The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-08-10
KANSAS NEWSPAPER "REMINISCENCES.


late Of the Oskaloosa LsdePsndent, exchanged
and Kansas, and for twenty-five wears have
kept up newspaper relations, hostile and
otherwise, principally hostile, within less
than one hundred miles of each other aud
all that time have met but twice. Roberts
lays down the quill and Sol. embraces the
opportunity to moralize little over their
many battles. This brought private letter
from Roberts and MiIler's answer, both given
and both Of which will be of some interest
TO old time Kansaps:
INDEPENDENT OFFICE
OsKALO0SA, July, "A, 1SS2.
Hon. Sol Miller:
DEAR SIR Your notice of my retirement
from the Independent is both amusing and
entertaining. OF course your exaggeration
about our small disagreements is intended
as pleasant joke. So far as | remember
now, during our exchange III Ohio, there
never were other than friendly greetings
passed between us; and since our mutual
renewal of old acquaintance in Kansas, we
have agreed ninety-nine times and disagreed
on the one hundredth-that is, | roughly
guess it off at that ratio-and the memory of
the things upon which we have agreed, and
the political campaigns we have fought in
harmony together, so far ouweighs our dis
agreements, that the latter are only recalled
upon occasions when circumstances revive
them, while the former abide as the great
green picture of the past.
But your notice called up old associations.
r L a
newspapers on the thumbs and fingers of
the hands; AMI of the editors then in the
harness, there still remain yourself, Col
John A. Martin, Jake Stotler, Dwight
Thacher,, John Speer, Col. d. Il. Anthony,
and, / believe, E. G. Ross and then, little
later, came d. w. Wilder, NJ. NJ. Murdoch,
G. w. Martin-and these are all still in the
active work. Death has certainly dealt kind
ly with the old guard; and in retiring from
the front myself, the parting with these old
WORTHLESS carries with it feeling of sadness
much akin to that which we realize when
separating from the friends we love or the
companions of our youth.
/ doubt if worthier band of journalists,
all in all, can be found anywhere. than these
old veterans of the Kansas press and there
are many like them, of the later times, in
our young State. shall never forget my
association, eGitora! and personal. with
them.
But there is one thing in our relation that
| is somewhat singular. For over thirty years
We have exchanged publications, and been
edtorially familiar. ana yet have personally
met during all that period, and residing with
in short distance of each other. but very
few times-I believe, only three or four,
certainly not 70 exceed half a dozen. l
doubt if a similar case can be found any
| where. 1t is index to both our lives.
We have devoted our time and energies to
the work of our respective offices. and from
these labors have not ''gadded about over
the country; hence, have met so seldom, in
these many years of acquaintance. And in
parting editorially, feel that it would be
cheering TO meet personally. Eud talk over
Old times but whether this shall be or not,
feel it in my heart to say: God bless all
my old associates of the Kansas press. They
have been through the struggle, when it re-
Quired courage and faith to hold fast and
now, in the fruition oftheir hopes, may their
''last days be their best" and most prosper
Gus. / still hope 20 keep up in some form
my association with them.
! This letter is not written for publication.
1t was suggested by your nolice-a kind Of
spontaneous prompting to write-aud as the
memories of the past come trooping up like
armies in array, feel that language is tame
| to do justice to the past, or to make suita-
BILE record Of those experiences which have
been Incorporated into the very lives Of the
older settlers, and especially the old jour-
nalists of Kansas, and cannot enter upon
the theme, while l venture to throw off
| these random thoughts fer your private eye.
With these thrilling memories of the past
/ erowding up like birds to their windows. :"
| permit me 10 express to yod my personal re-
| CARDS. aud hearty wishes for your welfare.
/ Truly yours, J. W. ROBERTS.
Although Bro. Roberts says he intends the
above private letter, he is so good ma
| tured over it, and calls up so many past
| memories. that we ''violate the injunction
Of secrecy" and publish it. We can take
and give rs hard thumpings as any other ed
! itor. but there have been times when Bro.
Roberts has found fault with and pitched
| into US for things that did not deserve it, tor
things that he had himself done previously,
and placed demonstrations upon our Ian
| guage and motives that were not warranted.
1t looked to us like pure cussedness, and
| aggravated US. However. we shall not re-
peat them, but consider that he meant it all
right.
In speaking of the older editors, Mr.. Rob-
erts places d. Il. Anthony among the first.
| He really came into the editorial business
after Wilder, and Geo.W Martin, and Marsh
Murdoch. Death has, indeed, as he says,
dealt kindly with the old guard. Jus, now
we can think of but one Of the old fellows
who has gone under the sod-the eccentric
| but noble X. b. Taylor of Wyandotte. Yes,
and there is poor Commings.
| Let all that is unpleasant so to sleep with
| the bygones. We wish Bro. Roberts luck
and long life, wherever be msy go. We can
think OF but twice that we have met him,
but hope to 60 so again. We sometimes
| think that we. too. shall want rest, some of
/ these times. After twenty-five years more
/ of hard work, we hope to be able so take
| play spell. Aud when we do knock off,
| we dom. know but that it would be pleas
ant TO have kindly goodbye from the old
boys. SOL. MILLER.