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entism. But, different as they are, it seems to me that impersonality fosters the special vices of each, and that both would be the better for an infusion of the personal.

No one would deny, I suppose, that the burthen of proof must lie on those who maintain that anonymous writing is the best form of periodical writing. Prima facie, it cannot be doubted that secrecy is a bad thing. The habit of open dealing in all matters has been always acknowledged and reverenced as a manly-one may almost say, the manly-virtue, ever since there was a man on the earth. What special circumstances are there then in modern society; how have we got so out of gear, that the contrary has become true for us, and it has come to be for the good of all that those who address us from day to day, and week to week, on the most deeply interesting subjects, should do so from behind a veil ? In short, what is there to be said in favour of anonymous writing, and the mighty "we"?

The most powerful of our English newspapers has, in its last essay, as we have seen, left us pretty much in the dark on the question-in fact, has not condescended to argue or give reasons, though it has spoken plainly enough as to its own belief; so we must hunt for the reasons ourselves. I shall be very glad if my attempt to consider the question should lead any of our best journalists to discuss it, even though they should do it anonymously, and take me severely to task for my heresy. Meantime, I will do the best I can to state the opposite views to my own.

In the first place, a very large, and probably the best, part of the writing in newspapers (to which we will confine ourselves) is the work of men in other professions-often of young men, at any rate of men who have some spare time on their hands. In England we are still believers in the old saying that "the cobbler should stick to his last." It is well that we are so. On the whole

the belief is a wholesome one, and helps to make us the thorough-going race which we boast of being, and to a great

extent are. Of late, indeed, we seem to be beginning to open our eyes to the fact, that other knowledge beside that of leather goes to the making of a really first-rate pair of shoes; but, on the whole, no doubt it is still true that a young man is damaged in a strictly professional sense if it is known that he has any serious pursuit outside his profession, especially if it is known that he writes for newspapers. But yet men must live, and maintain their station in life (and their wives and families, if they are lucky enough to have them), during those long years which must be lived through before the ablest amongst us can hope to make a livelihood in a liberal profession. Is it not good for the nation that such men should write? Ought they to be damaged professionally by writing? If they are not to be damaged, must they not write anonymously?

Admitting it to be good that they should write, and that they ought not to be damaged by writing, I don't see that it follows that they must or ought to write anonymously. It may be better for them so far as their own individual chances of getting on are concerned, and yet worse for the nation; and, if these interests clash, the individuals must go to the wall. Besides, if they don't feel strongly enough about a subject to risk something that they may say their say on it, they had better not write.

But, even if they were debarred from other subjects, they would still have professional subjects open to them--a large field, if not so easy a one or so lucrative. For, prejudiced as we are, none of us think a man a worse lawyer or doctor for having gained a reputation as a writer on jurisprudence or medicine. Again, it is urged that it is a good thing for a young writer to sink his individuality. His vanity would be flattered by seeing his own name affixed day after day, or week after week, to leading articles in a first-class journal! And, when a man is past the age of vanity in such matters, he may very well dislike to see his own name constantly in print. He may be one who

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