Crawfordsville Daily Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 5 April 1890 — Page 2

Daily

journal.

SATURDAY, APRIT 5, 1890.

By MAX O'SELL (Author of "John Bull aHd His Island," "John Bull, Jr.," Etc.) and JACK ALLYN.

Translated by Mma Paul Blouot. Copyrighted by Ca-sM'U Co.. Sew York, and published by sprcl&J arranc^meut through U16 American Proaa

XIX—JOURNALISM.

Enterprise and Stiirtllm [i«adllnM—Sun* dny Papers—Comic I'upera—Society Papers—Country I'apvn,

By his discovery of America Christopher Columbus has furnished the old world with an inexhaustiblo source of amusing novelties. Out it is to American journalism that tho palm mut-t be awarded.

Tho first thing that attracts your attention is tho titles of tho articles. It requires a special genius for the work to be able to hit upon such eye ticklers.

Tho death of Mre. Garfield, mother of the lata president, was announced with tho heading: "Death of Grandnia Garfield."

The marriage of M. Maurice Bernhardt: '•Sarah's Boy leads his Bride to tho Altar."

Tho execution of a criminal was announced by a Chicago paper under the heading: "Jerked to Jesus."

Tho reports of two divorce cases at Chicago wero entitled respectively: "Tired of William." "Mrs. Carter finds fault with her husband's kissing."

An orticlo on Prince Bismarck was headed in largolctters, "Bismarck Withdraws." Just underneath in very small print was: "His resignation as chancellor of tho German empire."

Tho marriage of young Earl Cairns, who had been |betrothed several times, was announced to tho American ladies thus: "Garmoyle caught at last."

Mr. Arthur Balfour, having refused to reply to some attacks of the Irish Nationalists, a prominent New York paper thus announced the fact: "Balfour doesn't caro a ."

During his lato visit to Amorica Mr. Joseph Chamberlain was invited by the members of a New York club to a dinner given in his honor. At the eleventh hour, being detained in Washington on stato business, ho was obliged to send and excuse himself. Next day I read in The New York Herald: "One dinner less for Joe." •Vhile I was in tho United States the ifpers were constantly speaking of Jacob Sharp. One morning the newspapers were obliged to desist poor Jacob had passed away from earth. The same

I met the editor of one of the large apers. I said, "hero is a fine occasion

Jieadlino to-morrow you are let it slip. I suppose?" (fc you meanf"' ..LI 3JT1 it" ho exclaims. „r Jlow much will you take

you a present of it," I said.

Next lapping tho death of tho financier was tolcl in two columns, headed, "Jacob gone up the ladder."

American journalism is above all a sensational journalism. If the facts roported are extct, so much tho better for the paper if net, so much the worse for the facts. But tho papers are always lively reading.

To succeed as a journalist, the only qualification necessary is to be able to amuse and interest tho reader all styles are admissible except tho heavv.

I. who never read tribunal reports IK tho English newspaper,). us mora tian once surprised in Amorica to lind myself deeply interested in the account of a trial lorHiurder, following all tho details of the cuae, ami unwilling to miss a word.

The American journalist must bo spicy, lively, bright. He must know how to, not report, but relate an accident, a trial, a conflagration, and at a push make up an article of one or two columns in length upon the most insignificant incident. He must be interesting, readable. His eyes and ears must bo always open, every sense on tho alert, for, before all and above all, he must keep ahead in his race for news if lie should onco let himself be outdone by a confrere, his reputation wotila bo binsted.

But you will perhaps reclaim: "What is the poor, fellow to lo wlier, there is no news:'" What is he to do? And his imagination, is it given him for no purpose? If ho have no imagination, ho had better Rive up the idea of being a journalist in America.

Crimes, divorces, elopements, mesalliances, gossip of all kinds, furnish the papers with three-quarters of their contents. A mysterious affair skillfully handled will make tho fortune of a newspaper.

It is when there is a criminal case to handle that American journalism bocomes simply sublime. Tho criminal is no sooner arrested than tho reporters liurry to liis coll and got him to undergo tho curious operation, now known throughout the world as interviewing, lie is treated with all consideration. To bo accused of an important crimo gives a man a certain standing in America. Tho more atrocious tho crime, tho more interesting tho accused, and columns upon columns of print supply tho public with his slightest sayings and doings. IIo is the hero of the day. From the prison tho reporters go to hunt up tho witnesses, whom they also interview in their turn. Hogular examinations, these interviews! If there is any love story mixed in with the affair, if there aro a few piquant details, you may imagine that tho public gets tho worth of its two cents.

