This 5-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by James Schermerhorn who was the Editor of the TO-DAY newspaper

Description:

This 5-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by James Schermerhorn who was the Editor of the TO-DAY newspaper. The newspaper letterhead is printed in black text at the top and each page and has the watermark, "Persian Bond." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 1900. The press of 1901 salutes the "fourth estate" of 2001. The newspapers of the present time speak for themselves even as the public prints of that distant day when these words shall be read, will speak for themselves. They must bear their own testimonies of the times through the printed words and the testimonies of their own traits and merits. In the Free Press and the Tribune, of the morning field, the News, Journal and To-Day, of the evening field, and the Abend Post and the Volksblat, of the German evening field, Detroit has better than the average specimens of American daily newspaper making. The Free Press, the pathfinder of Michigan newpaperdom, found glory and distinction formerly through its humorous sketches and other literary features. Late years, like all the once flourishingly journals of light vein, it has been happy to put aside the reputation of being a funny paper and has aspired to the higher rank and influence of the great and serious newspapers of the times. The Tribune - once the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day to the faithful Republicans of the state - no longer essays political leadership or claims party followers. The decline of partisan newspaper-making is revealed in the situation in Detroit at this writing, one daily paper only being an out-and-out exponent of a political faith. Happily the thick-and-thin party organ appears to be passing away. The German papers have their appreciative constituencies - not very large, but very loyal. The Evening News led the way into the two-cent newspaper field twenty eight years ago and achieved a great success. The Journal has followed it through many vicissitudes to prosperity. "To-Day," the latest comer, has received a welcome in the closing weeks of the nineteenth century that presages permanency and prestige. The last is least in price, selling for one cent and foreshadowing that twentieth century day when the smallest coin will be the universal newspaper price. One hundred years hence will see the newspapers mightily increased in number, but reduced in size. In good time the daily prints must take on more compact and manageable form. There must needs be increasing discrimination in the selection of news as the country grows older, and the business of printing the happenings of the passing day will absorb all of the daily paper's energies and resources. Twentieth century newspapers will be compelled by the necessities of the situation to devote themselves exclusively to the chronicling of the weightier facts of the hour, leaving to other publications the mission of serious discussion of pending problems and the moulding of public opinion. Prophecy: The twentieth century newspaper will be a newspaper and nothing else, and there will not be so much of it. James Schermerhorn, Editor, TO-DAY."

Date Issued:

1900-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Detroit Historical Society

Collection:

Detroit Anniversaries

Subject Topic:

Newspapers, TO-DAY, and 1901 Time Capsule

Subject Name:

Schermerhorn, James

Rights:

No Copyright - United States

URL:

http://detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com/archive/D1463E04-B35A-40D7-B3A2-595796991350