DECORATIVE JOURNALISM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144855, 6 December 1915, Page 7

DECORATIVE JOURNALISM.

Tho essence of journalism, as practised by somo of its most illustrious representatives, is paraphrase, or at least the avoidance of repetition. Thus (says the Spectator), if you have alluded to Bacchus in one sentence, and desire to allude to him in tho next, or tho next but one, you must not say Bacchus tout court, but “ that classic deity traditionally associated with indulgence in spirituous liquors.” There is a story of a leader writer on the same paper who quoted tho saying “To tho pure all things are pure,” and was promptly hauled over the coals by the editor. "You can’t say ‘to the pure all things aro pure’; ‘innocuous,’ or ‘harmless,’ perhaps, but not pure.” Tho leader writer gently explained that it was not his own phrase, but a quotation from St. Paul, whereon tho editor retorted: “Well, all 1 can say is that St. Paul would never have written for tho Daily Semaphore.” liven Wordsworth dodged tho use of the word “tea” by describing it as “China’? fragrant herb.” Far the best example of picturesque periphrasis, however, with which we are acquainted appeared in a provincial Irish newspaper. The writer was describing tho coming-of-age festivities held in honour of the son of a local landlord. Dancing formed part of tho entertainment, and tho fildlor was referred to as “Paganini’s representative.” Not quite so good, but still excellent of its kind, was the phrase “the unfortunate Brabantian nobleman,” coined by a London music critic to describe Tclramund in “Lohengrin.”