The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-02-01
James Gordon Bennett.


Mr.. James Gordon Benefits the only
son of the founder of the New York
Herald, and is about thirty-fve years of
age. He was carefully educated, mostly
by private tutors, and his father prepared
him for journalism. 1t is said that it
was the cherished idea of the elder Ben
nett to live to zee his son master of the
Herald and to see him married and a
father. But young Bennett was inclined
to be wild. His father gave him means
to establish the Euening Telegram, pa
per which he devoted considerable atten-
tion to, and which is now one OF the best
evening newspapers in the country. When
Frederick Hudson retired from the man.
agement of the Herald young Bennett
became his ostensible successor. 1t is
said that Hudson, to whom was, in
large measure, due the success of the
Herald, left it because elder Bennett
wished to place James Gordon in charge.
1t was in 1867 when Hudson left the pa
per. He has since died. Though Ben
nett has given good deal of attention
at times very strict attention-to the
Herald, he has not, as an editor, dis
played either that aptitude or ability for
the details of journalism which charac-
terized his father. He has, however, dis
played great enterprise, and the Herald
of to-day is fully as prosperous as it ever
was and is far better in tone. Mr.. Ben
nett, jun., has the credit of planning the
expedition in search of DR.. Livingstone,
which Stanley brought to a successful
termination. He is said to have planned
it while enjoying himself one evening in
Paris theater. The " Cesarism cam
paign, it is said, was devised while Ben
nett was on yachting cruise in the
south of France. Among the other nota-
BILE projects which he has put into ex-
ecution is the second expedition of STAN
ley to Africa.
Much has been said of Mr.. Benefits
career since he has attained the age of
manhood. He spent much time abroad,
and long before his fathers death had
attained reputation of being a jolly fel-
low, with disposition to enjoy life. He
sowed lets of wild oats abroad, moved in
tine best society at the same time, and,
it is charged, at one time, aspired to the
hand of Danish Princess. But how
true this is we cannot say. A. Oakley
Hall, noted New York politician, and
formerly Mayor of that city, once paid
young Bennett a compliment by saying
that he had rather be editor of the New
York Herald than President. Mr.. Ben
nett has assuredly had advantages which
no other American journalist ever pos
sessed. He is veritable prince in the
journalistic world. A story is related
that upon one time he entered the Her.
aid office in a jolly mood about noon, and,
complaining of the dearth of news and
lack of sensation, said to the city editor
"Turn the animals loose in Central
Park that will raise -W The Herald
next morning contained long blood
and thunder story to the effect that the
lions and tigers and other wild animals
which were on exhibition at Central
Park had escaped from their cages. 1t
was agsnuine sensation, but its effect was
bad. Nervous women were frightened
and school children scared nearly to
death. Some people barely escaped death
from actual fright. Thousands credited
the hoax. 1t was even credited by one
old established evening newspaper. The
indignation of citizens was very great,
and Bennett was threatened with in
dictment. The young proprietor of the
Herald has sister who idolizss him. 1t
is thought that She will carry out her
intention, originally stated, to enter
convent. Later events in Mr.. Benefits
life are known to our readers. 1t is due to
him to say, however, no matter what his
faults. he deserves credit for many gen.
erous acts. One winter he gave thirty
thousand dollars to feed the poor of New
York city. He aided with his purse and
newspaper in making successful sum-
mer excursions for the poor children in
New York, and he was unstinted in his
gifts to private charities. His income
from the Herald is about three hundred
and fifty thousand dollars per year, and
his income from rents and investments
fully two hundred thousand more.