Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1880-04-27
CHARLES DE YOUNG.
SOMETHING OF THE PAST HISTORY OF A REMARK
ABLE MAN.

was written by d. E. Mccarthy, who was for
many years connected with the Chronicle as
head of the local department and managing
editor: "Charles de Young was in many re-
spects one of the most remarkable men the Pa.
ctc coast ever produced-for although not a
native of San Francisco, his early childhood
was passed in that city. His only education
was obtained during public school career
which closed at the age of about fifteen, when
the bows ambition led him into active life
He learned to set type, started a paper for
boys (Which had brief existence). then worked
as an apprentice in a printing ottce until he
became journeyman. In 1862 he came to
Virginia City and worked for short time in
one of the newspaper offices here. Returning
to San Francisco soon afterward, he, with his
two brothers began the publication of the Ora
matte Chronicle, a free advertising sheet, like
the Stage of this city. Here it was that Charles
De Young first began to develop his genius as
a newspaper director; for it is a patent fact
that this mana mere boy in comparison with
his rivals was immeasurably superior to all of
them 50 far real journalistic ability was
concerned. He was not a writer; his educa-
ton was very limited; but he had the true in
,tinct of great journalist. He knew good
writer's when he came in contact with them,
and he could overcome any personal antipa
thy to retain the services of competent men.
The little free Dramatic Chronicle paid more
money every week to first class writers than
any of the large dailies For long time the
regular salaried staff of contributors included
james F. Bowman, Samuel L. Clemens, MARK
Twain) Calvin B. Mcdonald, Thomas d.
Johns, besides other occasional contributors.
The consequence was that the Dramatic Chr0n-
icle soon came to be regarded as the most read
able sheet for half an hours perusal, that
could be found in San Francisco, and its ad
vertising colHmns commanded higher prices
than those of the Bulletin, Call or Alta. The
reputation thus acquired for this little theat-
rica advertising sheet made it comparatively
an easy task for its owners to transform it into
a regular morning paper, which they did sue
cessfully in the face of obstacles that would
have disheartened a less indomitable man than
called the Napoleon of the San Francisco
Press" After appellation could not well have
been chosen, for he possessed marvellous en-
ergy and fertility of resource: he was cool as
All iceberg in presence OF any danger; of great |
executive ability and indomitable in his self |
reliance; cold and calculating in every action
Of his life, except upon the two occasions when |
The honor of his aged mother was assaied-
md then he seemed to have been suddenly
into a cunning mailman"
The Stockton Mail has the following from
he pen of Sutherland, its City editor, also
ormery connected with the Cbronicle His
guiding stars were his mother and sisters, and
he desperation that led him, at the com
of the Chronicles career to com.
nit inexcusable acts of bad faith towards the
public, were evil done that good might come,
nd were done for them more than himself
lie was not the hard man in 1870 that he was
n 1880. He hardened with the years until
lie was as cold as stone, and as heartless, to
ii the outside world, but he never was other
han devoted son and brother, and his
thoughts were always first for them and next
or himself. AS newspaper man, De Young,
ntil he allowed passion to carry him away,
ad few superiors. Hecould tell news farther
fl and deal with it better when it reached him
han any man this side of New York. He {
aught the newspaper men of San Francisco
Il they know. Until his advent the news I
apers of the Bay We're little, if any thing,
etter than those of Stockton were three
lonths ago. They have since followed his
lad in everything. If the sincerest fattery &
e imitation, the Call, and the other papers &
he so hated the Chronicle were models of ad-
latiOn. He changed the whole method of
citing news and presenting it, end, in giving
} San Francisco such papers as it now has,
g conferred on the whole coast benefit, the i
,sults OF which will only increase time goes
n. There is no city on the continent SO well +
rived with news as San Chicago
ad New York alone excepted-and that is due
} Charles De Young. AS illustrating the re-
.rd that De Young had for his mother-and
lie was equally devoted to him-two incidents
ay be related: In 1873 Ben amin Napthay, o
, ex-reporter Of the Chronicle, was publish "
e in San Francisco little evening paper n
He'd the Sem, and one day issued a most b.