64 The Newspaper World. newspapers in the country, but the matter sent out by such enterprises is, speaking generally, deficient in color and point. This arises in a great measure probably from the fact that a London letter written to suit the require- ments of a number of papers, cannot have that definite and especial interest to the readers of a particular daily journal which it is the business of " our London corres- pondent'* to impart. This remark does not apply to quite the same extent with respect to the London corres- pondence of weekly newspapers. In these journals the letter has to descant, to some extent, on the events of the week, brightened with personal reminiscences and anec- dotes ; and so long as it is light and pleasing the reader is content. Of London letters for the smaller weeklies there are all varieties, many indifferent and some absolutely bad. A Munchausen- like faculty for romancing is often shown, which takes the form possibly of confidential information about the Queen and Royal Family, imparted personally to the correspondent by these exalted person- ages, the veracity, or want of veracity, of which deceives no one. Some are dull epitomes of week-old news. But such letters make up for lack of quality by a plentiful use of the first person singular, which, by the way, has almost disappeared from many of the best London letters contributed to the daily Press. Imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery, and, if this be true, the London correspondent ought to feel highly flattered, for the tendency of the times among the London newspapers is to adopt a modification of the London letter which originated with the provincial Press, and up to a recent date was its distinctive feature. Some of the London penny morning dailies have now seen the advisability of giving under a heading from two to three columns of large type matter, combining a summary of much of the day's news with a good many items of I
