New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-30


class of dav-laborers. never wanted for meat,
or broad. or milk, and were seldom without
a little money.
Horace had been in the habit OF devoulng
every newspaper he could get hold of, from
his youngest childhood, and had early resolved
to become q printer if he could. When but
eleven years old, hearing that an apprentice
was wanted in the newspaper Office at White
hall, he accompanied his father to the printers,
in hope of obtaining the position, but was
rejected on account of his extreme youth. He
went home greatly cast down, but in the
Spring of 1926, he entered the office of The
Northern Spectator in EaSt-POutney, VT,
as an apprentice. His father, meantime.
was about starting for the West III
search of new home, and finally settled in the
forest region in the northern part of Erie Comfy,
PENN on the border of the State Of New-YOrk.
Horace diligently applied himself to learning his
trade, of which he soon became master in all its
branches He remained in Poultney a little more
than four years, when, after spending short time
at his fathers house in the wilderness, he obtained
employment in a newspaper Office in Erie.
Here he made many friends, and was
offered a partnership in the business, although
only a young man of twenty. He thought
best to decline the proposal, and as work afterward
fell off he decided to take fresh departure, and
GEEK his fortune in the great metropolis After pay
ing a farewell visit at his fathers, and dividing
with him his earnings at Erie, with twenty-five
dollars in his pocket and very little extra clothing
in his bundle he set his face toward New-York.
He arrived in this city on the 18th of August
1881, when the midsummer heat was at its hight.
He had never before seen n city of even twenty
~ ;,,Io "
vessel. The spectacle of so many square miles Of
stately buildings, with the furlongs of masts and
yards .arousod feeling of establishment and wonder
akin to awe. He had completed his twentieth year
the February before. Tall. slender, and ungainly,
with ten dollars in his pocket, and a
scanty store of summer rament, mostly
on his back, tie pale-faced youth
did not command q cheerful prospect of immediate
success After searching in vain for suitable board
ghouse he at length found quarters in an obscure
hostelry near the North River His first business
was to find work at his trade. Early in the morning
he began to ransack the city in search of employ
ment In the course of two days he had visited more
than half the printing Offices in NewYork, without
the slightest CLEAN of success His youth
full appearance and rustic ways were not
in his favor. When he called at The Journal
Of Commerce, its distinguished editor Air. David
Hale frankly told him that he believed him to be
runaway apprentice from some country printing
office, presumption which, though erroneous,
might under the circumstances be deemed excus-
able. Thoroughly wearied with his two days dscon-
ISOLATE quest, he resolved to leave New-York while a
little money still remained in his pocket. He was
frightened by the prospect Of the almshouse which
stared him in tho face, and wished to make
his escape while the chance was yet left. In
tiIo evening, however, maze the acquaintance
OF some young Irishmen who had called at his
landlords initheir strolllabOut town. Upon hearing
that he was wandering printer In pursuit of work,
they at once took an interest in his affairs, and
directed him to place where he could find employ
ment This was the printing Office ofMr. joint. West
The work was so difficult that 10 printer acquainted
in the city could DO induced TO accept it. 1t was
the composition of a miniature New Testament,
with numerous marginal references and in curl
ously intricate style of Typography. No other COM
postor could be persuaded to work on the book for
more than two or three days, and Mr.. Greeley, ac-
cordingly, had it nearly all to himself By dilgent
type-setting from twelve to fourteen hours through
the day he could earn at most not over six dollars
week.
After several changes which did not greatly i'm
prove his circumstances, in January, 1892 Mr. Gree
lev formed an engagement with The Spirit Of the
Tines a weekly journal devoted to sporting intelli
gence and edited by Mr.. William Il. Porter The
foreman of the Office was youngman named Francis
Story, with whom Mr.. Greeley soon contracted an
intimate friendship. Urged by his solicitations, he
consented to form partnership with him for the
purpose Of conducting the business OF job printing
They soon took contract for printing cheap daily
newspaper to be sold about the Streets at that time
novel idea. The first number of the paper. which
"a I,-TO II vy1q iCaupl
the of January 1885, 1t fell almost deadborn from
the press The day was one of the coolest of the
son. and the streets were INSTRUCTED by Of
which had fallen the night before No publicity had
been given to the enterprise. The editor was in
competent to his task, and in less than
month tho whole enterprise came to an uutimely
end. The printers were saved from bankruptcy by
the intervention Of an eccentric EnglshmGn who
had conceived fancy for journalism, and was per-
suaded to purchase the wreck of the attempted
Daily. After a few issues he threw up the expert
ments but the money which he had paid to the
young printers preserved them from fur
Their embarrassment Meantime, their job printing
business continued to prosper there was no
lack of work, when the firm was suddenly
dissolved by the death of Mr. Story, who was
drowned while bathing in the East River. His
place, however, was soon supplied by the accession
of Mr.. Jonas Winchester; and in the Spring of 1884
without any premonitory flourish of trumpets, the
two young printers issued the first number of The
Nec- Yorker, weekly journal. devoted to literature
political intelligence, and general news. The
paper was edited by Mr.. Greeley, while his
partner took charge of the general business Of the
printing ofilcs. For the seven years and a half of
its existence The Ncr Yorker sustained high repu
taton for its literary excellence the fairness and i'm
partalty of its criticisms, the accuracy and extent
of it's intelligence and the elevated tone of its gen.
eral discussions It's columns were not only under
the immediate supervision of Mr. Greeley, but the