自考本科《高级英语》下册

LessonOne

TheCompanyinWhichIWork

InthecompanyinwhichIwork,eachofusisafraidofatleastone

person.Theloweryourpositionis,themorepeopleyouareafraidof.

Andallthepeopleareafraidofthetwelvemenatthetopwhohelped

foundandbuildthecompanyandnowownanddirectit.

Allthesetwelvemenareelderlynowanddrainedbytimeand

successofenergyandambition.Manyhavespenttheirwholeliveshere.

Theyseemfriendly,slow,andcontentwhenIcomeupontheminthe

hallsandalwayscourteousandmutewhentheyridewithothersinthe

publicelevators.Theynolongerworkhard.Theyholdmeetings,make

promotions,andallowtheirnamestobeusedonannouncementsthat

arepreparedandissuedbysomebodyelse.Nobodyissureanymore

whoreallyrunsthecompany(noteventhepeoplewhoarecreditedwith

runningit),butthecompanydoesrun.

Inthenormalcourseofabusinessday...IamafraidofJackGreen

becausemydepartmentispartofhisdepartmentandJackGreenismy

boss;Greenisafraidofmebecausemostoftheworkinmydepartment

isdonefortheSalesDepartment,whichismoreimportantthanhis

department,andIammuchclosertoAndyKagleandtheotherpeoplein

theSalesDepartmentthanheis.

Greendistrustsmefitfully.Hemakesitcleartomeeverynowand

thenthathewishestoseeeverythingcomingoutofmydepartment

beforeitisshowntootherdepartments.Iknowhedoesnotreallymean

this:heistoobusywithhisownworktopaythatmuchattentiontoallof

mine,andIwillbypasshimonmostofourassignmentsratherthantake

uphistimeanddelaytheirdeliverytopeoplewhohaveanimmediate

needforthem.Mostoftheworkwedoinmydepartmentis,inthelong

run,trivial.ButGreenalwaysgrowsalarmedwhensomeonefrom

anotherdepartmentpraisessomethingthathascomefrommy

department.Heturnsscarletwithrageandembarrassmentifhehasnot

seenorheardofit.

Inmydepartment,therearesixpeoplewhoareafraidofme,and

onesmallsecretarywhoisafraidofallofus.Ihaveoneotherperson

workingformewhoisnotafraidofanyone,notevenme,andIwould

firehimquickly,butI'mafraidofhim...

Thepeopleinthecompanywhoaremostafraidofmostpeopleare

thesalesmen.Theyliveandworkunderpressurethatisextraordinary.

Whenthingsarebad,theyareworseforthesalesmen;whenthingsare

good,theyarenotmuchbetter.

Theyarealwaysontrial,alwaysonthevergeoffailure,collectively

andindividually.Theystrain,eventhemostsecureandself-assuredof

them,tolookgoodonpaper;andthereismuchpaperforthemtolook

goodon.Eachweek,forexample,arecordofthesalesresultsofthe

precedingweekforeachsalesofficeandfortheSalesDepartmentasa

wholeforeachdivisionofthecompanyiskeptandcomparedtothe

salesresultsforthecorrespondingweekoftheyearbefore.Thefigures

arephotocopiedanddistributedthroughoutthecompanytoallthe

peopleanddepartmentswhoseworkisrelatedtoselling.Theresultof

thisphotocopyinganddistributingisthatthereisalmostcontinuous

publicscrutinyanddiscussionthroughoutthecompanyofhowwellor

poorlythesalesmenineachsalesofficeofeachdivisionofthecompany

aredoingatanygiventime.

Whensalesmenaredoingwell,thereispressureuponthemtobegin

doingbetter,forfeartheymaystartdoingworse.Whentheyaredoing

poorly,theyaredoingterribly.Whenasalesmanlandsalargeorderor

bringsinanimportantnewaccount,hiselationisbrief,forthereis

dangerhemightlosethatlargeorderorimportantnewaccounttoa

salesmanfromacompetingcompanythenexttimearound.Itmight

evenbecanceledbeforeitisfilled,inwhichcasenooneiscertainif

anythingwasgainedorlost.Sothereiscrisisandalarmevenintheir

triumphs.

