The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15
ENGLISH MEN OF LETTERS.
Something of Personal Interest Regarding
Leading Editors.


Letter in Boston Journal.
A great deal of gossip is afoat about the late
editor of the Times-Alr Chenery. 1t would APP
pear that he literally worked himself to death,
or that he allowed the responsibilities of his sit
uation to worry him out of existence. The
Editor of the Times" often receives three
thousand letters per day Fancy reading all
these missves of an afternoon, knowing that
your only recreation before night of exhaust
ing toll would be a bit of dinner at the Reform
Club and a conversation with some political or
literary notabies! And then the answers to in
quiriesl Mr. Chenery always had two secreta-
ries furnished him by the Times administration,
and in addition to these he now and then had
two of his own. Yet he wrote vast number OF
letters with his own hand and most of them
after 3 o'clock in the morning. 1t is a tradition
of the Times that the editor shall superintend
details, and so he rarely went home before the
paper was ready for press lie usually walked
from the Times Office to his rooms in Norfolk
Terrace, solitary ramble at in the morning of
three-quarterS of an hours duration. Latterly
he was growing old with alarming rapdity. A
touching story is told of his arriving one even
ing at the Reform Club, and, entering side
room where he thought he was not observed,
throwing himself down on sofa and sobbing
out, MY God! l am dying l am dyingE He
was literally driven to death. His sensitive ma
ture suffered severely when calling paragraphs
about him were printed in the World and other
journals He took it to heart that they called
him the Arabian" and endeavored to make the
public believe that he was a scholarly recluse,
who had unwisey allowed himself to be per-
suaded into assuming the immense responsible
ties of managing editor. The criticism was
most unjust for he had been associated for years
with the Times as leader writer before he took
the chair of direction
The new editor, Mr.. Buckle, is a very young
man. Mr. Macdonald, one of the principal
owners of the Times, is said to have declared
that he would rather have a managing editor
under than over thirty. Energy is what the
nj ir1lpy 1nr,f
can be furnished when it is very badly wanted.
There is great deal of young blood on the ven
cradle paper just now. Three or four OF the
regular leader writers quite youthful 1t is
a mistake to suppose that the Times does not
make distinction between the writer's on its
regular staff and those outside it. \ man is no
titled when he is definitely taken on, and it
solidifies his position, like being elected to the
Athen9um or the Reform.
Mr.. George Augusta Sala, one of the veteran
journalists of the metropolis, gives i'll late num-
Der of the Illustrated News spirited, albeit
somewhat cynical, account of the hardships of
journalistic life in this town. He says that the
man who expects to shine in his profession must
breakfast at s, and must go to his writing table
by nine. He must then read innumerable jour
mails and must make out of them precis of the
topics on which he himself proposes to discourse
in the organ to which he is attached: Then he
must write at lightning speed until o'clock
When having sent out his contributions by mes
senger, he may take light lunch, and return
ing by to his den, should turn his attention to
the essay or story which he is trying to bring
forth for magazine or journal. This if he has
no interference from the outside world, is ample
occupation until dinner, when, after a hasty
toilette and frugal meal, he sets forth for the
play or concert He does not write at night
when he has toiled all day remarks Mr. Saa,
unless he wishes to become mailman.
Mr.. Labouchere takes his writing easy. He
does the greater part of Truth every week. and
seems to thrive upon this truly Herculean task.
The paper, which appears weekly, and circulates
rather more than 20, 600, nets him about $40 900,
some years 800 900 per annum. Mr.. Labouchere
has always been in society, consequently he says
what he pleases about 1t, and lodges in and out
of it to suit his own convenience He is a wei
come visitor at Marlborough House, and picks
up his sprighty paragraphs from authentic
sources He has been about everywhere and
seen almost everything, consequently he is an
ugly party to handle in a fight He has the
facts which might be very unpleasant for his an
tagonist all sorted out and pigeon-holed, and
could use them with cOnsummate skill He
attacks shams of all kinds with delight
and with vehemence, Nothing peases
him more than to take the sawdust out of
some dolly which had been looked up to as an
idol He is an equisite theatrical critic, and in
dulges in none of the weak bosh which some of
the London critics affect. He is not merciless
for poor actors and actresses. but he gives them
very frank advice. He made a study of the
City" market for years and under the head of
'Mammon" in his journal he pricks goodly
number of financial bubbles.
Archibald Forbes, who met with some severe
pecuniary losses not long ago, is now living qui-
city in London and is now a constant and highly
valued contributor to the Daily News. There is
a column in that paper devoted to the military
situation, which is evidently from his facii1 pen
Mr. Forbes remains quite lion in London soci-
ETY., which has never forgotten his perilous deeds
and exciting rides in recent wars.
EDWARD KING.