The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-14
SUCCESS or A HARTFORD BOY.

citation, as a remuneration for series OF articles
for the Ne,o York ledger, has turned public attcn-
ton to the paper in which they are to be published,
and 10 the wonderful success Of ts proprietor Mr..
Robert Ronner, who is able 40 munihcently to com
Iensate literary labor.
We sneak OF Mr.. Bonner as a Hartford boy
which in business point Of view, he h, although
not born here. He came 10 this city when about
fifteen years Of age, and shortly after became
fellow apprentice with one OF the I0oishers oil TINS
paper. AT the Iouraal Office, in this city, This was
i'll 1889. He a faithful apprentice, always at
his post during working hours, taking interest in
the business Of the Office and cheerfully dischargng
whatever duties were assigned him. He was
good printer and unusually quick compostor,
and enjoyed the respect of his fellow
workmen and the confidence and esteem OF
his employer, the late Mr.. Boswell His leisure
hours in n great measure, were spent in improving
his mind, and occas onally articles from his pen
found their way into the columns Of the COurdat,
ard, We believe, also into some OF the other city
papers--seeuar and religious. The intimacy OF
apprenticeship days between the writer and Mr..
Bonner has never been interrupted, and many incl
dents connected with his success have from time Ia
time been Familiarity told ms. Some OF these will in
terest the public, as wei az show what energy,
tact and high regard for principle will accom-
plish. We write without Mr.. Bonners knowledge,
and may possibly err in publishing what was re-
lated 10 us II the confidence of personal friendship
Soon after attaining his majority he removed 70
New York where, for time, his fortune varied bat
little from that of journeymeD printers generally.
He industrious and economical, saving n little
tgCm nlS v. ckiy earnings. HIS cOntflpuuOns 10 lne
columns Of the paper upon which he was employed
were frequent; and his employer approaching his
services, advanced him from position 70 position,
unit he became regularly connected with its edl-
torial dc partment.
In 1913 he purchased. for a small consideration,
the Merchants ledger, a paper published At the
low price Of fifty cents year, the design being TO
secure large circulation, and a corresponding
amount of advertising at remunerauve prices IL
was designed mainly for merchants, and special
efforts were made to secure accurate market re-
ports, and other information in which they were
interested. Their families not forgotten, how
ever and several columns Of useful reading, ju-
diciousy chosen, were weekly given. Mr.. Bonners
energy soon added largely 10 its subscription list
and advertising patronage, and the paper yielded
handsome profits. At this time he was the New
York correspondent Of papers in Boston New Or
leans, and other places. Some one, anonymously
at first, proposed TO furnish similar letters for the
CourdrsL few were forwarded a. samples, and
a. they were unusually spicy for such correspon
oence, an arrangement made for their con
tinuance, at fixed price per letter. The publish
were not little astonished to find that their
author none other than the former graduate Of
the Office.
business that would have satisfied many, only
spurred Mr. Bonner 10 greater eNertions. He soon
enlarged his paper and doubled the subscription
price increasing al the time its value, as t.
retain it, patrons and secure new ones. At this
time Fanny Fern was prominently before the
public, having Just published her Ruth Hall,
which made great stir in the literary world Mr..
Bonner, believing that her pen would add To the
interest Of his paper and increase its circulation
wrote 10 her, Offering twenty-five dollars column
Tor story. IL was declined. he increased the
o1er TO fifty dollars a column. IL was declined.
Again he wrote, increasing the offer 10 seventyfivc
dollars q column. Another declinatnre followed,
but her admiration for the pluck of one who
seemed determined TO secure her services, cost what
II would, induced her TO send her business agent "a
see VIVA; manner of man Mr. Bonner was. This
interview resulted in Mr.. BIS increasing the amount
10 500 column. THIS offer was finally accepted.
FL. ..l-.l. liz H.
anticipated. The fact that Fanny Fern was
writing for the ledger a one hundred dollar
column story, was published far and near, and or
dcTs for papers literally poured in, and continued
"a do during it, publication, which was continued
for several weeks. Other arrangements were sub
scuenty made with Fanny Fern who is still
ono Of the regular weekly contributors TO the
Ied9eT.
Mr.. Bonner not content "a stop here, was the
lookout FOR additional attractions Sylyanus Cobb,
whose stories were very popular. was writing for
Ballcus Pictorial. Their moral tone and dramatic
interest attracted Bonners notice, and he deter
mined 10 secure the authors talent for the Ledger.
After asccrtaining that hi pen not exclusively
engaged hy any other paper, and that he could
honorally accept commission. Mr.. Is. offered him
douhie the sum (whalcver il might he) that he
then receiving, for story. The offer was accept
ed. and now for nearly three years Mr.. Cobb has
written exclusively for the L.'dgeT.
The character ~ the paper having been some
what changed by the exclusion Of advertisements
and ts circulation largely increased the jealousy
of = Philadelphia contemporary was manifested and
after very annoying attack upon Mr. Bonner. he
resolved 10 punish them-not by public reply, hut
by deprving them Of their chief writer. Mrs. South
worth. He accordingly visited Georgetown, her
residence, and after ascertsinlng that her engage
ment was such that she could honorahly make a
change, told her that without knowing what she
was receiving in Philadelphia, he wonld double her
compensation. This was an argument she could not
well resist and Bonner came away with 1.-THE docu-
mentsn in his pocket
Distinguished writers in other departments Of
literature have from time To time been added t. HI
corps He recognizes the fact that newspaper
readers are not all Everetts, or Cobbs, or Fanny
Ferns and hence the varied talent called 10 hi
assistance. He believes in employing the
best writer's and In literally compensating
them. His last great stroke Is IN engag-
ing the Add-Onian pen of Mr.. Everett.
Leaving out Of view the fact that the sum paid J.
Tor the benefit Of an object which has enlisted the
| Sympathies Of thousands, the compensation )
greater than has before been paid for serier
| ~ newspaper articles. The arrang cement is mutu
ally adyaniageOus- Mr.. Bonner securing valuable
contributions and increasing the literary reputation
~ hs paper while the Mount Vernon Society g.
cures a large addition to is treasury. The Ldgcr
claims circulation ~ three hundred thousand
copies. and a. five readers - each copy j. not
eNtrayagant average. Mr. Everett brings his mind
IN contact with million aud bali of person
weekly. eNerting an influence greater than 4 ;
possible for him IA do through any other channel
HE engagement - only part aud parcel ~ the
progressive policy Nj. Bonner has pursued from
4 hi' NfNAY ava ludA " VII FfohNibl'
l We have not a doubt. What the next great s,rok.
viii he time must determine. That IL viii come
a. certain a. that Mr. Bonner lives.
IN his business Mr.. Bonner has always lsirsned
the cash plan-Owing no one oycra saturday night
and allowing no one ~ owe him. Profits are no.
swallowed up IN bad debts. and he has aIrc sdy
"satcd down" outside his business. hand~uIie
fortune. When In New York some months since
the writer asked him why he did not -cll ont hi
business and live like prince i suited hi fancy
Mr. ". inquired what amount ~ money would sad-iy
~. and upon a moderate sum being named, cNh
bitcd securities for several time. it, amount. re.
marking that he must have some business to occu
py his mind. and IL the earth should open and sws
low up III whole establishment, BE- still had enough
LETT a. he had shown u. lie Thought, therefore
that be might well publish the Ledger a. any
one else.
Mr. Bonner has been called the prince Of adyer
Users The newspaper press has certainly no rea.