The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-04
Hobart w. Richaras..

year, but until recently had been able In he
about the streets and to do more or less work
on his newspaper The last day on which he
was in the Advertiser Office was "Wednesday
of last week. He rode over from the Falmouth
Hotel,where he had rooms. on tho morning of
that day. but was so weak that Il was only
with great difficulty he got into the editorial
room. his courage, which, up to that time,
had stood by him, had manifestly deserted
him' and 1t was apparent to himself, as well
as TO others, that the long fight he had been
making against his disease was soon to end.
In the afternoon of that day he was at his re-
quest, taken to the Maine General Hospital.
After MS arrival there he gradually sank until
yesterday, when he quietly breathed his last.
hobart Wood Richardson was the only
chiio OF Rev. hobart and Louisa Wood
Richardson. His father was clergyman of
the Methodist denomination. Hobart was
born in Clinton, Dec. g. 1881. While lad
he learned the trade of printer in the office
OF the Waterville Mail, then, and for many
years afterwards, owned and published by
the firm of Markham d Wing, meanwhile
fitting himself for Waterville College NOW
Colby University, which he entered in 1S49
He was graduated In 1858. Among his class
mates were Rev. DR.. Bullen, now of Paw
tucket, r. l., Mr.. George Bradley, Rev.
DR.. Owen of Nashville, Tenn, ex-Gov.
Harris III. Plaisted, DIR. Stratton of Michi-
gan, and Stephen r. Thurston of Chicago
From 1855 to 1862 he was tutor at the college,
place for which he was admirably fitted
and which he filled with marked success.
IIndnnhtQ1ly hod ho ~, Hal
the religious convictions of the denomina-
tion which controlled the college he would
have been made professor, a position for
which he was finely equipped both by educa-
tion and mental endowment After leaving
| Waterville he went to Washington, where he
received an appointment in the General
Land Office. In 1864 he was appointed mag
| netic and tidal observer on the United States
coast survey, and remained attached to that
service until 1866, when he resigned to ac-
cept the editorship of the Portland Daily
PRESS. he remained in charge of the PRESS
until 1868, when he resigned, his retirement
growing out of disagreement between him
self and the proprietors with regard to the
action of Senator William Pitt Fessenden in
the impeachment Of Andrew johnson. In
company with Judge Eboch Knight he then
purchased the Evening STAR the Price Cur
rent and the Portland Advertiser and con-
solidated them under the name of the Port
land Advertiser. Judge Knight soon re-
tired and Mr.. Richardson became controlling
proprietor and editor, positions which he
continued to occupy to the day of his DEATH
His literary work was not, however, confined
entirely to editing his paper In 1878, while
the financial policy of the government was
under discussion, he published an admira-
BILE pamphlet on paper money, in 1880 anoth-
er on the National Banks, and in 1884 third
on the standard dollar. These works were
issued by the Harpers, and it is not too
much to say that in clearness and concise
ness Of statement, and real effectiveness they
are not excelled by any treatises on these
subjects. In 1877 he was elected member
OF the Maine Historical Society. Under his
direction the first three volumes of the York
Deeds were prepared, and ne wrote in the
form of an introduction to the first volume
most admirable treatise on land titles, dis
tinguished, as was everything he put his pen
to, by exact knowledge. precise statement
and wonderful perspicuity. The only office,
III any oCHSC PUubiCdl. WulCH MI.
son ever held, was apprenticeship of the
Census in 1880, and his selection for that
office was solely on account of his eminent
fitness for the work it called for.
To the general public Mr.. Richardson was
chiefly known as the editor of the Portland
Advertiser, for his disposition was retiring,
even approaching diffidence, and his init
mate acquaintance were comparatively few,
But never did man more clearly impress
the characteristics of his mind upon his
work than did Mr.. Richardson while edit
ing his journal Never did mirror
more faithfully reflect the physical features
Than did the Portland Advertiser the mental
features, so to speak, of its editor and pro-
prietor. He pervaded it ALL 1t reflected in
every department his taste. his opinions. his
method. Other men wrought under him,
but they were guided by him, and they came
soon to reflect his characteristics rather than
their own. journalism was with Mr.. Rich
ardson always profession. The counting
room was subordinated to the editorial room.
Unmindful of the financial success of his
paper he was not, but he had well defined
views of what newspaper should be, many
of them not compatible with its highest
financial success, and he chung to
them unwaveringly. 1t was his idea that
a newspaper existed for the calm and
thoughtful discussion Of public questions,
the dissemination of information of real
value. Twaddle and tattle he hated, and they
never, except by accident, found place in the
columns which he controlled. That maxim
which seems to hold the highest place in the
average newspaper Of the present day, "Get
all the news" and which has done and Is
doing more than anything else to lower the
tone OF journalism, was never heard in the
Advertiser Office. There was good deal of
the so called news which he did not care to
get, which he would not have. Mr.. Richard
sons mind was of mathematical cast His
statement Of propositions was strong and
exact, and his logic was almost always fault
less. His keen perceptive faculty readily
discerned the vital points of question, and
his power of clear statement enabled him to
present them to his readers in way that
was very impressive. A case stated by him
was half argued. His prejudices were strong
and sometimes, especially where persons
were concerned, warped his judgment, lead
Ing him unconsci0usly to occasionally do in
justice, but In the discussion of principles or
policies his conclusions were almost always
sound, and even when suspicion of un-
soundness attached to them it was exceeding
ly difficult to overthrow the logic that had led
up to them. He rarely spoke or wrote unless
he had something to say that was worth say
ing. Enterprises which enlisted his sympa-
thy he entered into with zeal and enthusi-
asm. A recent example was his untiring
and powerful work in behalf of the soldiers
monument
His paper accurately reflected his political
opinions. In general he supported the prin-
ciples of the Republican party. not because,
however, they were the principles of that
party, but because they stood the test of his
memorable logic. When one did not do that
he refused to accept it. Thus, though not a
free trader, he did not embrace the doctrine
of protection because, as he was accustomed
to say in substance, he had not been able to
demonstrate to his satisfaction that results
credited to it were, as matter of fact, credit
ed to it correctly. He was not a blind parti-
san, but could see good in his political foes
as well as in his political friends, and was
always ready to accord to the former what