Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-09
PUT YOURSELF In HIS PLACE.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. !

PICKED up an old copy of Charles
Reade's "Put ourself in His Place" day or
two ago in my library and on the title page
I found these words written in pencil in q
neat running hand; every newspaper
writer should adopt the title Of his book as
his motto. 1t will lead to softening many
harsh impetuosities in young writer's and to
added brilliancy on the part older ones
Ho,Cdrd." This sentence can stand alone
well enough as a piece of excellent advice
from a man of great and varied experience
but it recalled story which is worth tn e
telling. More than ten years ago, Joseph
Howard-that Joe Howard so well known as
one of the most notable and erratic of New
York newspaper writers-was in Plttsburg
in connection with mission for the Herald
Business interests in common led US much
together during his stay, and one night he
wrote in Reade's novel the MAJ kim have
quoted, and rs nearly as I can remember,
this WAS portion of the nomily he preached
to me upon my making rather uncharita-
Bile comment on q man who held at that
time very trying semi-public position.
"SoME day when you know the man bet
ter and get a clearer insight into the CIR
cumstances which now surround him you
will Judge that man differently" said How
ard. "And in any event you will find it wise
to put yourself as much as you can into
the place of the other man who is to be your
target. Study the mon you are thrown in
with, who are worthy of the study either by
the positions they hold or by their ability
above their fellows, and it will be of the
greatest help to you professionally. This is
particularly true of public men. If you get
a chance to see them in mental undress, i'm
prove your opportunity and perhaps you
m n ig n n9 n
Judging the conduct of q President or a cab
met officer. Apply the same rule to the
lesser people who are for some reason
temporary prominent. If you are handling
q murderer or any other criminal don't be
content with gathering the mere outline of
facts in the story, but study your human
subjects and you will get lot OF material
and a quantity of light on the affair in
hand which the other newspaper men will
overlook. Let me tell you something of
which am not only proud, but which re-
gard as having had a great deal to do with
my success as newspaper writer.
CAT the time of the assassination of Lin
coin 1 was on the New York Times, and
Henry J. Raymond was its soul and spirit.
He had profound insight into the character
of men and their motives, and took the
trouble to impress this on me. 1t was this
faculty which made him so potent as an
editor and led to his greatest feats, one of
which was his sketch of Daniel Webster.
He was informed of Webster's death about
the middle of the afternoon and went at
once to his office where he wrote contin-
uously until the paper went to press: He
wrote IL columns of historical and critical
review OF Websters career which was taken
afterward as the best work on the subject
done by anyone. Well, to go back to my
own story; was sent to Washington right
a rter the death of Lincoln, and wrote of the
which immediately succeeded L
was permitted to get great deal OF informa-
tion in regard to the persons charged
With wilkes oo%gsty nd6sh talked in the rth deed mrs
Surratt and studied them as carefully as
could and gathered all the information pos
sible as to their past, and anything which
ters, mental equipment, motives and probable
lines of thought. 1 became familiar with all
their surroundings, their prison life and
their expressed feelings up to day or two
before the execution, when was suddenly
to New York. On my arrival
was told that an Important piece of work
would be given me and that the hanging of
the Lincoln conspirators would be handled
by the two regular correspondents OF the
Times in Washington. l felt very sore about
the matter, as of course it was the biggest
made great preparations to do myself proud
on the tragic wind-up of the affair. Ray
mond did not take very kindly to my pro.
tests and felt sulky for several days, espe-
"About Ii O'Clock on the night of the day
on which the executions took place went |
Into the telegraph editors room and asked |
him what sort of story we had on the
Not wordp was his angry reply, |
not d-ned word, nothing. to go
'anf although reach I've either Seen OF wiring
them since supper time suppose they arc
drunk and we will have not a word of the
biggest item of the day except what can
fol,, Nf ,tc hn hall n
ping of less than half a column which had
been printed in the Evening Post of that day.
had read it. There was nothing in 1t but
bare outline OF the actual events, the time
If the executions and some of the more i'm
1ortant details. To say that was delighted
S to put it mildly, and did not fail to rub
t in on the already irascible night chief
hat am familiar with the whole story-1'n
write it for tomorrow for the telegraph tolls
1t press rates. OF course this meant many
ome haggling it was agreed to and tackled
he job. After getting my story we'll started
took up each of the conspirators and gave
heir actions, guess at their thoughts' and
detailed story of their appearance and
manner during the .hours between their
wax kening in the morning and their death.
endeavored to put myself inside the bodies
# each person and worked out the rest on
he studies had made of them and my i'm
,ressions as to how they would
pproach death; I did it to greater
york since and guided by the Posts bona
ide dispatch, had no trouble to complete
ny story of almost four columns. The night
ditor was so pleased with my story that he
eing written, and he said he would see to
that Raymond duly appreciated how 1
ad saved the paper.
ri DID not get to the office until late
ext day, and in the meantime the night