Nevertheless,thesalesmenlovetheirworkandwouldnotchoose

anyotherkind.Theyareavigorous,fun-lovingbunchwhentheyarenot

sufferingabdominalcrampsorbroodingmiserablyaboutthefuture;on

theotherhand,theyoftenturncrankywithoutwarningandcomplaina

lot.Eachofthemcannameatleastonesuperiorinthecompanywhohe

feelshasagrudgeagainsthimandisdeterminedtowreckhiscareer.

Thesalesmenworkhardandearnbigsalaries,withlargepersonal

expenseaccountsthattheysquandergenerouslyonotherpeopleinand

outofthecompany,includingme.Theyowngoodhousesingood

communitiesandplaygoodgamesofgolfongoodprivategolfcourses.

Thecompanyencouragesthis.Thecompany,infact,willpayfortheir

countryclubmembershipandallchargestheyincurthere,andrewards

salesmenwhomakeagoodimpressiononthegolfcourse.

UnmarriedmenarenotwantedintheSalesDepartment,noteven

widowers,forthecompanyhaslearnedfromexperiencethatitisdifficult

anddangerousforunmarriedsalesmentomixsociallywithprominent

executivesandtheirwivesorparticipatewiththeminresponsiblecivic

affairs.Ifasalesman'swifediesandheisnotreadytoremarry,heis

usuallymovedintoanadministrativepositionafterseveralmonthsof

mourning.Bachelorsareneverhiredforthesalesforce,andsalesmen

whogetdivorced,orwhosewivesdie,knowtheyhadbetterremarryor

beginlookingaheadtowardadifferentjob.

Strangelyenough,thesalesmenreactverywelltotheconstant

pressureandrigidsupervisiontowhichtheyaresubjected.Theyare

stimulatedandmotivatedbydisciplineanddirection.Theythriveon

explicitguidancetowardclearobjectives.Forthemostpart,theyare

cheerful,confident,andgregariouswhentheyarenotirritable,anxious,

anddepressed.Theremustbesomethinginthemakeupofamanthat

enableshimnotonlytobeasalesman,buttowanttobeone.

Thesalesmenareproudoftheirpositionandofthestatusand

importancetheyenjoywithinthecompany,forthefunctionofmy

department,andofmostotherdepartments,istohelpthesalesmensell.

Thecompanyexiststosell.That'sthereasonwewerehired,andthe

reasonwearepaid.

Thepeopleinthecompanywhoareleastafraidarethefewinour

smallMarketResearchDepartment,whobelieveinnothingandare

concernedwithcollecting,organizing,interpreting,andreorganizing

statisticalinformationaboutthepublic,themarket,thecountry,andthe

world.Foronething,theirsalariesaresmall,andtheyknowtheywillnot

havemuchtroublefindingjobspayingjustaslittleinothercompaniesif

theylosetheirjobshere.Theirbudget,too,issmall,fortheyareno

longerpermittedtoundertakelargeprojects.

Mostoftheinformationweusenowisobtainedfreefromtrade

associationsandsomegovernmentalorganizations,andthereisnoway

ofknowinganymorewhethertheinformationonwhichwebaseourown

informationfordistributionistrueorfalse.Butthatdoesn'tseemto

matter;allthatdoesmatteristhattheinformationcomefroma

reputablesource.PeopleintheMarketResearchDepartmentarenever

heldtoblameforconditionstheydiscoveroutsidethecompanythat

placeusatacompetitivedisadvantage.Theyarenotexpectedtochange

reality,butmerelytofinditiftheycanandsuggestingeniouswaysof

disguisingit.Toagreatextent,thatisthenatureofmyownwork,andall

ofusunderGreenworkcloselywiththeSalesDepartmentandthePublic

RelationsDepartmentinconvertingwholetruthsintohalftruthsandhalf

truthsintowholeones.

