Year: 1870

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in his ad-
dress few days since at the funeral OF
George Wakeman, a member OF the
New York press, passed high and lner-
tied eulogy on the deceased, in COM
memoration of his many virtues and
his journalistic ability. In 80 doing,
he contrasted him with other newspa-
per men in such way as to make him,
in all that constitutes true manhood, an
exception ii the ranks of journalism.
We DO not know from what source kr.
Beecher derives his knowledge OF the
habits of journalists, whom he repre-
sents as so prone to "festive habits' that
when one of them goes of the stage he
must needs be held up as q rare and
singular example of man who has re-
sisted the temptations which surround
journalists, and which he judges te be
powerful by the number of men who
break down and die from dissipation IN
connection with newspapers"


Judging journalism from this stande
point we can see why Mr.. Beecher re-
CARDS newspapers as slaughter
houses" where dissipation is the rule of
life, and is sinseparable from journalistic
career, except in very rare instances,
which, on that account, are worthy Of
special mention. This notice is engen-
dered from contemplating journalism
from the outskirts or verge OF the pre-
fessiop; but it can not be derived from
study of the records of those who give
the profession its character for
respectability and usefulness. That
the hours of journalists on daily
papers are irregular, their work over
taxing, and their opportunities for re-
Taxation and rest, is all true. On
morning daily, the most important part
of the work is done when the minister,
the lawyer and the business man are
enjoying the repose Of uninterrupted
slumber. The keeping of such unsea'
sonable hours appears to the steady,
well-balanced minister of the gospel to
be inconsistant with an upright life,
and he very naturally mistakes it all
for dissipation. He comes gradual to
consider newspapers rs slaughter
khouses."


A more careful examination of the
subject would show him that newspa.
per men as class cannot be the dissi-
pated fraternity he intimates, and at
tho same time meet the exactiDg re-
quirements of q first class journal. A
man who is habitually dissipated can
not be relied upon either as regards
punctually or efficiency. His career as
a journalist is short. He does not re-
main in the profession long enough to
die. He drops out of it, and it would
be unjust to credit him to journalism,
or to infer that his shortcomings were
those of the profession generally. There
is probably no profession which is so ex
acting in its demands upon mind and
body, and which requires an organiza-
ton SO thoroughly above the tempta-
tions which wreck able men in all other
professions. This profession is one
which requires that singular clear
headedness, that power of instant and
correct decision, that capacity to grasp
a multitude of details, that iudicious
foresight which sees the end from the
beginning, and that strength and uni
formity of purpose, which are irrecon-
cilable with the beolouding and week
ening influences of dissipation; and the
large number of successful and intluen-
tial journals in this country is con,pIc
uous evidence of the possession, Oh the
part of their editorial corps, of those
high mental and physical traits which
we mention as incompatible with dis
sipated life.