BOOKS AND BOOK-MEN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 13, 1 April 1893, Page 292

BOOKS AND BOOK-MEN.

A PRINCE OF NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.

MDE BLOWITZ, tbe Paris correspondent of the Times, occupies the premier place among tbe men

who from north, south, east and west, pour into the columns of the great English daily, the doings and sayings of mankind throughout the civilised, and sometimes uncivilised world. He has been everywhere and has seen everything—at least that is the impression his brilliantly written pictures and criticisms on European affairs conveys to his readers, who from him derive most of their information regarding a host of subjects which otherwise would never come within their ken. He was born a newspaper correspondent, although he was fortythree years of age before he had an opportunity of display-

ing his talent. His entrance into newspaper life, or, at any rate, the*beginning of his connection with the * Thunderer’ occurred in this way. In 1871, M. de Blowitz, who had, piior to that date, been school mastering among other things, came to Paris with a petition to present to M. Thiers. The Franco-Prussian war was just then coming to a close, and Lawrence Oliphant, the then Paris correspondent for the Times, by chance met the schoolmaster, who did tbe journalist a valuable service by accompanying him round the fortifications of the French capital, and procuring him some very important information. Oliphant, with his quick insight into men, detected the born journalist in his new friend, and gave the latter some work to do for the Times. Evidently Blowitz did it well, for a short time afterwards we find him acting as Paris correspondent for the paper.

It was not, however, till 1874 that the new journalist showed what he was capable of, and leaped into fame at once. About that time M. Thiers delivered a speech in the French Chamber of Deputies. The occasion was an important one, and the minister’s speech contained matter of European inteiest. M. de Blowitz, ever on the alert to serve his paper, concluded that the speech was one that ought to be published in the Times with the least possible delay. He, therefore, telegraphed the whole of it, from memory, it is said, to headquarters. From that date the great journalist has occupied the place of prince of Times correspondents, and is accounted one of the most remarkable of the plenipotentiaries of the press. The value placed on his services may be gathered from the fact that the Times pays him a salary of £2,000 a year, besides allowing him £l.OOO for expenses, and providing him with a private cariiage.

The opinion of M- de Blowitz on his own profession, and especially on the future developments of journalism, are perhaps the best we could get on the subject. He has conceived the idea of revolutionising journalism, and, no doubt, if any one man could perform such a task, the energetic Frenchman is he. The manner in which he'proposes to accomplish this revolution is set forth in an article in a recent number of the Contemporary, and is remarkably interesting

‘ Part of his scheme,’ says a Home paper commenting on the article, *is to catch a promising youth of eighteen, possessed of a collegiate education and “ seriously grounded ” in at least two languages besides his own. The aspirant will have to serve an apprenticeship of five years ; and it might be thought he would then be free to undertake the direction of the public affairs of his country.

‘ But no. At the end of the five years he would be handed over to professors, who would cram him with all imaginable learning. He would be taught the history and literature of the world. “He would be initiated into the origin and tendencies of spirit of his most remarkable contemporaries in every country. He would be given a general idea of the political constitution, the ethnologic and climatic conditions, the products, the geographical situation, the meansof communication, the armed forces, the budgets and the public debts of every nation. He would be given the documents necessary for consultation. He would be taught to draw both landscapes and human face. He would learn to box, to ride on horseback, and to use a revolver.”

• Then he would be examined by some prodigies greater than himself, and if he failed, back he would go to his studies for twelve months more. As a wind up there would be three years of school or college abroad. Then this Admirable Crichton would be let loose upon a helpless world. And the world (the Publisher's Circular remarks), with that sense of fitness which distinguishes it, might not improbably put him to report police court cases. But M. de Blowitz’s young man will be very interesting when he arrives.'