Tho American is gallant, and when tho victim is of the feminine gender, I can assure you tho accused generally gets a pretty drubbing in tho press.

I know of several American newspapers 1 mving quite a staff of detectives— yes, detectives. These detectives are em-

pioyea, not only in cases or crtmo, out Svork just as hard over a divorce or an elopement it is journalism turned private detoctivo agency.

Tho slightest thing that can make the paper attractivo is seized upon with avidity. There is nothing, down to tho merQ announcements, that will not suggest to a wido awako editor one of these wonderful eye ticklers. Thus tho Saturday list of preachers for tho morrow is headed in Tho Now York Herald: "Salvation for All," or "Guiding Sinners Heavenward."

Another paper heads tho list: "Dodging tho Dovil." In some papers you will seo the lift of births, marriages and deaths, headed respectively: Tho Cradlo, Tho Altar and Tho Grave in somo others more facetious: Hatches, Matches and Dispatches.

In a society paper, much given to gossip, I noticed tho news of the fashionable world distributed under the following titles: Cradlo (list of births) Flirtation (list of young people suspected of a tender passion for each other) Engagements (secret promises of marriages) Tiffs (sic) Ruptures Marriages Divorces and Separations, Deaths. It was the whole comedy of life.

What a pity the American papers cannot have reporters in the other world to note tho entries into Paradise and descents into Hell. Ten minutes' stoppage of So-and-So in Purgatory would be very crisp and effectivo.

Compared with the French and English papers, tho American dailies have neither the literary ,'aluo of the former, nor tho authority of tho latter in the matter of political foreign nows.

A literary celebrity of Boston said to me ono day: "I am ashamed of our American press. Wo have only two papers in tho country that I do not blush for."

I must say that if you want to hear America and everything American severely criticised, you have only to go to Boston. "Aro you an American?" I once asked of a gentleman I met in New York. "Well," ho said, after some hesitation, "I'm from Boston."

As for political nows, sent over from Europe, one needs to allow a little margin on what ono reads in the American papers but it is impossible not to praise tlia activity which animates the press.

I was in New York on the day that M. Victorien Sardou brought out "LaTosca" in Paris. The next morning my newspaper gave me a most complete analytical description of the performance in two columns telegraphed from Paris. In other words, the Americans were able to read Sarah Bernhardt's latest triumph earlier than the inhabitants of Lyons and Marseilles, who had to wait for tho Paris papers. Thanks to their journalism, the Americans have at least an idea of what is going on in every part of the world. And how is it possible, I repeat, not to say a good word of praise for a journalism which knows how to excite, as well as satisfy, tho curiosity of a great people?

You must visit the offices of the great New York papers in the evening if you would get an idea of tho colossal enterera

000 about

In their Jlr "JT™

report-

a11

readv.fppasses

LfitfilfcaalTof the various depart­

ments, political, literary, dramatic, etc. "What have you?" asks an editor to the first reporter who presents himself. "An interview with Sarah Bernhardt." "Very good. Half a column. And what have you?' ho says, turning to tho second. "A report of John Smith, the banker's ease." "Right. One column. And you?" "I have an account of tho president's forthcoming journey to tho south."

Over six hundred correspondents, scattered all over the globe, send in their telinany of them by special wire. "What have you for us this evening?" 6ays uie editor to his correspondent in Berlin. "Bismarck threatens to send in his resignation." "Ono column." "Boulanger has just received an ovation at Lille. A riot is feared in Paris," wires tho Paris correspondent. "Capital! Send two columns.*' "A scandal in Rome. The Marchioness of N. has run away with her husband's secretary." "Good. Whero aro they gone?" "No one knows." "No matter. Send a good stirring column all the same." "What s-his-name, tho financier, lias mado off, ticks the wire from Cliicago.

A column. Send report and start on scent of tho fugitive." When tho telegraph has ceased ticking, and tho crowd of rejiorters have departed, tho chief editor, like a ship's captain, the last to leave tho desk, works on. Ho reads over everything, sifts, corrects, cuts down, adds to, puts all in ordor, and towards 2 o'clock in tho morning gives the order to print, and goes home.

