American Journalism.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 229, 31 March 1874, Page 3

American Journalism.

*The manufacture of intelligence in times of stagnation is an important industry in the Western States of America, where the newspaper editors are at their wits' end to find sufficient food of a stimulating nature to satisfy the voracious appetites of their readers. Some interesting details are given by the Cincinatti Gazette of the ingenuity displayed in this line by a Mr Bennett, now dead, but once editer of the C'mcinatti Enquirer. It was Mr Bennett's practice, when news was Scarce, to make imaginary children tumble from the Newport ferry-boat into the Ohio Paver, where they would certainly have perished but for the gallantry of a gentleman who happened to witness the occurrence, and who plunged into the water and rescued them—this gentleman being always some personal friend of Mr Bennett's whom he delighted to honour. Some of these heroes, however, at last became weary of the distinction thus thrust upon them, and a certain Mr Kellum, who had several times figured in the columns of the Enquirer as the saviour of perishing innocents, preferred a' request that his name might no longer be used for thi3 purpose. He was assured that his request, although it was proof of a curiously sensitive disposition, should be complied with, and this promise was faithfully kept, for the next day Mr Kellum read in the Enquir& that on the previous day a beautiful little girl, the child of a prominent citizen of Newport, had fallen from the Newport ferry-boat into the river, and that Mr Kellum, who was .standing close by and could have rescued the child from a water/ grave, refused to render anv assistance. Boiling with indignation, Mr Kellum hurried to the office of the E)iquirer, and uttered, fearful threats of what he would do'to Mr Bennett ic this pleasantry continued. That gentlemen, however, calmly pulling off his coat, said, "See here, Kellum, you are not a bad fellow in your way, but I cannot, stand any interference with my department. If I make any statement in the Enquirer you musn't come round here contradicting it. That isn't journalism." Mr Kellum retired abashed, and theceforward submitted calmly to the pleasantries of his friend.