The New York herald., 1872-11-30

HERALD, SATURDAY, !
ney in 1870. Working by spells on their rude
wilderness farm, and when opportunity offered, at
his trade in jamestown and Lodi, N. Y, and in
Erie Pa, he remained In that region for little more
than year, finally quitting 1t, when work ran out,
about the lst OF August 1891 Tor New York, where
he arrived on the 10th OF that month, to begin
career as remarkable as any in the history OF per-
sonal struggle and success In this country.
Mr.. GREELEY's FIRST YEARS IN NEW YoRB.
The story of Mr.. Greeey's entrance into the busy
life OF the metropolis has been told too often to
need repetition now. His coming to New York was
the bold attempt OF an awkward, unsophisticated
youth to stem current, which is difficut for even
the strongest and most experienced. Without
money and without friends he threw himself in the
Whirlpool and by hard work he overcame all the
obstacles which beset him. AS Is always the case
with young men contendng with fortune the first
years Of his metropolitan life were full Of bitter
ness. During his first year and half In this city he
worked journeyman in different Offices, but early
in 1885, in connection with another young printer he
purchased materials and undertook the printing o.
q cheap daily newspaper for q man who failed
soon afterward. other printing was soon pro-
cured, less promising, but better paid. His first
partner was suddenly taken away by drowning, In
July. Another took his place. The concern was
moderately prosperous and in the following Spring
he issued without subscribers, and almost with
out friends, In Q city where he was hardly known
beyond the circle OF his boarding house and his
small business the nrst number OF the Netr Yorker
a weekly journal, devoted to popular literature
and an impartial summary OF transpirng events.
That paper was continued few years, having
WI ar iUnA N a
thousand.
Mr.. GREELEY's MARRIAGE.
Mr.. Greeley was married while he was editor Of
the Nesc Yorker to Miss Mary Young Cheney,
pretty New England lady, whom he met at the
Graham House. Miss Cheney was by profession
teacner, and she had taken an engagement In
North Carolina, where Mr.. Greeley married her.
OF her early domestic economy Mr.. Greeley said
Ny wife, whose acquaintance made at the Gra-
ham House, and who was long more faithful con-
sistent disciple OF Graham than was, In our years
cordance with her convictions, never even deign-
ing an explanation to her friends and relatives
who from time to time visited and temporarily So
jOurned with us; and, az pOliteness usually re-
pressed complaint or inquiry on their part, their
first experiences Of regimen which dispensed
with all they deemed most appetizing could hardly
be observed without q smile. Usually day. or at
most two Of beans and potatoes, boiled rice, pnd-
salt. and never pickle. was all they could abide;
SO, bidding her Kind adleu each In turn departed
to seek elsewhere more conRenal hospitality.
They lived together till within few weeks,
when Mrs. Greeley's death occurred, SO soon to be
followed by the decease OF her distinguished hus-
band. They had three children, two girls and
boy, the latter OF whom was particularly bright
and gave extraordinary promise, but died In his
early childhood, leaving vacuity in his doting
parents heart that has never been nlled He had
formed the brightest hopes OF his boy, and under
the bereavement his philosophy for a time gave
way completely. His two daughters Gabrielle and
Ida, survive their parents.
MIR. GREELEY BEGINS POLITICS.
In 1888 Mr. Greeley may be said to have begun his
political career. Mr.. Seward was then the whig
candidate for Governor of New York, and Mr.. Weed.
who, OF the three, alone survives was his faithful
servitor and friend. At Weeds suggestion Greeley
was induced to 60 to Albany in that year to edit
campaign paper, and then began the famous part
nership Of Seward, Weed and Greeley which was
not dissolved till Stewards second election to the
United States Senate. Greeley's letter dissolving
the partnership is one Of the most remarkable doc
uments in our political history, its most surprising
feature being the revelation Of desire for ofice,
which none Of Mr.. Greeley's friends had suspected,
but which afterward took shape in various unsuc-
eessful candidates., the last beng the ineffectual
attempt to attain the Presidency Of the United
States The Albany campaign paper was not q
success. Mr.. Greeley himself said Of t:-"It was
work that made no ngure aud created NO sensa-
tom but loved 1t and did 1t WELL" This was fol-
lowed by the Log Cabin in 1s4o campaign paper
In the interest OF General Harrison whose cause
Mr.. Greeley warmly espoused. The paper was
very successful, and to 1t Mr.. Greeley owed his
reputation and subsequent prosperity, and the
political experience thus acquired was exceedingly
useful to him in
STARTING THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE
The Tribune, with which Mr.. Greeley's life was
identified, was begun on the 10th OF April, 1s41.
In the following Autumn the Weekly Tribune was
commenced, and with these journals his name has
since been identified. His energy, talent and ex-
perience, and $1,000 borrowed from his friend
James Coggeshall, were the only capital upon
which the paper started. 1t succeeded, while hun
dreds OF other ventures equally promising
failed; but it did not succeed without difnculty.
The publication ONCE was at No. 80 Ann street.
The list OF subscribers numbered 900 names Five
thousand copies OF the first number were printed.
and Mr. Greeley afterward acknowledged that he
found difIicuty in giving them away. The ex-
penses Of the rst week were $685. the receipts $s2
After four months Mr. Thomas McElrath became a
partner in the paper, and at the end OF the first
year It's success was established. In that year 1t
had already taken ground in favor Of Fourterism,
or the principle Of associations principle which
was afterward applied in wonderful form to the
tribune establishment. This was the zsTbune's
first sensation" and its second the famous libel
suit with J. Fenimore Cooper, the novelist. The
third feature was Margaret Fucr's accession to
the paper and the cngraftng Of woman's rights
among the progressive ideas advocated by Mr..
Greeley's journal. These things are the history Of
the Tribune as 1t has been told over and again;
but deeper than these is the real history or Mr..
Craplpv,s life and labor fhOuOh II IL unno re
to recount his early struggles in journalism,
for they are the history of every successful journal
now published in New York. pre-eminently OF the
HERALD.
MR.. GREELEY IN CONGRESS.
Mr. Greeley was elected to Congress in 1s4s to
ill vacancy and served In that body from De-
cember Of that year to March 4, ls49, distinguish.