The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-03-24
JOE HOWARD.
Washington Capital.


 One of the most versatile and audacious of New York journalists is Joe Howard. of Brooklyn. His father founded Henry Ward Beecher's church and established the first line of steamers 10 New Orleans and California. Joseph was educated al the Polytechnic school in Troy, whence he graduated in 1857, with the sheepsk.n of R N. 5. and civil engineer under his arm. But his forte was chemistry. and he carried away a small wheel-barrow load of prizes in that branch of scientific learning In the good and eventful year of IS6o his family went 10 Europe, and Joseph sailed for California. On his re- turn he heard of the troubles among the shoemakers at Lynn, Mass Thither the bsy went to sec the "fun," and the first thing he saw on the hotel rigister was the autograph of a New York iifyaM cores ponden,. Young Howard inscribed bis own name below it and added "New York 7Imes" He was not re- porter, however, and had never written a line for tha, journal. The shoemakers' war increased. the Heyahi man got drunk, and oe at once telcgraphed the T.imes long account of the situation. Henry I. Raymond was delighted. and telcgraphed back for him to represent the 7im(S and send full details.
 Howard remained in Lynn for five weeks and made so great a Init tha, Raymond offered him S3o a week (big salary for those daysl to travel and write up the presidential conventions. Sixteen weeks of this made the boy a name, as all his letters were signed " Howard" by Ray mond's orders. He was at the battles of Bull Run and Balls Bluff. and served in editorial and various other capacities on the 7Imrs altogether for eight years. This service was broken by editorial work on the Brooklyn Eagle. 1, was while on the Eag!e that Howard astonished the coun- try by concoc,ing the bogus" Lincoln proclamation calling for sevcnty-hve thousand troops. He says he intended it merely as burlcsque, and had no idea that the results would be serious He had previously gwen detailed sketch of a supposed meeting ofthe eminent military men and statesmen at the Brooklyn navy yard, concluding with a call for a meet ing at the Brooklyn academy of music. As fully 10000 people went to the acad- emy on the evening mentioned, Joseph thought that he could be equally success ful in causing 7S.ooo ofhis fellow country men to arise to arms at the call of "bo- gus" proclamation. A few weeks in Fort Lafayette. after the document was issued and pr inted In two New York papers. con- vinced him of his success father aad Henry Ward Beecher visited Lincoln nd A1 tk I .t. the young man to be quiet and all would be we'll. After sixteen weeks of residence in the grim fort by the sea ''our hero was removed from the influences of hsh- ball diet and appointed recorder by Lin- coin for the military courts ofthe Depart ment of the East, under General Dix. So much for influence and brains.
 Towards next advent in journalism was when Brick Pomeroy made hlm editor of his new paper, the Democrat Twenty thousand copies were issued on the first day. In June, ISoo, he took charge ofthe Sfay, which was little bit of sheet about the size of your hand and had jus, e been started by some labor reformers. He enlarged the paper. anu made it fiat and sassy" filled 1t with literary moss agates and M. l. Jug sketches sup ported the Tammany people, which sup port was returned until the ring went into and retired from "business" owing the .SAsy SSo,ooo
 Joseph did wise thing when he ac- cepted an offer from James Gordon Ben- nett On May ,, 1876. he went onto the and after working for solid he launched into correspond ence that made him famous. His predic- tons in the Indian campaign for Garfield proved so remarkably correct that he at once took strong position on the He,aLi and was allowed full swing" Alter Gar field went to the White House, Howard did not like the way he was treated; at least he thought that the administration was not sincere toward him, and he began the celebrated "Chum letters" about the 3Chum Cabinet,' etc, which Blaine is said to have attributed to John Russell Young. The bitterness of these letters added to the hatred that was then grow ing between Conkling, Dorsey, and the administration. There were also other letters, by "An lnsider," written to the Htyaid about this time. These were likewise charged to John Russell Young, but neither he nor Howard had anything to do with them, and they were not writ ten by any of the Washington corres- pondents. Howard still writes for the Heyaia, and has done a good deal of breezy editorial work for its columns He also corresponds for the Philadelphia yiases and Chicago Nfsrs.
 "Mr. Howard, what was the smartest thing you ever didr asked Mrs Langtry the first evening she met him. The bogus proclamation" responded the Brooklyn gazelle. did what Lincoln should have done. Seward called it impertinent.' Stanton said it Vas pre- mature." "What was the wickedest thing yoa ever did r added the Lily, with . Jersey twinkle inher eye. ~The Chum letters." And the best thing ?" contin- ued the beauty, teasingly. ITO mind my own business" said Joseph, handing her m ice on . silver shield.
 As plain country lawyer, think it wonderful that he can write a column an