separate. The success of man of let
ters depends upon the high excellence
of his few productions. The success
of the journalist depends upon the
average excellence of his many writ
ings. One, or ten, or hundred good
articles no more make good journal
list than one swallow makes summer.
In the next place literature is written
to last. But in writing for newspapers
it should never be forgotten that that
which is written to-day must be printed
tomorrow, and will have been turned
into wrapping.paper by the day follow
ing. The truth is that very fine writing
is out of place in newspapers. The
capacity for doing fine writing is rather
disadvantage than an advantage TOR
the journalist. The journalists who
possess this ability succeed rather
in spite of it than on account of it. A
strong desire to say things perfectly is
hindrance to newspaper-writer.
There is not apt to be more than one
perfect expression of a thought, and a
writer who has, or who thinks he has,
achieved this does not care to express
it in another and cheaper way. Now
if there is one thing in which a Jour-
nalist must excel it is the capacity
for incessant as well as inf
nitely varied repetition. The jour-
nalist should not, therefore, think
of himself as literary man. But he
should think of himself as a man of
affairs. He should write as if he were
counseling the public as to what they
should do in the business of the day,
and he should give to that counsel the
best reflection which the well-known
and understood limitations of his busi-
ness will allow. A newspaper writer
should not make the writing of pleasing
articles the object Of his life. The sole
aim of the literary artist, like other art
lists, is, very properly, to please. But
it will not do for the journalist to make
pursuit of tickling mems ears; he
must seek to effect things. If the jour-
nalist's object is merely to write pleas
ing articles, his is one of the poorest
businesses in the world. This is almost
the only trade in which the worker does
not improve as he grows older. The
writer Of pleasing articles is no better
at 50 than at 80 indeed, he isnot so good,
for at SO he has lost the zest in ink and
paper and a fresh proof which he had
at 80. In almost all callings the mind
is constantly getting new thoughts:
which instruct it for the future, and the
Judgment is undergoing, from day to
day, process of education which never
pauses. "Shall I do this or that?" the
worker asks himself almost hourly, and
in his own mind argues the "pros" and
"cons" of the case with thoughts which
are scarcely ever turned into language;
which, indeed, most men would be in
capable of turning into language. It is
only the journalist who takes the right
view Of his business who gains with
years this education Of the Judgment.
His facts increase rapidly; his studi-
ously formed ideas have been corrected
and recorrected by the observation Of
events which have taken place under
his own eyes; his opinion, therefore, is
worth more at 50 than at 80; his judg-
ment is stronger and he is en- ADLER man.
Not only will his writing be more profit
ing and instructing to the reader; to
serious readers It will even be more
pleasing.