The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-31

A correspondent of the Boston Herald gives
the following interesting sketch Of Mr.. Rich
ard Watson Glider, who takes DR. Hollands
place as editor of the Century Magazine (late
Scribner's):
In choosing tho new editor-in-chief, the
strictest principles of civil service reform were
followed, Mr. Richard Watson Glider, who has
been, from the foundation of the magazine,
DR.. Hollands associate editor, being promoted
to the vacant chair, and his place being filed
by Mr.. H. U. johnson, who has been for the
past eight years assistant editor. To those IA
rniliar with Mr.. elders services to the maga-
zine this choice was no surprise; in fact, no
other would have seemed natural and lifting.
AS matter of widespread interest, | purpose
to give some account of Mr.. Gilder's past, than
which friends of the Century can have no bet
ter guarantee of his fitness for his present
position Richard Watson Glider was born at
Bordentown, N. j., in 1874, and he is conse-
quently twenty-seven years old. His father,
Rev. w. III. Glider, was Methodist clergy
man, and, like the majority Of clergymen, in
only moderate circumstances, hence could give
his son only meagre educational advantages.
Very early Mr. Glider felt drawn toward liter
ature and twenty-five years ago, when only
twelve years of age, published boys paper,
the st. Thomas Register, of which he set up
all the type, rolled the ink, etc. When six
teen years old he was principal editor OF
campaign paper, which advocated the cause OF
Bell and Everett during the famous canvass of
1860. His engagement on the wrong side, as
he now laughingly admits. of course ended
with the campaign, and before his next liter
ary engagement studied law for time in
Philadelphia, but, following the example of
countless men OF letters, soon returned to the
more congenial field of literature. But first
came in 1868 a more thrilling experience.
Though under the legal age, he enlisted in the
First Philadelphia artillery, and served through
the emergency" campaign of '63, taking part
in the defence of Carlisle, etc. 1t is interest
ing to note that Charles G. LELAND (Hans
Breitman) the latest Phi Beta Kappa poet, was
also private in the same company. In 64
Mr.. Glider became reporter on the New
ark Advertiser, and was rapidly advanced
through the grade OF legislative COR
respondent and local editor to the posi-
tion of managing editor. After few years,
however, he left the Advertiser and founded,
in conjunction with Mr.. Newton Crane, now
leading lawyer in st. Louis, daily paper
called the Newark Morning Register This
was time of the busiest periods Of Mr.. Gid
er's life, as in addition to his work on the Reg
lister, he wrote regularly for the editorial and
other departments OF Hours at Home, of
which he became the editor during the last
year of its existence. AS an illustration of
what journalist can sometimes accomplish, it
may be stated that Mr.. Glider would work all
night on the Register, then, after snatching
few hours sleep, would come to New York and
perform his duties as editor OF Hours at Home,
thus doing two mems work. During the years
1869-70 the Register was discontinued aud Mr..
Glider devoted his whole time to Hours at
Home. In the fall of 1870 Scribner's Monthly
was started, Hours at Home being merged into
it, and Mr.. Glider becoming, by DIR. Hollands
choice, associate editor of the new magazine.
Since then he has been with the exception of
fifteen months vacation in Europe, constantly
occupied as managing editor of Scribners. Be-
fore accepting his position on Scribners he re-
fused the editorship of the Northern
Monthly, which was afterward, strange
ly enough, merged into Scribner's.
During his connection with Scribner's.
his work has been of a manifold and
most important character. For several years
he contributed, under the head of ''Old Cabi-
net" series of charming and suggestive es-
says, the discontinuance of which, owing to
pressure Of other duties, is sincerely to be re-
gretted. His political and critical contribu-
tions have been many and of unusually high
character. In fact in almost every depart
ment of the magazine his versatile pen has
done good work. In addition to his editorial
dnties Mr.. Glider has from time to time en-
gagged in incidental literary labors. Two vol
umes of his verses have been published and
have met cordial reception from the best
critics.