New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-19
4 LONDON EDITOR.

From Enghsh journalism" by q. Pe5Ody
The Editor of The Morning Chronicle during Mr..
Clements proprietorshp was John Black a man
with the spirit OF a Drawcansir and the habits OF a
Carthusan monk. He had in person, according to
Mr.. James Grant, all the blunt and bluff appearance
of a thlck-set farmer. He was never during the
many wears of his editOrShp to be the streets
without being accompanied by large mastlii, and
n robust stick, which he himself called an honest
sturdy cudgel III his hand and generally, according
20 the recolectiOns OF another OF his stall who knew
INN as we'll as Mr.. Grant, with couple OF books
under mis- arm. which he had picked up as a bargain
at one of the second hand book stalls that abOunded
at this time in the Strand All his nablts were OF
piece. Dressing, as he did IN the planest possible
manner he had an insuperuble objection to have his
editorial sanctum kept tidy This extended even TO
the busting of his books the dustler they we're the
better They lay, like DIR. 1hlrlwalPs, III heaps all
over the floor and the whole room was In glorious
&C nfusion--papers piled upon papers, books upon
books The place Chaos. Black found his way
about the room, it is sand, by instinct; but he knew
fine place of every book, and when chatting with
visitor about any OF the questions of the day, he
would talk across the loom, take down volume 10
prove his pot, read the passage. and return The
volume to its place without removing more oi 'he
dust than the operation absolutely required.
Henry Hunt was once asked, In cross-eXalnnatOn'
in a libel case against The Morning Chronicle,
whether he had ever been in Mr.. Blacks room;
- Ves y said HINT "And how was the editorial
sanctum furnished l-splcndidlyT asked the coun-
sel. ~ can hardly say that 1t was" Can you
give the Jury some idea of the INTERIOR Nhat 90
Won supp0se would have been the value OF the turn
iture ~ said the counsel. should not thinK, was
fine answer the whole OF the furniture, II SOLO III
nm oucfion would have fetched more than seven
nonce halfpenny." Are you serious, sir ! asked
fhe counsel remember you are on your Oath SIT.
. do remember that" said Hunt. and. remember
ing it. hope have not put too eXtraVagant price
nnon thp furniture" "Then please to explain, SIR
rdnI,ed the counsel. How do you arrive at the
Combustion that the whole of the furniture In the
eJitori1I aanctum of The M0rHtRg Chronicle IL not
yvorth more than npence-haltpennyF Explain
how Won make that out" why salu Hunt alhlu
ibs iIeytnanishable laughter of the Court, there
iturp nj
and two chairs; and while the table would not nave
stitched sixpeuce. 10 one would have gwen moro
tban three halfpencc at the utmost, for tho two
chairs together" -, .
Yet Jofn Black, with the manners OF bear, pos,
sossed the eoul OF q Saladin, and although no dld
no, care suffriently for his best friend to walk
across the street to shake hands with nun. he was
readv at moments notice, to unlock his plsto-case
and daht a duel with the first man who, like hoe
I'll 1Tnnngned the honor of the fourth estate or its
r.nresAnfatiyes lie WAS personally the soul or
honor and so proud personally and professionally,
that although In constant communication with her
Maiestys Ministers during the administration OF the
WLga ne never asked single favor OF one or them.
- Yon ARE the only men," said Lord Melbourne to
hin, on ono OCCASION when chatting with him In his
study who forgets that / am Prime Minister
q HON. So nv lord r. asked Black supposlng, for the
r,nment that he had inadvertently omitted to pay
proper respect to the rank of his visitor. Wen,
ssaid Lord Melbourne. you are the only man know
who never asks O favor OF me" have no favor
70 ask my lord" replied Black. " l have no fayor
% al Of anyone in the world. You are Prime Minister
- England: bat | am Editor OF The Morning
%LronieIe and would not change places with the
nroudest man In England-not even. my lord, Win
vnu.p