The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-08-13
Thomas p. Kettell.

- Under the head Of notabilities of New
York the Mirror of the city gives the inter-
nesting sketch, which we transcribe below,
4 the nation-ienowned writer Of tie ccrn-
mercial articles, which, scme few years
ago, attracted such universal notice, in the
columns of the New York Herald, and who
is now one Of the Editors Of the Democratic
Review. After some general remarks
about journalists and journalism, and Of the
manner in which the identity of the former,
becomes merged in the irnpersonation Of the
latter, the sketch gees on to say:
Here comes notable instance in eyi.
dence of what we have beensayillg. Yons
der gentleman who walks quietly down the
street, dressed in suit Of gepteel black,
and looking like well-salaricd preacher,
with round face, full, black eyes, and an
agreeable mouth, is the inventor of new
style of newspaper articles, which made the
fortune and reputation Of the proprietor Of
the Journal in which they first appeared;
but for him either name nor money. That
gentleman is Thomas p. \ ETTELL, who in
vented the "money market" article of the
daily press. and first gave character and
standing 10 the New York Herald The
appearance OF those mastery articles en- f.
nancial matters. which used to set Wall
street in fever, gave a new impetus and
new feature TO daily journalism, and when
they first came out caused as much discus.
sion amcng the knowing ones of Wall
street. as the letters OF lunius did among
the politicians in the time OF George III,
Almost every intelligent broker in Wall
street was, by turns accused Of writing
them, and probably TO this day very few
know who the author really was. Mr.. Ket-
tell Is TOO modest man 10 blow his own
trumpet, and is content that other people
should enjoy the credit Of his distinguished
services. But MS he has been one Of the
most extensively read writers of the day,
and least widely known. there will be no
harm in letting the world see him m the
light oil one streaming ilumina,iet.
Thomas Prentice Ket,ell is the desc end
ant Of hon0red ancestors III the old Bay
state. II his fathers did not come over to
seek life OF freedom in the MayEower.
they came in the ship that followed the pill
grim bar~. they were siaunch indcpcnd-
ants, and il appears from the records Of tie
first churches in Plymouth Colony. that
among the members ms carly MS 1885, the
name Of kc,tcl occurs very often. Mr..
kcttell was Dom in Bustcu, and is HOW
about forty years, of sgc. Ills father was a
merchant in the city, aud he received
mercantile cdnca'ion. having served Nj.
time in the cnuntinG-roo of j. S.E. Phil.
lips. lie left the coau.ing-room soon after
coming Of age, and travelled some wears IN
Europe, and on his return to Che United
States fixed On this city as his future home,
Soon after his arrival here he became the
writer Of the money articles of the New
York Herald, and by the clearness of his
style, the perfect mastery Of his subject. the
ln'h.mert Of bis prognostlcs, the falcss and.
accuracy OF his information. and q G clear.
ness OF his Judgment he established repu-
tation for the journal in which Ills articles
appeared, which was the real secret Of rs
success. These nancy articles became so n
POPULAR that the other daily papers found Il.
necessary 70 get UP Something In imitation
OF them. But there have been none that
could COMPARE with tho lncA exIiositionsrf
financial affairs which Mr.. Kettell uycd 10
give in the Herald. The reason Il. that he
alone Of al! the financial writer's Of the city
press. based his spccm!n.ions on he philoso..
pncal principles cf free trade, and having
the advantage Of OH academic md mercan,
We education, together with the knowlc4e
derived from personal observation in the I
commercial cites In Europe, was enabled
to sire TO his dali, a,,ie.cs The character ~