Life — November 5, 1896 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

*LIFE: OPENING OF THE HUNTING SEASON. EDITORIAL IDEALISM. HERE is an impression abroad that editors are shrewd men of business who run their papers on money-making principles. On the contrary, a little reflection will show that the average editor is an idealist of the purest type, on whom the actual facts of life make little impression. His ideal is an imaginary public which never did and probably never will exist, but whose supposed taste governs the editor en- tirely. This ideal public does not object seriously A NIGUT ALAKM, “MARK away!" to the insertion of the news of the day, provided it is carefully tucked away in obscure corners ofjthe inner sheets. It much prefers rumors and opinions to facts,’ however, and is especially fond of having full accounts given for a day or two of some interesting matter, which must then be suddenly dropped without a hint of its ter- mination. During a political campaign it does not care for any real discussion of the issue at stake, but revels in denunciations of the folly and rascality of the other party. Personal attacks on the character of the opposition candidate afford it pure delight. Nothing else pleases it so much as a contest of some kind. It will cheerfully forego the news any day for a chance to vote for the prettiest festaurant girl, the most popular organ-grinder, or the best make of stove polish. But it is in the Sunday edition that the taste of this imaginary public rules most tyrannously. It demands full details of scandals that even | the police gazettes woutd touch lightly. It in- sists upon a full biography of the latest murderer, with pictures of himseif and his victims, and diagrams of just how he com- mitted his most famous crimes. It wishes to know the number of pieces, and the cost of each article in the last bride's trousseau, and it likes illustrated articles on “How Actresses Eat Their Suppers.” It revels in descriptions—with pictures, of course—of the accident and incurable wards of the city hospitals, and it is especially interested in photographs of the toughest girl in the ‘steenth ward, or of the baby burglar of the South End. And all these tastes the editor labors assiduously to gratify. One cannot but admire the strength of the editor's imagination and his fidelity to his ideal, but this lofty devotion is rather hard upon the actual public, which wants the news and distinctly does not want these things. There is a fortune waiting for the editor who, abjuring idealism, caters to the taste of the real instead of an imaginary public. 1 onan comicbooks.com