Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-03
Robert Bonner and HIS Success.
N. Y. Letter in Galveston News, +

n. Y. Letter In Galveston News. -
Mr.. Robert Bonner is not making as
mach noise in the world as he was ten
or fifteen years ago, when he was push
ing his story paper in every possible
manner. He has become very rich, and
may be pardoned if he s1ackens some
what from the very rapid business pace
at which he for so many years lived.
There are plenty of printers in New
York who set type with Mr.. Bonner on
the old New York Tribune, and some
of them told Mr.. Bonner that he was
making a grave error when he threw
up good situation to embark upon
an uncertain enterprise. Yet these
men are setting type yet, and Mr.. Bon
ner is worth we'll on toward S., 200, 900.
His scheme was good one, and it paid
from almost the very start. It succeed
ed more through the business tact Of
it's proprietor than in consequence OF
great excellence in the publication itself,
although Mr.. Bonner spent money for
good matter with great iberality, just
as soon as he got the money to spend.
His advertising methods were new at
that time, and once under Roadway the
business grew with great rapidity. Mr..
Bonner still goes to his desk every day
and looks with the same care after a
thousand details, but hels also taking a
deal of enjoyment out of everyday life.
He is very benevolent man, and he is
constantly helping persons whom he
knows to be deserving. He delights in
nothing as much as his horses, howev-
er, and he does not let a pleasant day
pass without going out for a whirl
through the park and up the road, as
the drive above Central Park is called.
He is very much of student, and he
enjoys his home and books almost as
we'll as his drives and his horses.
Bonner lent to Charles A. Dana the
money that enabled Mr.. Dana to pur-
chase his share of the stock in the Sun
and the two have been the best of
friends ever since. After the Sun had
been going under the new management
for a time and before any dividends had
been paid, Amos Cummings, then the
Suns managing editor, went to Bonner,
and said: "See here, Robert, here is
the Sun going to be big paying con-
Germ, and [ have no stock in it. Why
can't you buy me some, and let me pay
you for it when I CAM" Cummings
and Bonner had set type in the same
alley in the Tribune Office, and Bonner
liked him. He told Cummings that
he would lend him enough to buy
ten shares, but as they were selling at
5000, Cummings did not care to as
sumo so much, and they final
~ agreed on five shares. When
it came to the transfer Of the
money, Cummings began to talk about
borrowing money on the shares and
making part payment to Bonner, but
the latter simply said: "No, l Will lock
them up in my safe, and you may pay
me for them out Of the dividends they
earn" In three years they had paid for
themselves, and Cummings took them
under his wing. In three years more
they were worth SIS, 900 share. Bon"
ner has helped score of newspaper
men in a similar manner. He is liked
by the printers, and is adored by the
members OF DR.. John Halls church,
with whom he worships. His paper is
yet very prosperous, and in ten years
more Mr.. Bonner will be worth &c..
600. 600.