New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-09
1TALKWITH MR.. WATTERSON
rpAyK COMMENTS ON MESSRS. CLEVELAND
AND HILL.
SOME INTERESTING FEATURES OF THE FAMOUS
EDITORS CAREER-HIS VIEWS OF OTHER
EDITORS AND THEIR PAPERS
AMAZED AT GOVERNOR HILLS
.ACK OF COMMON Sens Sc.
FROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE


FROM AsTAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Louisville, KY, Feb. 2S.-" Lighthouse Harry"
aHarry Hotspur," the dashing Harry of the
Vest"-thesc are some of the pet titles conferred
nv his neighbors on the brilliant editor of The
Courier-Journal,' whose political valentines so
exacerbate Governor HILL Mr. Watterson T. not
only one of the ablest men in Kentucky. He is
one of the best-liked. At one time his life was
unsafe in any Southern farmhouse. Now, every
body st7ears by him. No mans words are more
widely quoted or carry greater weight and his
old enemies have paid him the homage of coming
around at last to his ideas. Like Nelson, he
never saw fear Confederate soldier in the
war; as soon as he laid down his arms he took
the part of the negro, when TO do so was to incur
general hostility. If Southern sentiment has
changed. it is largely because lie not afraid
to guide it. He has heart as well as brains, ana
even his political adversaries admire his genius
and daring and admit his great service to the State
and to humanity.
Mr.. Watterson lives in Louisville in an unpre-
tentious brick house. painted stone-color, with a
yellow porch. lie received me this morning III MS
bedroom, and is one of the few men that lose
little by being so surprised. His grayish hair
tumbles picturesquely over broad, square lore
head. His nose is straight, but aggressive, ana
his heavy mustache changing from f1aXen to gray
completely hides his mouth but allows you to read
the story of frm-set jaw. His voice is deep ana
pleasant. His talk is continual entertainment,
lucid and forceful, like his writing, and charged
with happy epithet and sparkling epigram lie
is in great request as public speaker. lie Is u
conspicuous figure at Louisville reunions, and no
host is more agreeable clever. He is fond OF
music. His home is the home of a man OF letters,
modest but snug, with no onyx mantelpieces, put
plenty of deep easy-chairs. Bookcases line the
walls. In the sittingrooms are portraits OF
Lowell and j. G. Holland and Longfellow, quaint
little sketches by Thomas Mast, whimsical clock
figures and busts and crayons. Over one OF the
mantels hangs an engraved or photographed lac
simie of that most touching of Inscriptions, be-
ginning Good friend, fol Jesus sake forbear,
in the old church at Standardization. Besides
Mrs. Watterson a grown daughter and two young
sons, the household comprises Mr.. Wattersons
father, hale old gentleman, with flowing white
hair the last surviving member of the AAVth
Congress. 1t is curious that Mr.. Watterson was
born at Washington while his father was the
Youngest member of Congress, and that his son,
another Henry Watterson, was born there on the
same date while he was the youngest member OF
O later House.
As an editor, Mr.. Watterson's armor is always
buckled on. He manages as well as he writes.
His principal aides have grown up around him,
several having served him private secretary
Just now, he writes little himself. AT other
times he covers half the editorial page. His artl-
ces are penned with his own hand and at nome,
excepting when stirring telegraphic news keeps
him in his sky-parlor at tie office. lie reads no
proofs. but has every line that involves the policy
of the paper read to him. Like most old news
paper-men, he rarely goes to bed until : or 3 IN
the morning. His bedroom is destitute OF pct
ures or ornament barring two bronze medaliions
and photograph of Boyd Winchester, eX-Mlnister
TO Switzerland, who lives with his daughter at
the Gait House. But there is an lnkstand IN the
window and histories, almanacs and encyclopedias
are heaped on bureaus and tables ana chairs.
Men who have been the longest in Mr.. Waiter
sons service speak the best OF him. lie calls
everybody MI, is firm discipinarian, but full
Of impulsive kindness. His ready grasp oil
poltical situation is phenomenal, and his old edl-
TORS tell many stories of his instant solution OF
dif;culties before they are fairly revealed lie
nevcr malirns or abuses, and his most active op
Moments are his warmest friends. lie asked me
about many old newspaper comrades In New-l orK'
and seemed to take great interest In the WeIiare
of the boys
At on 70 New-York usually for my summer LOAF.
Won know" he said. Il regard it as the best
summer resort in the world. You have the sea
within n few miles that you can get to fog 20
cents and then the mountains faris doesn't
compare with IL. w..
Mr. Watterson is an enthusiast over the New
South Don't fail to 90 to Middlesborough' lie
urred me land into Tennessee and Alabama. Inc
.boomsters., of course, l look on as gambling
s,vipdlcrs. But you'll find extraordinary TIMBER
and mineral wealth all through that region Inc
Tennessee marble quarries are simply gorgeous
Within the next fifty years we shall see the IRON
sceptre wrested from Pennsylvania and traheierleo
IN tennessee and Alabama. Pennsylvania VIII pc-
come a place only for the manufacture Oh 'hc
HIGHER grades All the crude material VIII CONC
from the South. We had Pig Iron Kelley at
birmingham not long before his death, anu IN
1roduced him when he spoke al LOUISVILLE iie
was perfectly ecstatic about IT,
will Northern settlers encounter hosuihy III
the South? Not at all A great deal oil Men
tucky and Tennessee is already Republican Mi",
dlesborough is foated with English capital anu
in Northern Alabama, If you SUCK 10 fro'ec'ioh'
vou've got 'em. There never was so h'tie sec
tionolism in the South as at this moment Inc
o,e,, division TO he apprehended in the future Is
NOT between North and South, but between the
W., and South as against the North and East, on
an arrarian basis, such as this Farmers Alliance
Torssbadows. The parties organized as they are
TO-DAY cannot endure for all time
Willie we were talking servant brought in a
,ro,. ~ coffee and milk and laid it on the bed.
H Zone Of my old Paris habits remarked Mr..
vattersop with a smile "ln my young days
there. we used to take simply cup OF conee
for early breakfast, without rolls. Tins and
glass Of milk kept me going for hours What was
! doing in Paris? Studying the piano. " was a
famous piano player once used to he great 'rielu
Of Louis Gottschalk and could do rare 'h,hgs Oh
the keyboard with my left hand AS boy; III
Washington used to play at concerts VIII Aue'iil'
Patti. when she was eleven ana was 'nn 'ee"'