Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-03-03
DANA At HIS DESK.
THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK
SUN AND HOW HE WORKS.
He Goes Up to His ONCE Two Steps at
Time, Is Always Ready to Talk Busi-
ness, and Won't BE an Old Man Till
He Is Ninety.

ness. and Won't BE an Old Man Till
He Is Ninety.
Special Correspondence
New York. Feb. PA stranger TO New
York standing in the counting room of The
New York Sun, between $50 and 10 o't lock
a. m, on almost any day in the year, would
he apt To see tall, muscular man pass
through and go up stairs. If he vas OBJ
servant he would notice that this man moved
quickly and alertly, and if the Stran ger fol-
lowed him, would probably find him taking
the stairs two at a time. On arriving at the
third floor the stranger would see the tall
man pass through a wicket gate, which closed
with a spring after him, and disappear
through a side door into the editorial rooms
Al the same time the stranger would find
himself confronted at the wicket gate by a
nicely dressed boy, who, would politely ask
him the nature of his business. If he were
fortunate enough TO carry with him a letter
of introduction to Mr.. Charles Anderson
Dana from common friend, the boy would
disappear for a moment, carrying the letter
with him, and on returning would ask the
stranger to walk into Mr.. Dana's room.
Now that the stranger is in the sanctum
sanCtorum, he looks around him and sees
plainly furnished, uncarpeted room about II
by II feet in size. On the walls hang por-
traits of Abraham Lincoln, the four Harper
brothers, Count Johannes, Horace Greeley
reading The Tribune and fine steel engrav-
ing of a young girl rapt in dreamy medita-
ton. The mantel of the unused fireplace,
for the room is heated by steam, is covered
with briC-a-hrac gathered from all parts of
the world. Among these are curious de-
vice in wood, half lizard, half frog, which
has evidently been used as an idol at one
time; odd pieces Of pottery, mostly groteSque;
u faded chrome Of the Emperor VII
liam. and a medallion bust of Ben Butler.
in the middle of the room stands large Of
flee desk. Upon one corner is placed a re-
volving bookcase within easy reach of the
editors hand. The contents of this bookcase
consist chiefly Of works of reference. A copy
Of the penal code stands beside five volumes
On botany Three Bibles are wedged in be
tween a copy Of the legislative manual and
Paseal's Constitution of the United States
The supply of dictionaries is abundant and
covers Spanish, French, Latin, Greek and
English The civil list and two volumes of
the geological survey of California rest on a
lower shelf.
There are TWO small tables in the editors
room. On one is piled up books for review,
and the other stands beside window which
overlookS City Hall park and the municipal
buildings Latterly Mr. Dana has dropped
into the habit of working chiefly at the
small table by the window. From brass
headed nail driven into the window casing
hang two coats, which shc-v a good deal of
wear at the elbows One of these is heavy
and intended for winter use, and the other is
Worn in summer.
When Mr.. Dana enters his room he takes
his seat in a stout oaken armchair which
contains a well worn cushion covered with
red leather. Judging from its appearance
this chair has seen long service, but, like its
owner. it is well preserved, and capable of
still longer service.
The first hour of the editors working day
is taken up with examining his mail and an
swering letters, of which he daily receives
Gbout forty. Among these are many from
well meaning people, who generously proffer
advice as to the best method of conducting
great daily newspaper. These are thrown in
the waste basket. Some of the letters bear
foreign postnarks, and contain pleasant re-
minderS from distinguished men whom Mr..
Dana has met and fraternized with in his
travels, for with all the conservatism of ad-
yaucing years, there is spice Of Bohemian
ism in Mr.. Dana's character that nothing
viii eradicate Other letters arrive asking
for advice from personal friends, who,
though they may differ with Nj. Dana polit-
ically, Yet recognize in him a true and faith
ful exponent of America for Americans.
-his necessary work don., be calls for the
pr;ncipal exchange newspapers from other
cities, which he glances over quickly, but
comprehcnsively. Then he looks through
he New York papers After having thus
fortified himself with a knowledge of all the
leading topics of the day, he calls in his
stenographer. He then dictates his editori-
ais. Greatly to the relief of The Suns corr
positors, Mr.. Dana now seldom puts pen to
paper When he does write his pen
manship is simply execrable. Probably
no man in this country is Mr.. Dana's
superior in rapidity and fluency of
thought and expression. On his re-
turn from u trip to Mexico about two
years ago he talked off a column and half
Of loaded nonpareil in twenty minutes and
when he revised this in type it needed very
little correction. Mr.. Dana's editorials form
q fitting elimination for the other columns
of The Sun. They are brisk, pithy and say
in few words, aptly chosen, what others try
to express III labored sentences Of wearisome
length.