Iamverygoodatthesetechniquesofdeception,althoughIamnot

alwaysableanymoretodeceivemyself.Infact,Iamcontinuously

astonishedbypeopleinthecompanywhofallvictimtotheirown

propaganda.Therearesomanynowwhoactuallybelievethatwhatwe

doisreallyimportant.Thishappensnotonlytosalesmen,buttothe

shrewd,capableexecutivesintopmanagement.Ithappenstopeopleon

myownlevelandlower.Ithappenstojustabouteverybodyinthe

companywhograduatedfromagoodbusinessschoolwithhonors.

Everytimewelaunchanewadvertisingcampaign,forexample,people

insidethecompanyarethefirstonestobetakeninbyit.Everytimewe

introduceanewproduct,oranoldproductwithadifferentcover,color,

andnamethatwepresentasnew,peopleinsidethecompanyarethe

firsttorushtobuyit—evenwhenit'snogood.

It'sawiseperson,Iguess,whoknowshe'sdumb,andanhonest

personwhoknowshe'saliar.Andit'sadumbpersonwho'sconvinced

heiswise.Wewisegrown-upshereatthecompanygoslidinginandout

alldaylong,scaringeachotheratourdesksandtryingtoevadethe

peoplewhofrightenus.Wecometowork,havelunch,andgohome.We

goose-stepinandgoose-stepout,changeourpartnersandwanderall

about,andgobackhometillwealldropdead.Really,Iaskmyselfevery

nowandthen,dependingonhowwellorpoorlythingsaregoingatthe

officeorathomewithmywife,orwithmyretardedson,orwithmyother

son,ormydaughter,orthecoloredmaid,orthenurseformyretarded

son,isthisallthereisformetodo?IsthisreallythemostIcangetfrom

thefewyearsleftinthisonelifeofmine?

AndtheanswerIget,ofcourse,isalways—Yes!...

Iamboredwithmyworkveryoftennow.Everythingroutinethat

comesinIpassalongtosomebodyelse.Thismakesmyboredomworse.

It'sarealproblemtodecidewhetherit'smoreboringtodosomething

boringthantopassalongeverythingboringthatcomesintosomebody

elseandthenhavenothingtodoatall.

Actually,Ienjoymyworkwhentheassignmentsarelargeandurgent

andsomewhatfrighteningandwillcometotheattentionofmany

people.Igetscared,andamunabletosleepatnight,butIusually

performatmybestunderthisstimulatingkindofpressureandenjoymy

jobthemost.Ihandlealloftheseimportantprojectsmyself,andIrejoice

withtremendousprideandvanityinthecomplimentsIreceivewhenIdo

themwell.Butbetweensuchpeaksofchallengeandelationthereis

monotonyanddespair.(AndIfind,too,thatonceI'vesucceededin

impressingsomebody,I'mnotmuchexcitedaboutimpressingthatsame

personagain;thereisalarge,emotionalletdownafterIsurviveeach

crisis,akindofempty,tragicdisappointment,andlastyear'sthreat,

opportunity,andinspirationareoftenthisyear'sinescapabletedium.I

frequentlyfeelI'mbeingtakenadvantageofmerelybecauseI'masked

todotheworkI'mpaidtodo.)

OndayswhenI'mespeciallymelancholy,Ibeganconstructingtables

oforganization..,classifyingpeopleinthecompanyonthebasisofenvy,

hope,fear,ambition,frustration,rivalry,hatred,ordisappointment.Icall

thesechartsmyHappinessCharts.Theseexercisesinmaliceneverfailto

boostmyspirits—butonlyforawhile.Irankprettyhighwhenthe

companyisanalyzedthisway,becauseI'mnotenviousordisappointed,

andIhavenoexpectations.Attheverytop,ofcourse,arethosepeople,

mostlyyoungandwithoutdependents,towhomthecompanyisnotyet

aninstitutionofanysacredmeritbutstillonlyaplacetowork,andwho

regardtheirpresentassociationwithitassomethingtemporary.Iput

thesepeopleatthetopbecauseifyouaskedanyoneofthemifhewould

choosetospendtherestofhislifeworkingforthecompany,hewould

giveyouaresoundingNo!,regardlessofwhatinducementswereoffered.

