The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-31
lIilIIit ,a9le
JAMES GORDON BENNETT
HIS LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER
FOUNDING THE HERALD.
Extraordinary Success Following Many
FaiIures-Tbe First Man to Publish a
Verf4abIe Newspaper-COnpIete Devo-
ton TO His Calling.


Workable Newspaper-COmpIete Devo-
ton to His Calling.
Especial Correspondence
New YORK, Aug. 21.-James Gordon
Bennett had clearly genius for jour
nalism. He was the founder of the
modern newspaper in America, which
in time influenced the newspapers Of
Europe, notably those of Great Britain.
The Herald, which he established sixty
five years ago, had from the beginning
and always has had, any number of de-
fects; but It's unvarying and redeemlng
purpose has been to give the news. We
can hardly understand, unless we have
examined old files. how dull and dreary
were the blanket sheets over which
our grandfathers tried to keep awake.
They contained almost everything that
their readers did not want. and nothing
akin to what is now considered news.
Bennett is entitled to the enormous
credit of having been the pioneer in pub
fishing news, and Of originating journal
istic ideas far in advance of his time.
He never fully performed his mission
he was constitutionally disqualified for
the task-but he achieved more than
enough to make him remembered.
Although he began his connection
with.the Publishing business at %, and
afterward held divers journalistic posi-
tons, somesof them important, he did
not reveal his latent power-the power
that insures success-until he was near
90. Many men would have been dis
couraged by his unfortunate experience;
would have lost heart and hope. But
he believed in himself, and in himself
alone He had been thwarted in his
projects; he had been prevented to a
great extent from carrying out his
theories by his associates, and these he
discarded, so far as equality goes, in his
final and prosperous effort. His was a
mind that must control, that must act
for itself, without embarrassment or
hindrance from others, as the career Of
The Herald discloses.
Born in Scotland of Roman Catholic
parentage, he went to village school
at Keith until IL, and then to Catholic
seminary. at Aberdeen, with a view to
studying for the priesthood. While
there he gained certain intelligence from
this country which caused him to relin-
quish all thought of a sacerdotal life
and to make;a resolution TO emigrate at
his earliest opportunity. Arriving in
due time at Halifax with a companion
of his own a9e-he was then past his
majority-and but small. supply of
money, he sought a position as teacher
as a means of support. 1t did not suit
him, and after a few months he jour
neyed to Portland, Me-, and then to
Boston. where he got a place as proof
reader In publishing house. A passion
for writing seized him there, and his
compositions inverse frequently adorned
The newspapers, TO which he was stead
lily drifting.
Three years later he came here, but
he soon went to South Carolina to form
an ed1torial.coanection with The Charles
ton Courier, then an important and
prosperous journal. This did not please
him either, and he returned to New
York SO dissatisfied with journalism that
he decided TO sci up a commercial school.
The public did not respond 20 his wishes,
and he next delivered a course of lect-
ures on political economy which were
very poorly attended. He seemed to be
much disheRrtened at his non-success,
and after several other experiments
which proved abortive likewise he went
back to his 6rSt love. After holding
three or-four s1bordinate places on news
papers he bought The New York Courier,
r. Sunday weakly, and cherished high
hopes Of its future. But these having
been blasted he.again became salaried
man, changing from one paper to an
other until me was thought to be without
stability. There was good cause for
these changes, however, for he had def
mite ideas, and when they FLASHED with
those of the proprietors ne betoOk him
self elsewhere. After so he evinced a
deep and active interest in politics, en-
bracing the Democratic cause and earn
estly opposing the tariff. and the United
States bank. He even Joined Tammany
Enquirer with the once noted NJ. Nj.
Noah, and as Washington correspondent |
strongly urged the claims of jackson to
the presidency. He.subsequently started |
The Globe, which persisted in a month,
and owned an interest in The Philadel- |
phis Pennsylvanian,ande edited it without |
profit.
Finally, with only $500 cash, he found
ed The Herald May 6, 1880. issuing the
first number from the basement of 90
Wall street, corner of Nassau. He had |
then had fourteen years experience on |
the press, and abundant opportunities to
study men and measures here. at Albany
md Washington. Then fifteen dailies
were published IN the city, seven being
large morning sixpenny sheets. OF all
those but three-The Sun. Evening Post
and Commercial Advertiser-survive.
A4d they are radically changed. The