the opportunity for exact thinking afforded by the newspaper , while recognizing the reasons why journalism is popularly con sidered " the field in which loose and inexact thinking is most at home.” 55 These opposing tendencies indicate the line of cleav
age in the press between the newspapers thatare ephemeral and those that contain genuine literature.
For much that is to-day classed as literature appeared first in the columns of the newspaper press, - Robinson Crusoe was published as a newspaper serial, Uncle Remus' songs and fables were printed first in the Atlanta Constitution , Kipling's “ Reces sional” appeared in the London Times, Drake's “ American Flag " came out in the New York Evening Post, Holmes' " Old
Ironsides” was first published in the Boston Advertiser,56 and many of the volumes of collected humor on every library shelf
ran first in newspaper columns, — the Biglow Papers, and the numerous volumes of Mr. Dooley, Petroleum
V . Nasby, and
practically every other well-known humorist were contributed first to the press. It is eminently true that “ the newspaper has not only monopolized the news - its proper field — but it
has drawn to itself the best of literature. Both magazines and publishers of books complain that the newspapers are more attractive to writers and pay more than they can afford , while
their cheapness appeals to the readers. To the future historian
the point is not without interest.” 57 Yet the question can not be summarily dismissed. Empson praised the newspaper articles of Albany Fonblanque, collected under the title England Under Seven Administrations,58 but his
praise greatly displeased Lord Brougham who wished “ the News paper had not been flattered so much.” 59 But to Macaulay it 66 F . Franklin,“ Newspapers and Exact Thinking,” People and Problems, pp . 1 - 10.
- 56 B . Matthews, “ Literature as a Profession ,” The Historical Novel, pp.
193 - 213.
87 W . C . Ford , Report of the Council, American Antiquarian Society , 1918.
In a somewhat similar spirit, H . W . Boynton writes: “ The popularity of journalism in America has reacted upon most of our magazines so strongly that they are distinguished from the better daily journals by exclusion of
detail and modification of method rather than by essential contrast in quality .” — Journalism and Literature, pp. 22–23. 68 “ Newspaper Literature," Edinburgh Review , July , 1837 , 65: 196 – 213. 69 Macvey Napier, Selection from the Correspondence of the late Mocvey
Napier , 199 -2002