Iwasthathighonce.Ifyouaskedmethatsamequestiontoday,Iwould

alsogiveyouaresoundingNo!andadd:

"IthinkI'dratherdienow

ButIammakingnoplanstoleave.

Ihavethefeelingnowthatthereisnoplaceleftformetogo.

LessonTwo

Eveline

byJamesJoyce

Shesatatthewindowwatchingtheeveninginvadetheavenue.Her

headwasleanedagainstthewindowcurtains,andinhernostrilswasthe

odourofdustycretonne.Shewastired.

Fewpeoplepassed.Themanoutofthelasthousepassedonhisway

home;sheheardhisfootstepsclackingalongtheconcretepavement

andafterwardscrunchingonthecinderpathbeforethenewredhouses.

Onetimethereusedtobeafieldthereinwhichtheyusedtoplayevery

eveningwithotherpeople'schildren.ThenamanfromBelfastbought

thefieldandbuilthousesinitnotliketheirlittlebrownhouses,but

brightbrickhouseswithshiningroofs.Thechildrenoftheavenueused

toplaytogetherinthatfieldtheDevines,theWaters,theDunns,little

Keoghthecripple,sheandherbrothersandsisters.Ernest,however,

neverplayed:hewastoogrownup.Herfatherusedoftentohuntthem

inoutofthefieldwithhisblackthornstick;butusuallylittleKeoghused

tokeep/7/Vandcalloutwhenhesawherfathercoming.Stillthey

seemedtohavebeenratherhappythen.Herfatherwasnotsobadthen;

andbesides,hermotherwasalive.Thatwasalongtimeago;sheandher

brothersandsisterswereallgrownup;hermotherwasdead.TizzieDunn

wasdead,too,andtheWatershadgonebacktoEngland.Everything

changed.Nowshewasgoingtogoawayliketheothers,toleaveher

home.

Home!Shelookedroundtheroom,reviewingallitsfamiliarobjects

whichshehaddustedonceaweekforsomanyyears,wonderingwhere

onearthallthedustcamefrom.Perhapsshewouldneverseeagain

thosefamiliarobjectsfromwhichshehadneverdreamedofbeing

divided.Andyetduringallthoseyearsshehadneverfoundoutthe

nameofthepriestwhoseyellowingphotographhungonthewallabove

thebrokenharmoniumbesidethecolouredprintofthepromisesmade

toBlessedMargaretMaryAlacoque.Hehadbeenaschoolfriendofher

father.Wheneverheshowedthephotographtoavisitorherfatherused

topassitwithacasualword:"HeisinMelbournenow."

Shehadconsentedtogoaway,toleaveherhome.Wasthatwise?

Shetriedtoweigheachsideofthequestion.Inherhomeanywayshe

hadshelterandfood;shehadthosewhomshehadknownallherlife

abouther.Ofcourseshehadtoworkhard,bothinthehouseandat

business.WhatwouldtheysayofherintheStoreswhentheyfoundout

thatshehadrunawaywithafellow?Sayshewasafool,perhaps;andher

placewouldbefilledupbyadvertisement.MissGavanwouldbeglad.

Shehadalwayshadanedgeonher,especiallywhenevertherewere

peoplelistening.

"MissHill,don'tyouseetheseladiesarewaiting?"

"Looklively,MissHill,please."

ShewouldnotcrymanytearsatleavingtheStores.

Butinhernewhome,inadistantunknowncountry,itwouldnotbe

likethat.Thenshewouldbemarriedshe,Eveline.Peoplewouldtreather

withrespectthen.Shewouldnotbetreatedashermotherhadbeen.

