Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-11-08
Anecdotes About the Son of
Its Father.
James Gordon Bennett and His
Peculiar Policy.
How His Hospitality Cost Reporter
His Place.
Eccentricity Which is Frequently
Genius-what Shake Up in the
Herald ONCE Mesns-Reporter
Noyes and His Adventure.
[BY A. B. sCHANz. |

The eccentricity of James Gordon
Bennett, Jr., the editor-in-chief of the
New York Herald, is known in general
way to most people in the United States.
That this eccentricity frequently dis
plays itself as genius is undeniable. The
eccentricity which made Stanley,
which led Lieut.. Schwatka to the dis
covery of the remains of the Franklin
expedition, which inspired the jean
nette voyage of discovery is form of
journalistic talent worthy of the son of
the father of modern journalism. Yet
the biased nature of this peculiar man
frequently and in various directions
reveals itself in freakish behavior at
variance with all established conven-
fionalities.
Mr.. Bennett has always striven to
make his personal identity synonymous
with his paper. The Herald is Mr.. Ben
nett, and Mr.. Bennett is the Herald
When the city editor of the great daily
gives detail to reporter, he does not
sign the order, ~. Jones, city editor, !"
but simply flames Gordon Bennett"
When the local correspondent at Hobo
ken, or at Valparaiso, sends his contri-
button to New York, he addresses it not
"Jack Henderson, managing editor"
but to James Gordon Bennett.
Upon entering the editorial rooms
of the Herald, the first sign which
greets the eye is "Please shut the door !
James Gordon Bennett" and the in
structions for flushing the sink are also
signed by the editor-in-chief.
The same tendency he has shown in
his treatment of employees. 1t is i'm
possible on the Herald for any man to
gain such a reputation as did Colonel
-Cockrell on the World. You will never
hear that Mr.. So-and-so is making
great paper of the Herald. If Mr.. So
and-so should happen to be spoken of in
such way, and Mr.. Bennett hears of it,
the chances are that So-andso will find
himself either on the local staff doing
routine, Or out in the street. The won
staff have for years been known to New
York newspaper men as "Herald shake
ups" 1t was such CONFUSION as this
that found Billy Meagan, managing ed
itor yesterday, police reporter today, and
which took Jack Henderson out of the
composing-room and placed him in the
editorial chair with a check of $1,000 as
a present in his pocket. An unsophisti-
Gated kindergarten reporter from New
Jersey village came to New York one
fine day, and before the end of the week
was surprised to find himself city editor
of the greatest newspaper in the world.
And what is stranger yet, he made
good one, and by his modesty and con-
scientiousness made friends with every
body.
Mr.. Bennett seems to follow instinct
more than anything else in his selection
of staff, for mostly his appointments
seem to be made without sign of rea-
son. A candidate is admitted to the
office.
"You want position" says the edi-
tor; "what are your qualifications
"Well, speak French, and''-
"That'll do. You may report prize
fight for us tonight" and chances are
that the man who speaks French finds
out that he has unsupported talents as
sport.
1t has not been unheard of that
cablegram from Paris has instructed the
city editor to take off the dramatic re-
porter and send the bulldog editor to
the Metropolitan opera house to criti-
else Wagner.
One of the Bennett freaks during re-
cent years was the order, cabled over
one night, that all headlines thereafter
must be in rhyme and rythm, and for
several months the unfortunate staff
tortured their anguished brains and
made great raids on the reference
library for works of poetry and diction-
aries of rhyme.
All this may serve as an introduction
to an anecdote, the truth of which has
been vouched for to me. 1t is story
which is eminently characteristic.
A young man named Noyes Chat
name will do as well as any came
to New York from the West somewhere,
and after six months free-lancing
managed to get an assignment on
the local staff of the Herald. He was
a clever young fellow, and did his work
we'll enough to satisfy himself and his
immediate superiors. One afternoon,
as he was returning from detail, and
was running up stairs to the reporters
Office (for the Herald has no elevator),
he was met on the first landing by a
well-dressed, midde-aged gentleman.
The stranger stopped Mr. Noyes, and in
rather aggravating tone, remarked:
"Are you a reporter here, sir?"
s'Yes, SIR" was the reply.
Like it?'
81 do"
''They treat you we'll, do they?"
81 beg your PARDON" said Moves, 81
am in hurry, and have no time nor
inclination to answer questions which
cannot possibly concern you"
81 am James Gordon Bennett" re-
marked the stranger calmly, and the
poor reporter felt sick at heart.
"Come into my office" continued the
editor, 81 want to talk to you" The
two entered Mr.. Benefits rooms, and
the reporter was subjected to an ex-
tended catechlsm as to his antecedents.
s.Have you an assignment for this
evening"" concluded Mr.. Bennett.
Eyes, SIR"
"Then tell the city editor / want you
excused. [ should like to have you take
dinner with me. You had better 60 and
dress now and meet me here at 6 80.
Au revoirP'
That Noyes felt gratifed there can OF
course be no doubt. He went home
elated, danced a jig as he dressed for
the evening and in visions before the
mirror saw himself strutting around
with all the dignity of a metropolitan
editor. When he returned to the Her
AID in Inverness cloak and top-hat, Mr..
IL