New-York tribune., 1886-07-18
ON TOPICS OF THE WEEK.
SHORT TALKS WITH VISITORS TO THE CITY
AND WITH NEW-YORKERS

". INh0dctphlu
OF those quiet and takers VIII tells
q great many things without the slightest assertion
desire to push hs personality to the front Yet ell the
time his high character. broad beney olence
heartedness stands out IN bold relief n spite OF his
ways was chatting with Mr.. Childs whom fell to
talking about various newspaper writer's and the Of
Charles Nordhod was mentioned. General Charles X.
Graham present and the fact that the General aud
Mr.. Cnds and Mr.. Nordhof all Naval Cadets at
one time in their started the conversation. Mr..
Chiiis knows Mr Nordhof very well, and said about
MIN: He ran away from Ohio and came to Philadelphia
by stealing rides on the There newspaper In
philadelphia in those days started In opposition The
Ledger. which had not the privilege OF the facilities for
teesraphc news Their plan hold OF the
ss copy OF The Ledger aud reprint the dsI atches they
found In II. Nordhof, VINO was bright lad and had
been selling papers, selected to do this work, and
did 1t we'll tnat he handsomely paid for It, Years
afterward when the two who started that paper
were all broke ur Nordhof came to inc In Philadelphia
and induced nc give one Of them aposition In The
Ledger ohce The man Is stu there and Nordhon
always asks me about him whenever meet have
taken some little pains TO keep track OF the man, be-
cause like this kindly trait in NOrdhof's character
instrumental in getting the other partner position
IN the Mint Nordhon's solicitation. .Nordhoa has
never forgotten their kindness to him when no
frieudless lad"
Chatting about newspapers Mr.. Childs went back in
memory 10 the time no In
work. saying among other things: had been publish
ing literary paper when undertook The Ledger.
friend 10 Boston, with whom I WAS well acquainted,
wrote a strong letter OF advice, In whch he said
among other thing, that would make . great mistake
IL attempted to publish literary matter 10 a daily paper
and that my venture would no failure. l wrote back
him at once that had such dea as indeed, had
not. My notion mako paper that should satisfy
the great working and middle classes. who millions
IN his ntr have at Tn
standard OF literary excellence that only limited
number OF educated people could appreciate It yet
to take 1t down TO the lower level where only the
depraved read It, but have tried to pape.
for the average human intelligence in this country.
could understand why thS papers In New York
wanted down TO two cents copy. II is too low.
THE TRIBUNE think Is right in making Its price three
cents. That is low enough remember saying that
the reduction Of the other newspapers to two cents would
njure tue circulation Of TIE TRIBUNE and my judg
meUt correct. Ny idea about the cbeapenins Of
newspapers that would not change the constitu
ency but would merely increase the sales of all papers
That a who had been taking THE TRIBUNE at
four would probably take also WOrtt. and buy
tue two papers, where he formerly ooS hut one, that
the circul ,tioDs would be increased all around"
AS an illustration OF tho popular middle class pubca
tions in this country. Mr.. Cmds referred to Godeys
Ladys Book with whose founder he was well acquainted
saying: Il travelled with Mr.. Cooley through
the West and he WAS frequently approached by edu-
Gated people in the various places where stopped
asked why he did raise the standard OF his pub
lication and give higher literary His invari
able reply am not making magazine for tue few
but magazine for the Eliza James They in vast
majority Dir. Cooley died worth two three Millions
and his magazine circulating among the people OF mod
erats education, has done world OF good in this
country"
strolling through Centre-st, within day or two,
passed within the gloomy portals OF tho Tombs and
for short time the administration OF justice IN
the Police Court The thing that impressed me most
the lack OF proper accommodations for women who
ght brought there witnesses. There Is privacy
to which thoy retire. They must sit Oh the hard
wooden benches In the open courtroom surrounded by
persons whose is estive Of NTH aud
verniu told that 1t very rarely that laiy
induced appear at the Police Court for prosecution
It Is not to be wondered The wonder would be If
any woman could induced to spend half hour
In such a wretchet place as the Tomb's Court.
On Broadway the other day ran across Galusha A.
Grow, OF Pennsylvania Speaker OF the National
House Representatives aud long time prominent In
Keystone politics. Mr. Grow has changed his appearance
by removing the board that formerly covered his
chin His face appeared lean and cadayerous. He was
better looking with his wniskers His tongue has
not been tied the change hut moves ON with the same
yigor GUS and iorcbo dcton that has always character
lied his utterances. Mr. Grow told me that, while he
has horror of appearing constantly In print his good
nature gets the better OF him whea tho newspaper men
come arouud and he appears oftener in interviews than
he likes AXE him about Pennsylvania politics and he
said there only view about it, tue Republicans
having nominated an rellent ticket which wond be
elected He told me- no tnst the politicians in
Pennsylvania are studying with much interest the
OF the temperance people. When asked him
about the proper method OF dealing With temperance
finu ho lad
is the only way out Prohibition is imrracticabe in a
party sense The Republicans should be frank In their
that the Republican party is not party OF
prohibition. | In favor Of making vice pay the ex-
penses OF vice. High license would do that. Virtue
does not need almhOuses or police aud she shouh not
be forced to pay either Vice makes Grin nals and
psupers and should pay for both. Prohibition does not
want high license. Prohbitonsts that IL you take
money from vice you become parry OF vciousness In
other words they want TO be good and the OK
penses people who bad as we'll as beir own 1t
does not make the Government party to vice when it
ga vice pay for damage t does TO the
besides raising revenue Under high license the
kecpers OF saloons will form viganoe force 10 prevent
OF tue law. PrOhbitiousts get any
witnesses Lpdor a prohibition law, hut under hixh-
nessss In case there violations or the statute
u the general enactment Of high license laws Is
sIep that the Republicans should encourage
was chatting the Other day with General Charles X
Graham, who spent more than six years in the customs
service this port when tho Of Thomas James
WAS mentioned and tho General SAID: The OF
Mr. James has been simply wonderful. When first
knew him he nightwatchnan IN the Custom House
Thau he was a clerk. Then he weigher. He had
the epartmen where they weighed II In the
days when wegher allo we'd fees. He must have
taken in rs $40 900 single year. From 'hu
House lie went to tue Post Ohee and from there
into tho Cannet aud nually dropped into the good
races of Mr. Vanderbilt through whom he secured his
pr.s,nt postion at the head of tno lncOin National
Bank and SAFETY Deposit tomI Is hne position,
but Mr. James nas odrucd II uy hard work."
General Graham told me incidentally that he had
started in az mdshipman in the Uuited states Navy SO
many years ago that If he had remained in the naval
SERVICE being sixty two years OF age. he would In
Juus last nave been a admiral tue retired list.
Smith NJ. Weed, the Democratic leader, who is largely
enga ,ed in tue iroG business quoted having said