Evennow,thoughshewasovernineteen,shesometimesfeltherselfin

dangerofherfather'sviolence.Sheknewitwasthatthathadgivenher

thepalpitations.Whentheyweregrowinguphehadnevergoneforher,

likeheusedtogo/brHarryandErnest,becauseshewasagirl;but

latterlyhehadbeguntothreatenherandsaywhathewoulddotoher

onlyforherdeadmother'ssake.Andnowshehadnobodytoprotecther,

ErnestwasdeadandHarry,whowasinthechurchdecoratingbusiness,

wasnearlyalwaysdownsomewhereinthecountry.Besides,the

invariablesquabbleformoneyonSaturdaynightshadbeguntoweary

herunspeakably.Shealwaysgaveherentirewagessevenshillingsand

Harryalwayssentupwhathecould,butthetroublewastogetany

moneyfromherfather.Hesaidsheusedtosquanderthemoney,that

shehadnohead,thathewasn'tgoingtogiveherhishard-earned

moneytothrowaboutthestreets,andmuchmore,forhewasusually

fairlybadonSaturdaynight.Intheendhewouldgiveherthemoneyand

askherhadsheanyintentionofbuyingSunday'sdinner.Thenshehad

torushoutasquicklyasshecouldanddohermarketing,holdingher

blackleatherpursetightlyinherhandassheelbowedherthrough

thecrowdsandreturninghomelateunderherloadofprovisions.She

hadhardworktokeepthehousetogetherandtoseethatthetwoyoung

childrenwhohadbeenlefttoherchargewenttoschoolregularlyand

gottheirmealsregularly.Itwashardworkahardlifebutnow

thatshewasabouttoleaveitshedidnotfinditawhollyundesirablelife.

ShewasabouttoexploreanotherlifewithFrank.Frankwasverykind,

manly,open-hearted.Shewastogoawaywithhimbythenight-boatto

behiswifeandtolivewithhiminBuenosAyres,wherehehadahome

waitingforher.Howwellsherememberedthefirsttimeshehadseen

him;hewaslodginginahouseonthemainroadwheresheusedtovisit.

Itseemedafewweeksago.Hewasstandingatthegate,hispeakedcap

pushedbackonhisheadandhishairtumbledforwardoverafaceof

bronze.Thentheyhadcometoknoweachother.Heusedtomeether

outsidetheStoreseveryeveningandseeherhome.Hetookhertosee

TheBohemianGirlandshefeltelatedasshesatinanunaccustomedpart

ofthetheatrewithhim.Hewasawfullyfondofmusicandsangalittle.

Peopleknewthattheywerecourting,and,whenhesangaboutthelass

thatlovesasailor,shealwaysfeltpleasantlyconfused.Heusedtocallher

Poppensoutoffun.Firstofallithadbeenanexcitementforhertohave

afellowandthenshehadbeguntolikehim.Hehadtalesofdistant

countries.Hehadstartedasadeckboyatapoundamonthonashipof

theAllanLinegoingouttoCanada.Hetoldherthenamesoftheshipshe

hadbeenonandthenamesofthedifferentservices.Hehadsailed

throughtheStraitsofMagellanandhetoldherstoriesoftheterrible

Patagonians.HehadfallenonhisfeetinBuenosAyres,hesaid,andhad

comeovertotheoldcountryjustforaholiday.Ofcourse,herfatherhad

foundouttheaffairandhadforbiddenhertohaveanythingtosayto

him.

"Iknowthesesailorchaps,"hesaid.

OnedayhehadquarreledwithFrank,andafterthatshehadtomeet

herloversecretly.

Theeveningdeepenedintheavenue.Thewhiteoftwolettersinher

lapgrewindistinct.OnewastoHarry;theotherwastoherfather.Ernest

hadbeenherfavorite,butshelikedHarrytoo.Herfatherwasbecoming

oldlately,shenoticed;hewouldmissher.Sometimeshecouldbevery

nice.Notlongbefore,whenshehadbeenlaidupaday,hehadread

heroutaghoststoryandmadetoastforheratthefire.Anotherday,

whentheirmotherwasalive,theyhadallgoneforapicnictotheHillof

Howth.Sherememberedherfatherputtingonhermother'sbonnetto

makethechildrenlaugh.

Hertimewasrunningout,butshecontinuedtositbythewindow,

leaningherheadagainstthewindowcurtain,inhalingtheodourofdusty

cretonne.Downfarintheavenueshecouldhearastreetorganplaying.

