Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-27
Bonn WngeS..Prlnt
ing House Sqwnre.

800
Bonncr-.I.itersry Wnges..Print
Ing House Squmre.
The correspondent Of the Troy rimsi
writes, among other gossipy things from
New York, the following:
Robert bonner, the colossus Of the Led
ger, ovsrtops all the publishing craft, hi
income being 423s. 500. and stands next t.
that Of William b. Astor. We believe thai
Mr.. Bonnsrs success has no parallel in the
world. Twenty years ago he VAS com
positor in tho Hartford Courant. Three
years later We end him reading proof in a
New York office. Then he purchases . pa
per, and out Of an unprOfi table weekly he
builds up tho Ledger. that wonder of liter
airy success. The genius Of Mr.. Bonner has
been devoted 10 making cheap literature in
shuctive and improving, by enlisting the
hi hest rank Of genius in the services OF the
masses. The pers 'nal appearance Of Mr..
Bonner oilers from all other leaders Of the
printer craft. He is no, slovenly like Gree
ley, nor dininu,ive like Raymond. nor suii
anu clumsy like Bennett, all oil whom have
served on the Ledger at his bidding. He is
large and compacty built, with calm, self
great breadth and elevation. Such a coun.
tenanco ono would eSpec; TO see in . sue
cesstul general, OF IA any one Of strong ex-
eculve power, and We doubt not Robert
Bonner would have made as great n military
man rs he has an editor, since in the latter
capacity he has narshalled tho litersti Of
American into bis service. BY tho way, il
is surprising that Dickens never made an
ar,ende to Mr.. Bonner tor his erroneous
statement concerning compensation. He
averred that Ticknor L Field were the oulv
American publishers from whom he received
any thing, whereas Mr.. Bonner paid him g..
900 Tor . tale which only ran through three
numbers. This is the largest price paid 70
any author for similar performance in this
country, and We believe in any ether. The
prineely sums paid BY Mr.. Bonner form .
new era In American literature, and are q
mater Of surprise both Al homo and abroad.
II is the triumph Of Journalism over the
magazine aud book publishers. and 10 in il.
sslf democracy in the wsrld Of letters. Mr..
Bonnsr's new printing house on Spruce st.
completes that nsig hborhood - the great
centre Of printing business in Amsriea. The
trade hes gradually worked into this spot,
until it has expelled oil ether employ msnts,
and now absorbs an entire district. Spruce
street is but tvs or three blocks in length.
and opens into Printing House Square.
Here the grand establishments Of the Times
and Tribune stand against each other like
Calps and Abyls, while at the next corner
the Tract House conducts ito vast opera
tons. Then follow oil the miscellaneous op-
erations Of the craft, and The corner below
is graced BY the Ledger establish msnt-
Here irsn and marble unite in strength and
beauty, aud the fire king. while he serves
% an indispensable slave, 10 set at defiance.
This building cannot burn until iron and
stone and brick and mortar become oom-
bustibls. In il Mr.. Bonner can be seen Al
any time in business hours, aud one will
find him calm, quiet, thoughtful, and sslf-
conscious Of those powers which poverty
could not crush. nor success dazzle Mr..
Bonner, next 20 the Ledger, has partially
for fine horses, and his stud includes six
which cost in all over 500, 900. The speed
is nov exercised for recreation, but never
for money. Commodore Vanderbilt, whose
stud is next in value, has expressed wish
for a race with Bonners fleetsst steed. and
even has sent challenge Of $50, 900, chal-
lengs, however, which be knew would be
safe, since Mr.. Bonner has long since re.
fused this kind Of equsstsisnism. The
Commodore Is sorely nettled at the inferior
ity which he suffers, but hs must make the
best Of it.