English And American Journalism

In bis lecture on English and American journalism Joseph Cook declared that American newspapers influenced public opinión by their news, while English newspapers iufluenced public opinión by comments upon the news, and ntimated that for tuis reason the latter were superior. This is the general opinión, but the facts show tliat the editorial columns of American newspapers exert more inlluence than they are credited with doing, as do also the news columns in the English papers. This latter fact has been frequently manifest during the past ten years. Until a few years ago it was the liabit of English readers to anxiously wait for tho London Times to "thunder" in its editorial columns before they forrned an opinión upon any subject of international interest; but certain special news correspondent have stolen the Times' thunder, and Englishmen, and eveii members of Parliament, have frequently been more iniluenced by what ,1. A. MacGahan and Archibald Forbes, of the News, had telegraphed than by columns of the London press editorials. It is true that Americans are more iniluenced by news than the English are. but the latter are changing and rapidly becoming more like ourselves. This: 8 especially tho case with the readers of what are called the provincial journsls (those newspapers published in cities outside of London), some of which in every issue publish more news of general iuteiest than do the great London dailies, and rclatively exert a great influence upon public opinión. The power of these provincial papers was clearly displayed by the result of the olection threo years ago, which brought the Liberal party and Gladstone into power, and which result was to no men of public aftairs a greater surprise than to those who eontrolled the editorial columns of the London dailies. Solong as the news columns contain the facts fm-nished by responsible correspondents relating to questions of public interest, and the editorial columns oontain only opinions. the former will rule the people. ______ Two young fellows stood in front of a bill-board the other nightintensely perusing the announcement of the Boston Ideal Opera Company. Finally one remarked: "What is the 'Boston Ideal anyhow?" The latter looked at him half contemptuously for a moment and replied in a deprecatory tone: "Don't you know what the Boston Ideal is?