The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-09


NEW YORK, EUROPEAN AND LONDON Ed
TONS OF THE HERALD.
what he can There are plenty of harpies,
however, who, knowing his superb contempt
for expense when in his cups, do not hesitate
to encourage him TO excess, and 1t Is on oc-
casions of this kind that facts are exaggerated.
The elder Bennett several years ago OBJ
served to one of his old time editors: They
may say what they please about James, but
thank God that all his sports are those of a
gentleman Ii the old gentleman had lived
long enough he might have witnessed this
estimate of his sons character illustrated,
He would have seen him daring rider, a
fine hunter an excellent boxer and pigeon
shot, and spending thousands of dollars rs a
patron of gentlemans sports. Most of us re-
member the international rifle contests when
The Herald contained the diagram of every
shot made the day before, three thousand
miles across the sea. IL was this encourage
ment, together with the offer of prizes by Mr..
Bennett, that started rifle practice through
out the country, until, extending to regiments
and brigadeS, it has at last become part OF
the education of the regular army.
Some years ago the town was startled by
the announcement that Mr.. Bennett had won
"a ten thousand dollar wager the morning be-
fore in walking match with two or three
of his club friends from the Windsor hotel to
jerome park Within week every young
in ayy Vnrly on his mott la and uOlnp
like a race horse through the streets. At one
time he was proud of his skill with the pistol
and there are those who have seen him knock
a silver dollar out of the hand of his valet
standing twenty feet distant. 1t is also on
record that in a match with the late Recorder
Hackett, famous shot, he successfully drove
in the four corner tacks that held n picture
and dropped it to the floor.
Another contradictory quality of Mr.. Ben
nett's character is that while he will drive
the closest bargains and metaphorically
pinch penny in order to get all tho juice
out of it, his expenditures, whether for bust
ness, pleasure or charity, are of the most gen
erous character.
To several of his worn out employees he
gives liberal pension. Once tbut that was
years ago, and he's not doing it now he pre-
Sented to each of three members of his stall
O'Kelley for services in Cuba, Fox for serv-
ices in the Modoc campaign, and Stanley for
services in Africa an $500 gold watch. For
the late Lawrence jerome he purchased a
seat in the Stock Exchange, and so the list of
what might be called small gifts could be
multiplied for columns; but there are eXcep-
tional cases in which his contributions for
the benefit of the public have been like those
of prince When the famine desolated
ireland his mite was $4,000 When pow
erty created such havoc few years ago in
New York he authorized DcimOnicO &c
establish soup houses wherever they were
wanted and to give the poor the best food he
could prepare. When Chicago was burned
his check for $4,000 responded TO the first
appeal When his father died and left him
the great bulk of his estate except what was
given TO his daughter Jeanette and his
wife, Mr.. Bennett voluntarily increased his
mothers share and made over to his sister all
his half interest under the will, in what Is
known as the Bennett law building in Nassau
street, and when his sisters first child was
born he set aside to be invested for the little
one the munifcent sum of 100000. New
IOi - INltbLti ~ Illii III 10 Nttelllp tt.lI
polo grounds, and when there his stone villa
yacht and horses are practically at the
service OF all his many guests.
1t is mistake to suppose that because he
enjoys so much pleasure or is abroad such a
large part of tho year Mr.. Bennett has nc
active share in the management of The
Herald. On the contrary, he directs all the
and before retiring at night knows the edl
tOrial tone of its columns-this, no matter
whether he be in Newport, Paris, st. Peters
burg or Africa The cable and land lines OF
telegraph keep him in daily communication
and through his private secretary, who is al
ways with him, he dictates his Instructions.
When he is in Europe or elsewhere, copies OF
The Herald are sent to him 10y every mail
and in these the nasle of every writer
of an article in the paper, from the
leading editorial down 10 a two line para
graph, is written across it with a blue pencil.
Hence the chief knows who is at work in the
office and just what he does. His hand is
always on the helm. In addition 10 this, eE-
cerpts from the leading journals Of the coun-
try, arranged according 10 subjects, and
especially those that refer 10 The Herald are
sent to him, and he thus obtains a consensus
of public opinion TWAS not intended in this
article, however, 10 describe the methods of
tho paper SO much as the man who inspires,
directs AMI controls everything between its
basement ami rafters, who brooks no other
power around his throne; who, according to
his idiosyucrasy. may praise, condemn or
defy, with none to say him nay, and who,
with his strange mixture Of good and bad
traits, occupi,., place upon tho human stage
peculiar t. hiuscL alone
FELIX G.. De FOETAIyE