The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-18
OBITUARY.
Henry Z. sMeetaer.

The sudden death of Mr.. Sweetser. which
occurred at his residence, In Twentieth street.
yesterday, removes from the press of New York
one of the most efficient the most versatile, and
the best known of Its younger members.
Mr.. Sweetser was born In Brooklyn, N. Y,
almost thirty-three years ago. He was edu-
Gated at Yale College, where he graduated In
the class of 1868. During his college life he
had developed marked fondness and aptitude
for mathematical studies and methods, and
acquired ready and persplcuous style of
writing. His taste led him into journalism
and, after short apprenticeship on the Times
he Joined the World, almost Immediately upon
the foundation of the latter journal. His
literary attainments and capacities made
him an able and useful journalist.
ment which so few purely literary men
possess, but which his mathematical talent and
training had given him, made him an excep-
tional and remarkable one. He served this jour
nal in various positions, and filed them all with
credit and efficiency. He was at different
periods of his connection with il reporter, mail
editor, city editor, night editor editorial writer,
editor of the weekly, collector of election sta
tistics, and, indeed, he performed almost every
duty on the paper doing everything well, and
bringing to his work rare conscientiousness In
the discharge of it's details. What other men
are wont to consider as the drudgery of a news
paper of1ioe-the work of collation. and arrange
nent, the task OF making up paper, of tabulat-
ing masses of figures, and of reducing the chaos
of election returns and lists and reports to order
was his by preference as well as by pre-eminent
fitness. He delighted In 1t, and he did 1t WELL
Accordingly, he was oftenest employed in work in
which perfection is almost unattainable, or at
tainable only by constant attention to minute
details AndH even perfection in this, being
merely the absence OF error, attracts no atten
ton and wins little credit, while every imper-
fection or oversight is glaring and does discredt
to its author. In the patient pains he took in
arriving at his results, and the clearness and
order with which he stated them, he had no
superior. . o,.-,.. o,....ou.. ,,uo
English, and his articles were marked by the
same lucdity of arrangement otherwise so con-
spicuous characteristic in him. 1t may be
mentioned that Mr.. Sweetser's habits of order
and management were conspicuous in the din
ner given BY the press to Mr.. Dickens. Its ad-
mirable arrangement was due almost wholly
to Mr. Sweetser, who performed the chief part
of the duties of the Executive Committee.
In 1859, the state of his health compelled him
to relinqush the harassing and responsible
position he then held upon the World, and, In
conjunction with Mr.. G. H. Sweetser, he under
took the conduct of the Round Table. After
some months the publication of that paper was
suspended on account of the financial eXigencies
apprehended in the crisis of the war, but was
resumed in 1866. In the following spring, how
ever, he disposed of his interest to rejoin the
World, and remained upon 1t thenseforthwithout
interruption until he was attocked by the short
and severe illness which resulted in his death.
twill be seen that Mr.. Sweetser's talents were
such as, in a public journal, are mainly con-
spicuous by their absence. Literary brilliancy,
or a stroke of newspaper enterprise" so called
attracts far more immediate notice than the
result of care and the habit of correctness. But
though more snowy il is not SO valuable. In the
long run, the newspaper which ismost uniformly
trustworthy is most uniformly trusted. The
fame of ''smartness' is often got without de-
sert. The reputation of trustworthiness can
only be gained by earning it. And moth
ing can earn 1t but the constant exercise of such
faculties as Mr. Sweetser possessed in a remark.
| able degree. Success by such arts Is of COM
| paraHvely slow growth with the man who exer-
cises them, as well as with the Journal in behalf
| of which they are welded. And though Mr.
Sweetser had attained position not often filled
| by man of his years, there were certainly
| much higher prizes In store for him If 1t had
| been permitted him to go on and win them.
| In social life Mr. Sweetzer was most genia
and conpanionable man. His scrupulous defe
renee to the opinions and consideration of the
| feelings of others, his stock of information, ani
the perfect conversational command he ha(
over it, and his vein of satirical humor, mad,
him both pleasant and an instructive com
| panion. For many years before his death b,
had been a member of Rev. DR., Adams Presby
terian Church, and devout and constant at
tendant upon its public worship.-M 7. Wort
to-day. -.E .tt. .a ui.