paper be mentioned , and the repetition of the same word in the same sentence was a grave literary offense.15 “ The new type of paper," says the London Correspondent of the New York Even ing Post,16 “ belongs to the era of'breakfast foods”.” The London morning papers, sold at a penny, are well arranged to give the gist of the news to the clerk who goes to the city every morning and spends about half an hour on train or street car, - he can read
the important news in that time and leave nothing demanding
further attention.
The cartoon or the photograph may fill a large part of the front page when there is a dearth of telegraphic news. When the office force is " short,” plate matter may be used, or an interview sought with someperson of localprominence. The various expedients used in the presence of the emergencies that arise in every occupation
indicate the range of the paper's versatility and adaptability. These are certain external features of the press that like the dress of an individual indicate the crudities or the refinements of
taste that repel or attract different classes of readers.17 But other elements enter into the personality of a newspaper that are com parable in the individual to good manners and an ability to be “ a good mixer.” With all the discordant elements in the press to
day there is a courtesy evident that was often lamentably lacking in the press of an earlier date. “ If there was ever a Yellow Press
in England," says Scott-James , “ in the vilest sense of the term , it was not in the twentieth century, but in the years between the death ofCromwell and the accession of Charles II,when a disorgan
ized public opinion was being played upon and exploited by the most scandalous journalism which this country has ever known." 18
The Covent-Garden Journal was bitterly attacked by its oppo nents and in the prolonged controversy that ensued it was
almost literally a case of “ Fielding against the field ,” and rea sonableness in controversy was flung to the winds.19 At a much 16 Edward Dicey , “ Journalism New and Old ,” Fortnightly Review , May, 1905, n . s. 77 : 904 -918. 16 New York Evening Post, January 28, 1911.
17 See E . S. Grew , “ The Physiognomy of Newspapers,” Anglo-Saxon Review , June, 1901, 9 : 222– 231. 18 R . A . Scott-James, The Influence of the Press, p . 64. 19 Henry Fielding, The Covent-Garden Journal, edited by G . E . Jensen, 2 vols., 1915 .
