The Washington critic., 1889-01-17

on the Subject by John Swinton, the
well.Known Editor.
The glittering prizes that may be won
by ambitious writers for the new York
papers can be seen to-day by looking
into the embellshed quarters of thu lead
ing editors of the city. Almost all the
men who enjoy fame and fortune here
about, as masters of the press, have risen
| from the ranks of poorly paid scribblers,
| whose notes are so often recounted in
long meter and short. ! venture to say
that the proportion of our aspirants in
this vocation who secure success is as
great as 1t is in any other line of life what
ever, including stock jobbery. land spec
ulation, railroad building or tenement
raising. / am aware that this assertion
will be challenged, but the more fully 1t
| is looked into by those VINO know the
peer of New York, the more surely will
1t stand beyond dispute.
Take but few facts like unto many
others of the kind that might be given.
| knew Whitelaw Ried when, in his
maturity, he lived on small stipend as
the Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette. He is now owner of
the New York Tribune, proprietor of its
"Tall Tower" in City Hall Square, and
a millionaire who dwclls in palace that
belongs to himself
| knew Il. L. Goodkin, a man of Irish
birth, when he drew his pittance Of $50
a week as writer for the Times. He is
now proprietary editor of the New
York EUentng Post, and enjoys an income
from it higher than that of most of the
lords Of Ireland.
DANA's YOUNGER DAYS.
I first saw Charles A. Dana when he
was writer on the Tribune under Hor-
ace Greeley. He is now the dictator of
the New York Sun, the owner of a lovely
island on the sound where he resides in
the summer, the proprietor Of city man
sion in which he lives like prince, and
had the happiness a few days ago of
interviewing the pope in the Vatican.
/ knew Joseph Pulitzer ten or twelve
years ago when he was getting but lin
tied reward for the manuscripts he sent
to the Sun. He is now the owner of the
New York World, millionaire many
times over, and the author of newspaper
projects that are bewildering in their
range and magnitude. From the time
that he was private soldier in the
Union army till he became a writer for
the press and up to this time his career
has been lively.
knew the younger brother, Albert
Pulitzer. when he was clever reporter
for the Herald. He is now the owner
of the New York Morning Journal, which
has enriched him far beyond the hopes
that grew in his brain ten years ago.
/ know George Jones, who. however,
did not boast of his manuscripts when he
had no notion of the fortune that has.en
abled him to raise the grandest news
paper edifice in the world. In the New
York Times he now possesses wealth be-
yond the dreams of avarice.
Two years ago Robert p. Porter was a
writer who had no conception of what
the fast revolving suns were to bring
forth for him. He is now the owner and
editor of the New York Press, q daily
paper that bears the impress of power
ful hand, and is surely the beginning OF
great career.
Then there is Oswald Ottendorf, who
formerly made lean bills as u reporter
but who is now the owner of the New
York Stats Zeitung, through his marriage
to the wealthy widow of its founder.
AS to the New York Herald, that came
to its present atlluent proprietory inherit
ance from his energetic sire, who began
his career in New York as poor slave OF
the pen.
Here then, is the roll Of the names Of
the editors who are to-day at the head OF
the leading daily papers of this city. i
shows that nearly all of these papers are
owned by men who We're once, and somt
: of them not long ago, ''mere scribblers,
: anxiously looking for the means of life
in their ink bottles. Surely they have
won prizes as glittering as any to be seer
in this great city. Surely the editoria
business here offers attractions to its de
votees not less alluring than those of any
other. Surely there is fair hope of sue
cess for the young writers who arrive tC
secure wealth and power through tn,
press.
Surely it is not necessary for every biz
wigged father who is ambitious of wealtl
! for his posterity to shake his head wher
his son tries to cultivate n literary taste
The press, at least in this locality, ha
been u good mine, with veins tina
y yielded rich returns to the hands o
many endowed with the skill to worl
its machinery.
| do not know the press of all our cite
as well as know that of New York, bu
D it is probable that the foregoing sen
9 tence is not less applicable elsewher
: than it is here,
n And yet there is need Of new dali,
l papers in this city, which is growing
G like mushroom, but l must leave tina
! fact to be found out by those who woul
. like to provide them.
t JOURNALS THAT HAVE BEEN WRECKED.
y As matter Of fact, fortune does nc
. wait upon all the men, or tithe of them
. who try their hand in the daily press o
= New York. In past years | have known
g alas, how many journal lists, the peers i
! ability OF any Of those here spoken OF
. who have been shipwrecked by thei
newspaper ambition. Some of ther
died from grief, and others yet live il
despair. 1t were hard to tell what ar,
q victorious qualities for an editor, and
= am not composing an essay on that sub
is iuct, but the greenhorn may as wei
"a know that there are several OF them, a
. are shown by the records of this city.
"a is not a theory, but rather experience b.
i which we are confronted. Then, besid
If all the rest, as Napoleon once safd, "afte
n every preparation to secure victory whicl
n had been made, one other thing is needed
" and that Is good luck"
~ What has been here said of the dailie
e of the city might be applied to a larg
h proportion of its weekles. / coul