But once more all is nothing. It is in tho Sunday's issue that you liavo tho crowning feat of journalistic enterprise thirty or thirty-two pages of telegrams, articles, essays on politics, tho drama, literature, pictures, the fashions anecdotes, bons mots, interviews, stories for children, poetry, biographies, chats on Bcionce, tho wholo Illustrated with portraits, sketches of interesting places mentioned in tho text, caricatures, etc.

Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago possess newspapers* in no way second in importance to those of New York. St. Louis, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Pittsburg and many other towns have also newspapers of tho first importance. Every littlo town of a thousand to fifteen hundred inhabitants has its two newspapers, ono Democratic, tho other Republican. For lively reading, take up these papers during tho electoral struggle that terminates with the installation of a now president at the White House. Very favorite names aro Tho Paralyzer, The Rustler, Tho Cyclone, Tho Prairio Dog, Tho Bazoo, Tho Lucifer, The Bundle of Sticks, Tho Thunderer, The Earthquake. I saw and read a copy of the sheet which rejoiced in tho name of Bundle of Sticks. The first article contained advice to certain Joseph Muller, who, instead of

working, had taken up street preacmng and house to house prayer: "We give Joseph Muller a fortnight to find some honorable employment. If at the end of that timo ho is still loading an idlo life, wo will find on exalted position for him." The joko makes one shudder, when ono thinks that if Joseph should turn a deaf ear to tho warning ho is quito sure to bo hung by his townsmen to tho highest branch of somo tree in tho town. I Tho characteristic of now societies is freedom of speech as well as of action,

I read in somo Thunderer tho following lines about tho editor of Tho Lightning, tho other newspaper of tho town: "We wish to uso moderation and to keep within tho limits of good breeding. Wo will only go so far as to say that personally he is a sneak, and that as a journalist he is a liar and a scoundrel." Tho Lightning replies in tho same strain, and the publio gets amusement for the moderate sum of one or two cents.

Many of these papers of Kentucky, Texas and other western states may bo paid for in kind. I extract tho following from Tho Herald of Hazel Green (Kentucky):

NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE. Bow you may get The Herald for a year without money.

Bring us: Twenty pounds of pork or

4

Ten pounds of pork sausage or Two bushels of sound potatoes or Fivo bushels of sound turnips or Ten good chickens or One bushel of good onions. For half tho above quantities, we will send the paper half tho time.

And so the wholo population of Hazel Green has the newspaper put within its reach.

The Thunderer and Tho Lightning are not the only papers that indulge in violent polemics, in which insulting personalities take tho place of arguments.

During the whole time I was in America, Mr. Pulitzer, proprietor of The New York World, and Mr. Charles A. Danu, editor of The Sim, one of tho most accomplished journalists, were day after day calling each other such names as "robber," "liar," "mortgaged," "dirty Jew."

Americr-, New York especially, has some capital comic papers. By that I mean more comic than tho rest. Puck and Judge have always skits on the questions of tho day, touched off with the freedom which one would expect in free America. The manners of tlio people are criticised with wit and good taste. The little illustrations aro charming, but two or three huge colored pictures, done in the crudest style, disfigure each of these papers. Several other publications, such as Life, written in a light, sparkling style, and ornamented wt little fiue tasteful illustrations, concert, themselves with the sayings and doings of higher American society. Little stories, anecdotes, bons mots, material for a merry hour. Admirable are these papers, which know how to be comic, witty and bright 'without being objectionable, or unfit to put into the hands of a girl in her teens.

These papers are not only amusing to tho stranger, they are instructive. Tho funny stories, the naive jokes, as deiv a a manners than many a ponderous v^lu^e

Space fails mo here to do justice to the literary, dramatic and artistic journal, Among the first, however, mention must bo made of The Critic. Its reviows are amiable and discreetly erudite. Its criticisms aro always fair and never crabbed.

I cannot close this chapter without speaking of tho American reviews they have attained a perfection which is the highest utterance of journalism, as understood by tho educated world. They are so well known that I need not enlargo upon tho merit and tho charms of such publications as The North American Review, The Forum, Tho Atlantic Monthly, The Century, Tho Harper's, Tho Scribner's, Tho Lippincott, and that treasure of English reading children all °7\er

l'10 w°rld,

tho incomparable St.

