Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-28
KNIGHTS Of THE QUILL.
Anecdotes of New York Journalists of


Se1oA VIC Eencn army aH private ana
remained in that humble posisiep, prefer
ring to be known in history asSthe First
Grenadier of France than to wearing the
epaulettes Of General, to which rank, or
to that of Marshal, the Great NAPOLEON
would have been only too glad to have
promoted him, as he was ,desirbus
OF obtaining the favor of Che
old noblesse. The distinction of being
the LIE Tour d'Auvergne of journalism lies
between Joe Howard and Amos Cum
mngs, of New York, each of whom has
attained distinct on in the reportorial
ranks. Many references have been made
70 the literary clique that once assembled
1T PfaH 8 restaurant, twenty years ago,
(Which was composed of such men as
George Arnold, Fitz James O'Brien, Arte-
mus Ward, and others of lesser note.
There have been, however, many men on
the New York press whose work, though Of
an ephemeral character, yet, nevertheless,
showed considerable genius. No veteran
reporter has yet entered on the task of
collecting the numerous anecdotes and
adventures of his confreres, and such O
volume would be very entertaining read
ing. At the close Of the war the writer
found himself on the reportorial staff of
the New York Herald, consisting Of about
thirty young men who had drifted into the
profession from other occupations. A few
personal "reminiscences Of the note takinf
chiel Of that day may serve to illustrate
the statement that it is mine worthy Of
being worked by the veteran newspaper
rnstler, which, by the way, is strictly q
Western term.
Conspicuous in the old Herald's rApor-
forial rooms was Kenward Philip, the son
OF London journalist, and who was the
only one present that was virtually graded
IN the profession. In after years he was ar
tested on the charge Of being the author
Of the Morey letter. he was also sent
Beecher trial. as he had served for 5
period as Theodore Tilton's assistant on
the Brooklyn Union. Philip was the per.
sonitication Of impishness, both in ap.
pearance and manner, having very ligh;
hair, very dark eyes, very short stat
ure, and such squeaky voice tina;
his landlady, TO whom he owed an un.
liquidated board bill, invariably spoke o.
him as the squealer. One day he called
on friend ct the Tribune Office. and
while sitting at desk dangling his short
legs. out rushed Horace Greeley with roll
of manuscript, and screamed in his shrill
alto: Are you the little id fool thai
wrote this?" Philip gazed quietly into tn,
placid countenance Of the PHILOSOPHERS
and squealed: I'm not little id FOO,
and didn't write that"
HI and damnation, you're knocking
me, sir! Are you attached to the Trsbs4s.s?S
yes, sir; very much attached. I buy
it every morning"
Horace, on closer observation, finding
he had mistaken his man, retired into his
sanctum, and Philip skipped for other
scenes. DIR. johnson once said of poor
Oliver Goldsmith: He had raised money
and squandered it by every artifce of &c
QUESTION aud folly Of expense" Philip
seemed to commence life every day, was
always in debt, and was constantly de-
vising means of getting money by hook or
crook, principally by the latter, and, like
Goldsmith, laid all his friends under con.
tribution, but, unlike poor Oliver, failed
to leave posterity anything worth remem!
ableries and practical jokes.
Circulating around the Herald OF this
period was Harry O'Connor, O gifted
Irishman, with facile pen and tropical
imagination. Young Jim Bennett-and hs
was young then; oh, SO young-got it into
his head that he would let the animals
loose in the menagerie in Central Park.
Harry was deputed to do this work, and
made such plausible and sensational
article that New York was terrified, and
many mothers kept their children from
school that day.. Lions, tigers and ele-
plants were represented as playing havoc
in the city. At the end of whole page Of
this stuff, preceded by enormous head
lines, was a little paragraph stating that
all this might happen If the bars on the
stronger" 1t was very cleveriy gotten up
and contained MANY a1v r,01ikioo1 20
Governor Dix and Samuel j. Tilden, for
example, being represented as hunting
the tiger and bringing him to earth.
These gentlemen at that time were waging
war with Tammany Hall, which Mast, the
caricaturist, represented as tiger.
The article, however, was rather damage
ing to the Herald, as it pointed no
moral and adorned no tale, being similar
to the exploit of Alcibiades, who, finding
that the public was neglecting him, cut of
the tail Of his dog and sent him bowling
through the streets, thereby giving the
people something to say about the dog of
Alcibiades. Harry did much political
writing, and on one occasion, when only
over to Brooklyn to interview Tom Kin
sells, the noted politician and editor of
the Brooklyn Eagle. Mr.. Kinsella, see
ing that Harry looked somewhat tired, re-
marked:
Perhaps, Mr.. O'Connor, it will save
this interview myself. !"
Certainly, my dear Tom," was the
ready reply; don't condense; spread
yourself. Just remember I'm writing on
space and am being paid by the column.
This request must have caused Gym
ical smile to spread over the features Of
Tom, who was himself IN editor and an
adept with the obliterating blue pencil in
cutting down copy.
Another bright Irishman was Stephen
Hayes, brother Of the stenographer Of the
United States Senate during the war. On
one occasion Mr.. Hayes was summoned
into the severe presence Of the senior
Bennett, who, with his strong Scotch
face and cooked eye, had q most disin-
heriting oountenance. et". -a-, s.ta.ls
Mr.. Hayes" said the chief, II hear ye
are sometimes in the habit Of getting
high"
ats true, sometimes do, Mr.. Ben
nett. replied Hayes, in. brisk, short &C.
cent. "but thin, sor, niver niglect me
work"
That's right, Mr.. Hayes, that's right
I've seldom met a man Of genius yet who
wasn't in the habit of occaai0nallv oatt;no