The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-08-02
THE WORLDS MANAGING EDITOR.
Col. Cockerill and the Way He Lives and
Works.
Special Correspondence. |

NEW YORK, June 80. - Col John A.
Cockerill, who is virtually Joseph Pulit-
ger when the chief proprietor and editor of
The New York World is abroad, probably
has no equal rs a resuscitator of semi-de.
funct newspapers. In St. Louis, in Cincin,
natl and in New York he waved his magic
editorial wand, and from seemingly hope
less ruins there sprang up live newspapers
and splendid fortunes.
Col. Cockcrill can't help this. The humor
of the star under which he was born was
| to provide him with some sort of talsman
against defeat, and he seems to have worn
| it ever since. If you don't believe in the
foolery Of astrologers you may conclude
that tie fact that never in his life was Col.
Cockerill tired, or indolent, or careless, or
stupid, or discouraged accounts for his
brilliant victories in II field full Of strong
competitors. If you should attempt to
catch up with him on Park row AS he is
making for The World Office at o'clock in
the afternoon, you would find that the pace
stirred your blood. Your admiration for
the physical man almost makes you forget
his deeds of brain. You think of the per-
fectly trained and well groomed thorough
bred on his way h. the racing track.
The colonel takes care of his stomach
and his nerves and keeps his muscles in
first class working trim. There is an i'm
pressive suggestion Of vitality in the way
he fills his lungs and swings his walking
stick. You get the same impression when
you see him cross over to the Aston house
at o'clock for lunch; and if you should
see him striding toward the City Hall sta
ton of the Third avenue elevated road at
a. m, after looking over all the proofs
and writing half dozen news editorials,
you would marvel at the physical buoyancy
of a man just through the daily grind that
plOws such early burrows in the cheeks of
other editors of metropolitan dailies
The men who make The World have
time to listen to the suggestions of the
hunblest newspaper worker that ever
stumbled upon an idea. One instance of
this will enable you to dip deep into the
mystery of Col Cockerilrs grasp on the
newspaper situation. l know he doesn't
like being written mp" but that Is the
penalty for greatness prescribed in the
statutes. One day II talented and persist
ent but then unknown, newspaper writer
from the west forced mutual friend to
introduce him, his object being to obtain
employment.
The colonel was courteous, but bored,
and celebrated the occasion by referring to
the large number of idle persons looking
for chance to sit around in newspaper
offices at large salaries while overworked
editors skirmished about in search of
something for them to do. The applicant
thereupon casually suggested a novel and
most attractive subject for a series of arti-
Giles, and was giving the details of a skill
fully prepared plan of action when Col
Cockerill suddenly rose from his desk. say
ing:
mo; you take my chair here and I'll 80
out and do this job"
The lucky applicant had sense enough
not to presume on the good nature of 50
sppreciative an editor, and from that en-
had all the work he could attend to.
CURTIS DUNBAR.