Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-11

bors OF Mr.. Adams in Newspaper Row." still
remain at their posts. Ex-Secretary Carl
ent of the New York Tribune after the war, had
his office just across the hall from Mr.. Adams.
SamuelClemens,be better known as "Mark Twain,
during his brief career here as a newspaper cor
respondent and Clemens special friend Riley,
OF the Alta California. made the World bureau
their headquarters. Mr. ADAMS enjoyed close
personal relations with Mr.. &. c. Fulton, of the
baltimore Aanerid,a. who came TO Washington
frequently on business connected with his Jour-
nal. Gen. Boynton, speaking to STAR re-
porter OF the many brilliant men who served in
the Row" during the years Mr.. Adams was
the foremost among them as a correspondent
In 1873 he travelled in Europe with JohnR Rus
sell Young, who held MIR. Adams i'm high es-
1t as his opinion that Mr.. Adams possessed the
nnest instinct for conservative and reputable
Journalism of any man whom he knew.
Mr.. Warslen's Memories Of MI. Adams.
Said MIR. VIM. w. Warden, for many years a
correspondent:
when arrived in Washington, as corre-
something more than twenty-three years ago.
Hon. George H. Pendleton and other of my
friends, then members of Congress. kindly
TOOK me in charge to make me personally ac.
quainted with the chief executive officers and
the Washington correspondents of leading
newspapers OF New York city and other large
cities Among the first OF these latter gentle
men to whom l was Immediately thus intro
duced was Mr.. George w. Adams, then corre-
spondent of the New York World and Boston
Herald and probably some additional journal.
My friends in Congress commended Mr.. Adams
as an estimable gentleman and able corre-
SpOndent; as one OF the few newspaper men
here, at that date, who was not given to the
publication of 'roorbacks,' or lies relative TO
purposes official acts of President Lincoln
and members OF his cabinet Mr. Adams and
/ soon became warm friends, and SO continued
throughout his lite.
During our very active work as newspaper
correspondents and especially while we occu-
pied offices in what was then known as News
paper Row. on 18th street, we were together
from time to time each day, and, in that period
of stirring events OF the pending civil war, We
met much at night, aud simultaneously i'm the
wee short hour to send good night kilograms
to our respective journals, and then, together,
betoOk ourselves homeward.
All this is related (much additional of historic
interest could be Siven) to show how it comes
that speak from personal knowledge when
say that Mr.. Adams was one of the ablest
Washington correspondents of his day, a man
of the strictest integrity, honored by all who
knew him, genial companion, a faithful
friend.
He was one of our then newspaper guild-our
journalistic social club which was composed of
OF Congress, who were then or had been jour-
nalists-Blaine, Colfax, ct al. At our annual
press sbanquets-notabiy one OF these where we
entertained Stanley, OF the African exploring
expedition; another when we had with Sem
atOrs Sumner, Thurman, Stockton, Boutwell,
and Blaine, Gen. Grant, Judge Richardson (at
that time Secretary of the Treasury, aud yet
another occasion when Hon. John w. Forney,
Clerk of the US. Senate aud editor OF the Phila-
delpha Press. entertained us upon taking his
final leave of Washington-at these ana other
of our pleasant club meetings, Mr.. Adams was
happy in short impron,ptu speeches. and was
one OF several members who with Ben: Perley
Poore, in post-prandial remarks, were won't to
set the table ON a roar never heard good
citizens utter naughty words about Mr. Adams.
In truth, how could they?"
Col. washinston's Recollections.