Sheknewtheair.Strangethatitshouldcomethatverynighttoremind

herofthepromisetohermother,herpromisetokeepthehome

togetheraslongasshecould.Sherememberedthelastnightofher

mother'sillness;shewasagainintheclose,darkroomattheotherside

ofthehallandoutsidesheheardamelancholyairofItaly.The

organ-playerhadbeenorderedtogoawayandgivensixpence.She

rememberedherfatherstruttingbackintothesick-roomsaying:

"DamnedItalians!Comingoverhere!"

Asshemusedthepitifulvisionofhermother'slifelaiditsspellon

theveryquickofherbeingthatlifeofcommonplacesacrificesclosingin

finalcraziness.Shetrembledassheheardagainhermother'svoice

sayingconstantlywithfoolishinsistence:

"DerevaunSeratm!DerevaunSeraun!"

Shestoodupinasuddenimpulseofterror.Escape!Shemust

escape!Frankwouldsaveher.Hewouldgiveherlife,perhapslove,too.

Butshewantedtolive.Whyshouldshebeunhappy?Shehadarightto

happiness.Frankwouldtakeherinhisarms,foldherinhisarms.He

wouldsaveher.

ShestoodamongtheswayingcrowdinthestationattheNorthWall.

Heheldherhandandsheknewthathewasspeakingtoher,saying

somethingaboutthepassageoverandoveragain.Thestationwasfullof

soldierswithbrownbaggages.Throughthewidedoorsoftheshedsshe

caughtaglimpseoftheblackmassoftheboat,lyinginbesidethequay

wall,withilluminedportholes.Sheanswerednothing.Shefelthercheek

paleandcoldand,outofamazeofdistress,sheprayedtoGodtodirect

her,toshowherwhatwasherduty.Theboatblewalongmournful

whistleintothemist.Ifshewent,tomorrowshewouldbeontheseawith

Frank,steamingtowardsBuenosAyres.Theirpassagehadbeenbooked.

Couldshestilldrawbackafterallhehaddoneforher?Herdistress

awokeanauseainherbodyandshekeptmovingherlipsinsilentfervent

prayer.

Abellclangeduponherheart.Shefelthimseizeherhand:"Come!

Alltheseasoftheworldtumbledaboutherheart.Hewasdrawing

herintothem:hewoulddrownher.Shegrippedwithbothhandsatthe

ironrailing.

"Come!"

No!No!No!Itwasimpossible.Herhandsclutchedtheironinfrenzy.

Amidtheseasshesentacryofanguish.

"Eveline!Evvy!"

Herushedbeyondthebarrierandcalledtohertofollow.Hewas

shoutedattogoon,buthestillcalledtoher.Shesetherwhitefaceto

him,passive,likeahelplessanimal.Hereyesgavehimnosignofloveor

farewellorrecognition.

LessonThree

What'sWrongWithOurPress?

Newspapershavetwogreatadvantagesovertelevision.Theycanbe

usedbymenasbarriersagainsttheirwives.Itisstilltheonlyeffective

screenagainstthemorningfeaturesofthelovedone,and,assuch,

performsauniquehumanservice.Thesecondadvantageisthatyou

can'tlineagarbagepailwithatelevisionset—it'susuallytheotherway

around.

Butherearesomeinterestingstatisticsfromalittle,andlittle

known,surveybyMr.Ropercalled"thePublic'sReactiontoTelevision

FollowingtheQuizInvestigations".Initheaskseverybodybutmethis

question:Supposeyoucouldcontinuetohaveonlyoneofthefollowing

radio,television,newspapers,ormagazines—whichwouldyou

prefer?Newspaperscameinsecond:Forty-twopercentsaidifthey

couldonlyhaveone,theywouldkeeptelevision.Thirty-twopercentsaid

iftheycouldonlyhaveone,theywouldkeepnewspapers.

Evenso,newspaperpeopleshouldbemuchhappierthanthe

magazinepeople,becauseonlyfourpercentsaidtheyneeded

magazines,asagainstnineteenpercentforradio.