Nicholas. Besides all these, there are The Cosmopolitan, Tho American Magazine, America, and numbers of others.

XX—REPORTING.

Tlio Art an Practiced In America Amazes tho Versatile Frenchman. "Journalism lias killed literaturo and reporting is killing journalism." So exclaims M. Albert Millaud.

In America reporting has simply overrun, swallowed up journalism. For tlio interviewer nothing is sacred.

Do not believe you have got over the difficulty by having him told that you are not at home. He will return to the charge ten, twenty times ho will stand sentinel at your door, sleep on tho mat outside your hotel bedroom, so as to pounce upon you as soon as you Bhow your face in the morning. Should you Buccoed in escaping the hunter, rather than return to the newspaper offico empty handed he will find your wife and ask her if you snore, whether you are an early riser, whether you are. the more amiable after dinner or before, what you cat at breakfast, what is your favorite oolor in trousers and what sizo boots you take. IIo will ask her when you were married, how long your honeymoon lasted, if you havo children and whether they have cut their teeth. With these materials ho will make up a column.

Thero is no question too indiscreet for these enterprising inquisitors they would have interviewed St. Anthony in his hut.

Do not shout victory, either, because rou have succeeded in getting rid of the Interviewer without replying to his questions.. To your stupefaction, tho newspapers next day will havo an account of the conversation which you might have had with their reporters.

If my advice bo worth giving, the best thing you can do, when tho interviewer presents himself and says, "I am a reporter, sir, and I have como to ask you for a few moments' chat," is to say to him: "Mad to BOO you, sir pray bo seated."

After all, interviewing is an operation that ono survives, and, to be just, I must say that American reporters in general are very courteous, obliging, and—which is simply astounding when ono considers that they rarely tako notes—accurate in thoir accounts of interviews.

On tho 11th of November, 1887, at a a. in., tho Gormanio, after a terribly rough passage of nine days, entered the harbor of Now York. All at once tho Germanic stopped. A littlo steam tug drew up alongside, and thero stopped ou board a few custom houso officers, followed by several other persons. "Look out!" cried ono of my fellow passengers. "What is tho matter?" I asked. "The interviowers!" "Nonsense, not hero surely," I exclaimed.

No sooner were tho words out of my mouth than two young men handed mo their cards, with the announcement that they were journalists. "We havo como to present our respects to you," they said, "and to wish you ploasant time in our country."

While they uttered these words they scanned mo from head to foot, jotting a few strokes on the note books. They were taking my portrait, which appeared next morning.

One paper gave tho following description of your humble servant: "Max O'Rell is rather globular Frenchman of about forty." "Globular!" tho idea!

Question after question was put with tho rapidity of lightning flashes. "Have you had a good passage?" "Aro you sick at sea?" "Whero were you born?" "How old are you?1' "How long do you mean to stay in tho United States?" "Excuse mo, gentlemen," I said, "I am tired and am going to tho hotel to rest. I shall be happy to seo you this afternoon."

Oh! that first afternoon in Now York, spent in tho company of the interviewers! I shall never forget itl "Ah!" said ono of them, after tho usual salutations, "wo aro going to bore you, so lot us begin at the beginning."

This made mo smile. "I know your first question," I said, "you are going to ask me whether this is my first visit to America."' "You are right, that is generally our first question but I havo another to ask you before. You have just eaten your first meal in America what did you have?" "Gentlemen," I replied as seriously as I possibly could, "I have just been in for a piece of turbot, a beefsteak and potato chips, a celery salad, and a vanilla ice." "And now," remarked another reporter, "I have an important question to put to you. I hope it will not astonish you." "Oh!" I replied, "I am in America, and quite ready not to bo astonished at anything." "Well, then," said ho, "I want to ask you what are your impressions of America." "Excuse me," I exclaimed, "I have only been in it three hours, and thoso three hours have been spent in this hotel. You must really allow die to abstain for the moment from telling you what I think of America for you will admit, I hope, that one must have passed a whole day at least in America, in order to judge it with any accuracy."

Here I rolled a cigarette and rang for a lemon squash. The reporters immediately made an entry in their note books. "What is that you have put down?" I askod. a young fellow, with a face beaming with activity and intelligence, replied:

I wrote that at this point of our conversation you rolled a cigarette and rang r, oonooJ.

