38 The Newspaper World, the great actors on the world's stage an account of their own efforts from their own lips. The evening Press has given us some chapters of autobiography which are as interesting as anything in literature. We like .to have, at first hand, accounts of great political or social movements from those who are laboring in them. But we could spare, without a sigh, the interview with the music hall acrobat, or the narrative of the versatile journalist who has penetrated to the comedian's dressing-room with the exalted mission of telling the world how he paints his face. Especially should we be glad to spare the return to a far from creditable phase of journalism, namely, notices of pugilism, and of the patronage which the " noble art of self-defence " receives from one exalted personage and a few aristocrats. Yet, if these things exist, the world should know it, for no evil can be removed until it be seen, in ourselves if a personal one ; or reported, if done by others. We may certainly ask the proprietors of newspapers not to report the details or " rounds " of pugilistic contests. On this subject a clergyman has well said, " The coun- tenance which this kind of brutal business has received from one very highly placed in the country, seems to be an unfavorable omen ; but I trust in God's Providence that there will be plenty of time for the hand to get washed and sweetened, that was given to one of those vulgar champions to shake, before it comes to be kissed in homage by honest and respectable men." Personal gossip about eminent people, which occupies considerable space in several evening papers, is unobjectionable pro- vided always that it is true and in good taste. But when the personal foibles of a man are grossly exaggerated and exposed to view with a design of bringing contumely on one who holds dissimilar views from those which the journal advocates, then the newspaper editor who permits it has degraded himself to be no better than a scandal-
