Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-19
someO,d Time Rust,ers.

ne clpHtceHUH anniversary VI tue DEE,
coupled with its removal to u magnificent
home, recalls many pleasant memories of by
gene days, and Of the men who, under Mr.
Rosewater's energetic, high pressure system.
learned the lesson of ceaseless journalistic
toll. With possibly two exceptions these men
are still in the harness, one enjoying the ease
and luxury which good fortune brings, the
other has become stellar attraction in the
local dramatic tirmament
i became acquainted with Mr.. Rosewater
back in 69, two years before the Journalistic
bee buZzed round his ears when he managed
the operating room of the Western Union
then located in the Holman building. Later,
ns manager OF the Atlantic 81 Pacific tele-
graph lines. he, displayed that faculty
for newsgathering which has since
developed and made THE BEE the envy
Of rivals and the admiration of the profess
sion, Then now Western Union had a
monopoly of the associated press dispatches
The rival company was anxious to secure
the news, and the boys who carried mani
fold sheets between the telegraph Office and
the Herald and Republican were objects of
Mr. RoseWater's special attention. His in
ordinate appetite for news was only equalled
by the fatherly care bestowed upon the boys,
and they soon learned to look upon him as a
friend and protector. The energy and perse-
verence shown il those days soon became
conspicuous feature of his career in journal
ism, and the success which has crowned his
labors in that field is not surprising to the
boys whom he patted on the back with pater-
nal affection twenty years ago.
was not a stranger to Mr.. Rosewater,
wnen, in the fall OF III, 1 went into the
infant BEE Office in search of work. The
Office was located on the ground floor of the
old Redfeld building. In one corner of the
room the editor in chief was perched on q
box nervously assaulting white paper. Near
the door was located the famous liter
ary bureau of George Francis Train,
presided over by his private secretary,
George p. Bemis Train was then laying his
plans to capture the presidency, and TIE
BEE was chosen as the official organ of the
prospective administration. To the left
tall, slender youth bent over a printers
case, engaged in painful effort to decipher
some of Trains abominable heiroglyphcs.
The effort was evidently a failure, for the
typo exploded vigorous, low-necked ex-
pletive. and fired the manuscript through the
window. This incident served me as an in
production to AL Sorenson and two days sub
bing on his case There was no evidence
of luxurious ease IN the establishment. The
editor jostled with the printers, exchanged
opinions with them, and urged them to pull
out for phat take'' with the ease and aban-
don of a veteran typo. No partitions divided
the institution. business matters were dis
cussed as readily rs politics, and condolences
exchanged as freely as the soap box, which
served as lounge for visitors. There were
no elegantly furnished rooms for the staff,
because there was no staff. There were no
handsome oaken desks. A three-egged
table was luxury, and the washstand, reek-
ing with the CRIME and grease OF forgotten
ages, was the foundation of many Scorch-
| ing editorial or a caustic local sensation
| Electric lights were not thought of in those
| days. Candles were good, kerosene immense
| The whole force from proprietor down ag-
gregated seven, and they were q happy fam
| lily, a semi-public debating society, with Mr..
| Rosewater as presiding officer.
During the succeeding eight years the
staff of The BEE consisted of MIR. Rosewater
| and AL Sorensop, While the individuality and
pugnacity of Mr. r.Rosewater were conspicuous
| in the editorial columns, Mr.. Sorenson placed
the stamp of originality, energy and vigor
| ON the local page. and earned not little OF
| prestige which THE BEE secured as paper
| of strong opinions and fresh, crisp news.
| Sorenson's vigilance and industry did not
| waver until 1853, when he suffered defeat as
the republican candidate for clerk of the dis
trict court. Every vagrant, bum and crook
| who had felt the sscorching virus of his pen
| rose up to wreak sweet revenge, and did 1t
| to turn. Heapylgned and went to the Re-
publican, butseoqn tired of it, He did not
find there theaatge constituency which de-
| voured his uttegahces in IKE BEE Talking
| to "a vast array Of empty benches" made him
weary. An opportunity Offering he returned
| to The BEE and displayed signal ability in
the onerous position Of managing editor
w. III. Kenttook the position If city editor
made vacant W the resignation Of Sorenson
in 1853. KentHas peculiar and prolific
genius. He possessed the rare faculty OF
making every acquaintance friend. In all
the town he did not have an open enemy
He had good word for everyone, and moth
ing grieved him more than to be forced by
duty 70 'write-pp'' an acquaintance. This
quality made MIN invincible as news
gatherer. His friends acted as relays of re-
porters on the routes, and grabbed and held
for him every scrap Of news floating around.
He was philosopher and visionary at the
| same time For many months he dId the en-
tire local work for both morning and evening
editions, took his lunches ON the run ant
slept during meal hours on the table. III,
received two mems pay and did four mems
work HIS plan OF life was to crowd al
much enjoyment as possible into day, lin
tied only by the cost. BY resting only foui
| hours out of twenty-four he argued that hi
ffty wears Of life would equal seventy year,
| of the average mortal. One OF Kent's grea
hobbies was an international railroad across
Behring straits, connecting Alaska and Asia