Keally, gentlemen," I ventured to observe, "do you imagine that such a remark as that can possess tho slightest interest for your readers?" "Without doubt," they replied. "Oh! in that case, excuse me I ought to havo known that in America, as elsewhere, an intelligent man knows his business. Go on with your questions, you interest mo greatly."

The questions recommenced. One wanted biographical detail*, another the origin of my pseudonym. Ono wished to know if I worked in tho morning, tho afternoon or tho evening another whether I worked sitting or standing up, and also whether I used ruled paper and quill pens. One reporter asked me if I thought in English or in French, another whether Gen. Boulanger had any chance of soon being elected president of the French republic. If I crossed my legs during the conversation, if I took off my glasses, nothing escaped theso journalists everything was jotted down.

With the idea of giving them something better worth writing, I launched into anecdotes. .This brought about a little scene which was quito comic. If I looked at ono reporter a little oftoner than the rest, while I told an anecdote, would turn to his brethren, and say: "This story is for my paper, you have no right to take it down it was told especially to mo." "Not at all," would cry tho others, "it was told to all of us."

In spite of this, the harmony of the meeting was not disturbed. ^Next day, I procured all the New York morning papers.

Judge of my surprise, on opening the first paper, to find nearly two columns full of amusing details, cleverly mingled and arranged by men who, I had always supposed, wero mere stenographers. Everything was faithfully roported and artistically set down. The smallest incidents wero rendered interesting by tho manner of telling. Maj. Pond, my manager, for instance, who had peacefully dropped asleep, comfortably installed, with his head on tho sofa pillows .and his feet on tho bock of a chair my own gestures tho. description of the pretty and elegantly furnished offico—all was very crisp and vivid. They had turned everything to account even tho arrival of tho lemon squash was mado to furnish a little paragraph that was droll and attractive. You might havo imagined that tho wholo thing was tho first chapter of a novel, commencing with the majestic entry of a steamer into New York harbor.

Three years ago, when Mr. Groyer Cleveland, president of the United States, married the prettiest and most charming of his countrywomen, ho chose Deer Park to spend his honeymoon in, far from tho world and its bustle, and abovo all, far from tho reporters. However, to put himself out of reach of the interviewers, he thought it well to emPl°7 eight detectives to miard tlyj on-

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proachea to his retreat. This number was soon found insufficient, and a week later twelve argus eyed watchers were on the alert to prevent any person whomsoever from getting within 800 yards of the cottage. The Interviewers were outdone, and hod to admit themselves baffled. The papers had no details worth .hen icwiers.

This must have been enough to make any enterprising editor tear his hair or go tmd hong himself:

To.hayo in one's editorial drawer 6uch headings as "Grover in clover," or •Drops of honey sipped in Deer Park and not to bo ablo to uso them!

It was hard lines.

Gavo Them Thorough Trial. Hon. E. A. Moore, member of assembly, Richmond County, N. Y., writes: ||"ASSEMBIJY GHAMBEB, ALBANY, N. Y.,

April 11, 1887.

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Brandrefh's Pflls purify the blood, stimulate the liver, Strengthen the kidneys, regulate th$ bowels. They were introduoed in the United States in 1835 and have steadily increased in popular favor.

This, together with convincing testimonials from all parts of the world, is positive evidence of thoir valuo.

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SECOND STORY,|

CRAWFORD'S STONE FRONT. Same Stairway its Old Office.

Vhile Waiting for Natnral Gas

WE MUST BURN I

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Call at my establishment north of city building, and get prices. MORT BECKNER.

MAGIC FLUID

For oleaning all stains, groase spots, out of all kinds of goods or carpets. All orders promptly filled on short notaoe. Leave orders at Cash

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NOTICE

O

CITY ELECTION.

Notice is liorcby given that an Crl«be hold iu tho several wurds of tho Clt} 01 fordsvlllo, Indiana, 011

TUESDAY, MAY t5, 1S90

at the usual places of holding city elections fo tho purpose of oleotlug T,--Ono Mayor,

Ono Clork, One Marslml. Ono Treasurer, Ono Assessor, Ono Councilman f"1" V'°F

a

„i\v«rii

Ono Councilman for tlio Soooiiil Ouo Oounollmun for

ll'°

™ru^gUE'KT6.

March 31,1800. CW^'