The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-07-21

apparent. It has developed into the commanding journalist whom most people know-some have felt. He has the revolutionary imperiousness of his father and the quiet gentleness of his mother. To his friends he is thor oughly tractable. At any time their word is law with him. To his ene- mics he is always intensely bitter, and as result of this fact he has earned the reputation ot being cold, uncom- promising person.
 O. H. Rothacker's career began in Kentucky. As boy he was a student in the Kentucky University. Regent John B. Bowman was then at the head of the famous five colleges. The night that young Rothacker reached there he was dragged out almost naked by the members of the senior class, walked over chestnut burrs, drenched with water and finally carried to his room in a dead faint, where he was placed in bed. The hazing of himself had been so severe that the attention of the entire faculty was directed to it and an investigation was ordered. It was three weeks before Rothacker could get out of bed and appear before the faculty. When he reached the famous room, ever to be remembered by Kentucky University students, twenty of the parties who had been engaged in the hazing were present. President Patterson said:
 "Pick out the boys who are impli- cated in this brutality on your per- son."
 Rothacker looked over the assembly and smiled somewhat and said:
 "Send in the waste. basket; these chaps look like men,"
 Before eleven o'clock that night he was elected to the highest position in the hazing society of the Kentucky University.
 From college Rothacker went at once into journalism. He was at first chief editor of the Lexington Trt- Weekly Dispatch. From there he went to Louisville as chief editorial writer on the Ledger. He left the Ledger to found the Argus of Louis- vile, the first great Sunday paper in the south. His connection with this publication extended over period of three years, during which time much of his literary work was reproduced by the standard journals of America At the end ot this time, at the request of Herman Beekurts, manager of the Denver Tribune, Rothacker accepted position as editor- n-chief of that pa- per, and removed to Colorado in 1878. He was at this time but twenty three years of age.
 His Colorado career became an epoch in the journalism Of a new state. It's influence leaped the bar riers of the narrow locality in which his fame began and extended into Ma tional channels. He made the Denver Tribune power. Every one-friend and foe-admired the exalted ability of his editorial utterances. All he op- posed feared his attack and brought peace offerings to his trenchant, sting ing thought. Money could never tempt him into giving fulsome praise where the object was unworthy. He wrote criticisms on public faults, per- sonal character and social conditions whose every sentence cut like lash into the quivering flesh.
 After he had done this he did not hide from the consequences of his open statement, but met remonstrance in its own way. To protesting gen. tility he gave courteous hearing and free discussion, even in his own col umns. To ruffianism and brute force he presented the undaunted front of inherited personal courage.
 Let any one if they can point to a position that he ever receded from when once he had taken it and opened his batteries. His caustic reviews often compelled corporations to seek his favor. Private malice, which he ex- posed, hesitated to seek him with armed demands for retraction because it knew full we'll that he would not be long sought until he was found. While in Colorado he added much that is of value to the literature of our age.
 Some of his poems are masterpieces. l Certain columns of the Denver Fri 6une containing his reviews of prom inent men and women attracted the attention of the country. He pro- duced the best of all the replies yet written to IngersolPs methods of at- tack on the Christian religion. In this work now published under the title "Some Phases" he used the great agnostic's own weapons, and handled them so skillfully that in satire, ridi- cule and beauty of expression he equalled that master of polemic art. Rothacker's style is perfectly dls- tinct. Once having known it, ever thereafter it can be recognized easily as Sirius is detected among the fixed stars.
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