The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-16

old speech eS OF
Abraham Lincoln and other eminent men.
The style of much of Mr. Halstead's early
writing was such that critics have since
found much food for fun in it, and one of his
early fictions is burlesqued by his rivals
under the title of 'The Red Haired Maiden
of the Blue Miami" 1t is scarcely an exag-
geration The first fruits of literature in the
west, like premature growths generally, con-
tanned more brilliant husk than solid sub
stance and a healthy country youth of Is,
who is moved to write, is very apt to fall to
''souling" and ''youthing" and eternal truth
ing" to melodiously absurd degree
In 1851 Mr.. Halstead finished his schooling
at Farmers college, near Cincinnati, decided
to study law and got tired of it very soon;
then started Sunday paper, of which only
two numbers were issued, and turned to
whatever local or general work he could get
to do on The Enquirer, The Columbian and
Great West and other papers. He was knock
ing around pretty lively for two or three
years and getting the use of himself; but
early in 1853 he found his fitting place as
manager of department in The Cincinnati
Commercial In 1854 he acquired a small
interest in the paper and its columns soon
began to show that young blood was at work.
During the next twelve years the good will"
of the paper increased more than fourfold III
value, and in 1866 it was ranked as one of the
most influential papers in the west. There
after he had practical control of the paper,
and its advance was still more rapid for few
years As manager Mr.. Halstead was con-
spicuous for his encouragement of the young
he was always on the lookout for beginners
who had shown some talent on the country
press. He completely reorganized the col
lection of news always had some ambitious
amateur son tap in every country town in
Ohio and Indiana, watching for some item
important enough to be written up for
Halstead," and inspired by the feeling that
If he did well, promotion was sure. Many
journalist who has now some recognition,
admits his early indebtedness to some en-
enlargement from Mr.. Halstead.
With all this, however he was not exactly
Q lovable personality in those busy years.
Many an aspiring youth from some remote
county, delighted by an encouraging letter
and anxious for a personal interview with
the "genial friend Of beginners" precpitated
himself upon Mr.. Halstead when he was busy
at his desk and emerged in about two min
utes, feeling that there had been an awful
mistake of some kind and breathing as if he
had escaped from an ogre's den. He was, in
deed, abrupt to the verge Of rudeness when
too suddenly approached, but when his work
was done for the time he was genial enough
with those he liked. Like the most success
full newspaper managers, generally, he did
not admit that there was any necessary con-
nection between literary and personal or
social relations. The Cincinnati Commercials
boss was one person; Murat Halstead was quite
another. For aught he knew the distant cor
respondent, whose letters delighted the
patrons, might be the outcast of his locality,
and for aught he presumably cared the
author of delicate sentiments on paper might
be the rudest boor in the state. Nor was he
at all anxious to test the matter by closer
personal contact.
There came a time, however, when the
rapid rise of the man and the paper was
checked. independent journalism" became
q sort of fad in 1870 or thereabouts, and for a
few years The Commercial-well, you might
draw it mild and say it "fuctuated." Mr..
Halsteads enemies land such positive char
scter is sure to have plenty of them certainly
''got even with him" then. He was restored
and restored his paper to its high standing in
the Republican party by the same element
which caused some of his blunders-his in
tense Americanism. The rivalry inside the
party between The Commercial and The GA
zette ceased and the two were cc.abined in
one great journal Mr. Halstead then seemed
to develop new traits of character and enter
on a new career He grew far more genial,
as most true men do when they have fought
and won the battle of middle life. He trav-
eled abroad and enjoyed more society at