The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-02

, M, Doubt gave to the editors ia ioi."n. =
.,,,o,, or hc,edt rs was possible at that uas'
,v;tt tho slow press and the slo" MANS
,,.h;ch b,vc bccn thrown so, completely |
.,o sh,do nv subsequent improvements.
Mr.. Bwooks's letters were what iet'efs
s,o,,d h.. \ faithful account of ,chat he
so,r-not n contemplate diary OF his "
personal suticringS or e%nioymcnts. lie was
a precursor of that very popular traveller
STEPHENS, who followed the systcm Of
Books. and gave to the public the most
popular books OF travels IN our day, except
perhaps Father IIrc's book Of travels IN
China and Tartary.
Mr.. Books had risen to a most extended
fsmc-remarkablc if not unprecedented Tor
his agc-and, upon his return from Europe
in 1886, in connection with Mr.. TOWNSEND. Il
prominent newspaper man in New York at
that dav, he established the Express. which
succeeded finely and fixed hi, life rs Il New
York editor. His paper was lively, liberal,
and Instructive, and continued for some
wears in the foreground of American jour
naIi>m. IN time new models of Journalism,
adapted to the changing character OF society,
sprang up, and Mr.. BROOKS not readily sur
rendering his ways, and %prcjudices if you
choose. under the ancient social regime, tell
behind, and his newspaper was outStripped
in the matters of notoriety and circulation.
Nevertheless the Erprcss never failed to
maintain a high degree Of responsibility and
pecuniary SUCCESS to the day of the death OF
its founder.
In looking back ever the history of jour
nalism in this country, and Mr.. BRooks's
connection Herewith, we can say with truth
that he was one Of the most prominent OF
the editorial profession, and that in the mat
ter of the education of society and the pre-
Scrvation of public virtue he had as few
shortcomings to be accused of IS any man
we have ever known who had so long 4 pc
Rod OF experience and service. lie was
withal n gentleman Of most agreeable and
courteous manners, and one Of the most ill.,
tcrcsting of convcrSa;ionalists we have ever
known. He was kind and gentle. and III his
more sacred relations one OF the most con-
>idcratc and atlcctionate of men.
The evening of his lite was trcttcd ana
cloudcd III consequence of his connection
with that national scandal the CrGdit-Mo-
biIicr. But the cruel and ncfariou> act OF
making him the scapc-goal of the crime OF
mlny rs guilty as he possibly could he so
tempered the public judgment as to crown
it with the diadem of mercy, which finally
| was warmed to sympathy, and he leaves
| this world Dle>t with the wishes of all who
knew him and thousands who did not.
We do not in this article propose TO enter
into particulars about Mr.. BEooKs's life:
but merely to refer to the points connecting
him with the history of journalism. lie was
a nan of liberal AID discriminating judy
mcut, freed from the bancful effects OF III
tional prejudice>, and hence in bis course
while a representative in Congress he laid
the southern people under obligations by his
very fair judgment and, upon OCCASION,
BY his bold and intrepid defence of their
rights aud by denounclng the impolicv and
inbumanity of the reconstruction measures OF
the Radical Congress.
Peace TO his ashes.