81 willingly comply writes Col. l.. @. WASH
ington, with the request to give some personal
recoilections OF the late George w. Adams, and
should do injustice to my feelings if did no.
add my Impressions OF his personal and pro-
fesstonal character. On coming here from Nir-
ginia in the year 1867 to engage in journalistic
pursuits first met Mr.. Adams who had, as
understood, been Washington correspondent
for five or six years. He was then teegraphic
correspondent for the New York World, but
also represented the Baltimore Sun, the Boston
Herald, the Chicago Times, and other promi-
nent journals OF the country. My acquaipt-
ance with Mr.. Adams soon ripened into very
close intimacy, which enabled me to estimate
him and bis work. was at first surp ised at
that his thorough professional training quail
fed him TO gather Information with facility
that hardly any one possessed. His mind was
clear, his apprehension OF passing events quick
and almost intuitive and there was hard " an
hour Of the day that did not yield to him its
fruit in preparation for his work. He had ac-
Quired an excellent knowledge of the working
Oh all the departments of the federal govern
ment, and especially of the business OF Con-
gress. In every thing relating to finance and
business he was thoroughly informed. His
range OF general Information was large, and
he was constantly adding to his stores.
No man more full of Information
than he. and yet none was more modest or more
ready to avail himself of the suggestions OF
others. He had "A very large acquaintance
with public men OF both parties and justly pos
sessed their confidence. In this way and 10y his
ready perception OF the best sources of informal
afehN tod f,eir
ness accuracy and intelligence. There rarely
ii ever, anything that he published that SUBJ
reqdrea o
nothing-save to avoid them. He never de-
scended to personal scandal. He betrayed no
confidence, and il he had conversation with
any man in public or in private life, he never
used it to that mans prejudice. He never
aimed to wound or beiittle Others He was
happily free from antagonism and bore no
grudges; but if he had felt them, would not have
perverted his pen and his power to accomplish
q personal resentment. His aims. in a word,
were high and broad as they Were just and iair
to all men. He sought to give his papers sum-
mary OF the important news of the day which
lay outside Of the Associated Press, and to ac-
cord the preference to what was important over
what were merely trivial and personal details.
This useful and important information was
framed by him in clear and concise speech,
calmly and temperately, TO inform and
not to mislead the reader. Much of this work
was done at q late hour, when the mind and
the body were both weary, but it was well done
and Will abide the test OF careful scrutiny.
His success in good work seemed to me to
spring not SO much fom theory as from a just
and conservative nature and correct habits OF
mind and expression. Mr.. Adams always
sought to know the actual truth of matter.
He was not an XiOus to build up one man to
tear down another. He had his political sympa-
thies, but they never Obscured his Judgment or
intiaIned his temper. This happy balance of
his faculties, added to his industry and excel
lent methods, made him indeed an admirable
journalist, and placed him among the first, if
not the very first, of his branch of the profess
sion in this city-among q corps OF able and
notable men, not q few OF whom have achieved
a national reputation. Any one of these tai
ented gentlemen would have found it an ad-
vantage, as many did. to avail themselves of
MIR. Adams excellent judgment and acumen in
all professional matters.
nave lett myself little space to speak of Mr.
Adams personal qualities. His honors aud
successes in journalism were all won fairly. He
was not only fair and just, but liberal to his pro-
fessiOnal rivals No one .ver had cause to COM
plain OF him. In the nineteen years that have
known him have not heard man complain
that Mr.. Adams had ever treated him with in.
justice. His sweetness of temper and courtesy
were remarkable. Under ali circumstances
and to all men 1t was the same. His health, as
his friends we'll knew, was not uniformly good
and to any one having his varied cares and
duties there must needs come trials but his pl-
tience and kindiiness of disposition seemed in.
eXhauStible. That he should enioy a great
popularity was natural CONSEQUENCE OF his
uniform justice, kindliness and afiability. 1
should tranSgress all due limits ii L were to
repeat my pleasant recolections of Mr. Adams
office associate Or in professional and social
intercourse, or as o travelling companion In
all these relations he was charming and in-
Structive.
Among the contemporaries of Mr.. Adams in
Journalism when met him here in 1867 and
later, recall vivid!y the honored names of
Messrs Alien, kingman, knowiton, Gobright,
n md