Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-15
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, sR.
Maj. George Williams RecoIlections Of
the Old Man.

81 first met the elder Bennett in the
old Herald oilice,' said Major George
+. Williams the other day, 'Jhcn 10.
Gated on the corner Of Nassau and Full
ton streets. 10 consisted of half a
dozen houses, taken up one by one as
the business OF the paper had grown.
You had 10 go up on down two or
three steps as you passed from bNlld-
ing to building, their floors being on
different levels. and there were any
number of quaint hooks and corners.
81 had gone 10 the Herald Office
one afternoon to see one of the re-
porters, The stairs leading up to tho
editorial-roomS were verycrooked and
extremely dark, while some of the
wooden steps had been worn into
holes, aud were almost dangerous
Feeling my way up ! accidentally
stumbled ON one of these broken steps
and ran headlong against an elderly
gentleman who was coming down.
"'N here ayeyou goingp he eNclaim-
ed angrily. Why didn't yo keep your
eyes openP"
"l did have my eyes opeu,' was my
tart rcjoiner But what was the use
OF thatP If owned this paper | would
put u few gas gets in these crooked
landings and have the carpenter mend
my staircase
"Eh, but that was weel thoct Of
said the old gentleman, in a sober
tone, as we parted.
"it was three or four months after
that before | had occasion to visit the
Herald onice, being sent 10y Mr. Ray
mond ON an GRAND to Mr. Hudson.
As / went mp the roundabout staircase
| noticed shat it had been we'll LIGHTED
with gas since my last visit, and the
steps were la complete repair On en-
tcriug the editorial rooms ! saw The
same old gentleman coming out of Mr..
Hudson's room. As he turned to go
through "a side door he caught q
glimpse of me, and pee'ingat me from
under his heavy eyebrows said in
dry tone:
"Eh, young man. We've put in the
gas and had the stairs meudcd. Dinna
you noticed thatP
"Hos, sir said |, in my youthful
fcarlessuoss. And | was glad of it,
"As the old gentleman disappeared
| saw a look of CONSERVATION on the
faces of group of reporters near me,
so ! asked who the old follow was.
"'Thats Mr.. Bennett, was the reply,
and | entered Alr. lludsou's room feel
ing rather foolish.
Years passed and the war was
nearing its end, and ! was cores
poudcut in the field. Bong very lucky
ia beating the Herdid one day with tho
news of battle received note from
MIR, Hudson requesting me TO call on
him Doing so, | learned that he
wished me To Join the Heraid staff, and
offered me good pccuuiury induce
ments for the step. While wa were
couyersing the elder Bennett came
into the room, when Mr.. Hudson in
troduccd me. thpn stated that Mr..
Raymond had been very Kind to me.
and therefore ! must decline the offer.
"Dinua we oncryou enoughP asked
Mr.. Bennett.
"Oh, yes, sir replied "But that
isn't It, | do not wish 20 leave Mr..
Raymond,
"I'm very sorry young mon. that
you refuse, but think all the better Of
you for your deccosQn En-, but lit
Tie RAYMOND is wndsome mon to
hold his young fellows like that.
"Mr. Bennett wroteto Mr. Raymond,
| learned aftcrward telling him of the
incident, and my salary was raised TO
Hujsons figure in consequence. ~
MicrUtc0 40 Ne. J0Hr4aiist.