Butlistentothis.Mr.Roperaskedthesesameharriedpeople:"Ifyou

getconflictingordifferentreportsofthesamenewsstoryfromradio,

television,themagazines,andthenewspapers,whichofthefour

versionswouldyoubemostinclinedtobelieve?"Thirty-twopercent

believenewspapersasagainstthirtypercentwhobelievetelevision.But

thensomethingreallystrangehappens.WhenMr.Roperasked

hisguineawhichofthesemediatheywouldbeleastinclinedto

believe,thenewspaperstoppedthelist.Inabigway,too.Twenty-four

percentdon'tbelievenewspapersasagainstninepercentwhodon't

believetelevision.

Thefactisthatalthoughnetworktelevisionstillallotstoolittletime

tothevitalserviceofinformingthepublic,itdoesabetterjobinthat

littletimethanthenation'spressasawhole.AndwhenIspeakofthe

nation'spressasawhole,Iamnotspeakingofthefiveorsixsplendid

newspapersandtheonegreatnewspaperwhichservetheworldas

modelsofresponsiblepublicinformation.Iamspeakingofthelocal

presswhichinhundredsofAmericancommunitiesistheonlynews

available,asidefromthoserecitalsoftickertapethatpassforradio

news.

WhydoIthinknetworkTVdoesabetterjobofinformingthanthese

papers?Well,let'sgetthepartisan6〃overwith.Televisionliveson

advertisingtoanevengreaterextentthannewspapers,andsince

advertisingisbigbusiness,advertisingisbynatureRepublican.Yet

nowhereinnetworknewscastsornetworkcommentariesoncurrent

eventshaveIencounteredtheintensepartisanship,theoftenrabidbias

thatcolorstheeditorialpagesofthemajorityofnewspapersinthis

country.DouglassCater,inhisbookTheFourthBranchofGovernment,

confineshimselftoonlyonepungentfootnoteonthissubject."Ihave

deliberatelyavoided,"hewrites,"gettingintothepredominantly

one-partynatureofnewspaperownership.Itisafactoflife."This

particularfactoflifeisashamefulone:thatnewspaperswhosedutyisto

informtheAmericanpublicgivethemonlyonesideoftheissuesthat

affectthemprofoundly—theRepublicanside.Thisisshamefulnotonly

forDemocrats—theyhavesurviveditbeforeandwillsurviveitagainbut

forthematurityofourpeople.Someofthesamepaperswhichloudly

extolthevirtuesoffreeenterpriseandafreepressareconsistently

failingtoprintthefactsonwhichapeoplecanformabalancedand

independentopinion.Thatbalancedandindependentopinionisour

onlyrealsecurityasanation.

Now,veryoften,televisioncoverageofnewsissuperficialand

inadequate.Veryoftenthepicturetakesprecedenceoverthepoint.But

byandlargethenewsreportsandcommentariesonCBSandNBCand

ABCmakeeveryefforttopresentviewerswithmorethanoneaspectof

anissue,eitherbylettingopposingspokesmenhavetheirsay,orby

outliningthepositionsheldbybothmajorpartiesonthesubject

involved.

Televisionalsoprovidesawiderangeofopinionbysettingupfour

orfiveexpertsandlettingthemknockeachotherdown.Whathasthe

localpressofthisnature?

FortunatelyfortheAmericanpublic,televisiondoesnottoleratethe

kindofdistortionoffact,thekindofpartisanvirulenceandpersonal

peeve,thatmanynewspapersnotonlywelcomebutencourage.Inits

entertainment,televisioncatersfartoomuchtothelowestinstinctsof

man,particularlythelustforviolence.Butthereisoneappetiteitdoes

notfeedandwhichthepartisannewspapersofthenationdo:the

appetiteforhatehateofwhateverisdifferent.Idonotfindon

televisionthekindofeditorialschronicintheNewYorktabloidsaswell

asinmanylocalpapersacrossthecountry.

Anewspaperhastheright—thedutyeven—toassumeanattitude,

totakeaposition.Butithasanequallysacredrighttoexplainthat

positioninthelightoftheopposingone,todocumentthatposition,and

tobolsterit,notwithemotionbutwithfact.

Here