Page:The Newspaper World.djvu/67

 56 The Newspaper World, Grant, "tyrants tremble. It is the thing which, of all others, despots dread. In every country and clime they stand in awe of the Press." In attempting a description of correspondents of various kinds, the chief to claim attention are those designated by the epithet " special." The duties of a " special corres- pondent" are well indicated in the adjective used. On the outbreak of a war, the tidings of a terrible catastrophe, or the occurrence of some national festivity, the represen- tative of the newspaper who is sent to the scene of action is termed a special correspondent. His duties are to deal with the especial event in hand, and he in no way super- sedes or interferes with " our own correspondent," should the paper have a resident representative at or near the spot. There are several varieties of the " special," two of which may be explained before the third and most arduous is considered. For a very long time the " travel- ing correspondent " has been a favorite functionary with newspaper conductors, and there are probably few jour- nalists on large papers, from the editor downwards, who have not, at some period or other, filled this pleasant position. While " special correspondents," like Mr H. M. Stanley for example, have added much to geographical knowledge during the last quarter of a century, the journalist on a holiday trip, combining business and pleasure by describing the places and people he visits. Contributions of this kind are, from the nature of things, of very unequal merit, and the insular prejudices and prepossessions of the average Britisher are often apt to be a little too strongly manifested when relating his foreign experiences. Cosmopolitans such as Mr George Augustus Sala, have, however, given to the newspaper readers of England narratives of travel /which have since found a worthy place in our 4iterature. The "special commis-
 * traveling correspondent " is in many cases merely the