Page:The Newspaper and the Historian.djvu/87

 ys ago it

its inherent character but because it concerns an individual who is important or for the moment prominent;88 the very definition of " news" seems indeed to be constantly changing and this change is either the cause or the result of marked changes in the newspaper. It is to the philosopher of Archey Road that the student of history must really turn for a characterization of news

as it is regarded to-day: “ An ' that's all th ' news,” said Mr. Dooley. “ There ye ar- re jus' as if ye cud read. That's all that's happened. Ain 't I a good newspaper ? Not a dull line in me. Sind in ye'er small ads."

" Sure, all that's no news,” said Mr. Hennessy, discontentedly . " Hasn 't there annything happened ? Hasn't anny wan been —

been kilt? " “ There ye ar-re,” said Mr. Dooley . " Be news ye mane mis fortune. I suppose near ivry wan does. What's wan man 's news is another man 's throubles. In these hot days, I' d like to see a pa-aper with nawthin ' in it but affectionate wives an ' loyal

husbandsan ' prosp 'rous, smilin ' people an' money in th' bank an ' three a day. That's what I'm lookin ' f'r in th ' hot weather." “ Th ' newspapers have got to print what happens,” said Mr. Hennessy. “ No,” said Mr. Dooley, “ they've got to print what's diff'rent.

Whiniver they begin to put headlines on happiness, contint, varchoo, an ' charity , I'll know things is goin ' as wrong with this

counthry as I think they ar-re ivry naytional campaign .” 89 examined and settled, with the most patient impartiality, an interesting discussion between a parson and his curate, as to who should have the hat bands presented at a funeral. These are just the kind of problems which

one has strength to enter on in the hungry hour before dinner, and wemay

be glad to have them handled so soberly and discreetly .” — J. C. Francis, Notes by the Way, pp. 203- 204.

88 It was news, for example, to cable from Paris the breakfast prison menu of a prominent woman who was the defendant in a murder trial; that at a Swiss winter resort the wife of a prominent public official had

worn Turkish trousers at a fancy dress ball; that King George and Queen Mary breakfasted on buckwheat cakes while visiting an encampment of American troops; to report, not the points in an address on the League to Enforce Peace made by a former president of the United States, but his

winter rule for keeping down his weight. 89 “ Newspaper Publicity,” Observations by Mr. Dooley. pp. 237 – 244.

Fisher Ames wrote in the Palladium, October, 1801, “ A newspaper is pronounced to be very lean and destitute of matter, if it contains no account of murders, suicides, prodigies , or monstrous births. . . . Is this a reason

able taste? or is it monstrous and worthy of ridicule ? Is the History of Newgate the only one worth reading?

Are oddities only to be hunted ?

Pray tell us, men of ink, if our free presses are to diffuse information , and we, the poor ignorant people, can get it no other way than by newspapers,