The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21
FAMOUS OLDEDITORS.
Charles Prosch's "reminiscences
of New York journalism.
THE CAREER OF JAAEs BROOKS.
Bald Heads Not 80 Popular Formerly
~ Now-The Eldsy Bennett
Queer-LeokineSGeni

The sketch of New FORK Editors in
Politics, by E. Jay Edwards, in the Posi-
INTELLIGENCE of Sunday last, revives
many rscollections of ths>writer, who was
employed on journals "a that city from
1895 to 1853 All the pEsons mentioned
by Mr.. Edwards were Will known to me;
indeed, l saw some of tsem almost daily
for years. In addition 20 those named,
and not less prominene: in the field of
journalism at the same 5period, were Fitz
Greene Halleck, Colonet5Stone and N. P.
Willis, the latter noted asa poet and maya
zine writer, having hadH very brief con-
nection with the daily prass. With James
and Erastus Brooks, hosrever, was best
acquainted. having passe1 the greater part
OF the above seventeen Isars in the Norm
ing and Evening Express Office.
While teaching school sn Maine, his ma
tive state, James Brooks wrote occasional
articles for the Portland Me-, Advertiser,
then one of the most Influential journals
in New England. This I'D to his making
European tour as a correspondent of the
Advertiser. an enterprise which was
crowned with success. hs letters. having
been perused with muclY interest in the
columns of the paper, wee afterward pub
lished in book form ans Melted him up
ward of 5000. Mr.. crooks footed it
through Europe. carrying all his worldly
goods in a handkerchief suspended from a
stick on his shoulders. :
With the profits of hss European tour
James Brooks went to Nev York early in
1886. intent on adopting journalism as a
means of livelihood. There he met WILL
lam B. Townsend. proprietor of the New
York Daily Advertiser, purchased q half
interest i'll the paper sad changed the
name to Morning Erprsss, to which he
some months later added an evening edi-
ton, the type for the LATTER being set ex-
clusively by APPRENTICE At this time
the papers named were printed in the
Tontine building. corner of Wall and
Water streets. In 1887 zthe publication
Office was removed to thGcorner of Cham
bers and Center streets. / While there the
Jonathan Slick" letters:Sby Mrs. Ann S.
Stephens, We're written feF and published
in the Express; also. at intervals, letters
from "Major Jack Dow ing." The first
were travesty on the PREVAILING fashions
and social customs; the latter burlesqued
politics and leading pcsiticians. Both.
and especially the forfser, contributed
largely to the success Of Che paper, which
was much sought after bs people who en-
joyed the perusal of thes,Sletters.
At this time Erastus crooks was con-
nected with q band of th<spians, and seri-
ously contemplated taking to the stage for
life. His brother James drew him from
this pursuit and sent hiIe to Washington
as correspondent of the Express, a position
in which he acquitted hiraseIf with credit
for many years. While che was yet cor
respondent James became the sole propri-
etor of the paper by tsae retirement of
Townsend; he was soolssafter associated
with James in the ownG4ship of the En-
press, but continued his duties ut Wash
ington during the session. of congress.
Both James and Erasfls Brooks were
endowed by nature with gifts which were
developed during their c.reer as journal
lists. Erastus acquired celebrity as an
orator and for some years was among the
most popular speakers OFF, New York. In
1912 the Express publlsheea letter grossly
slandering clergyman 1p the Hudson
river, in PoughkeepsieS l think. The
author of the letter was irresponsible and
his character for veracity5unknOwn. The
clergyman sued for sander and was
awarded $4,000 in spits of the plea of
ignorance and the absenG. Of malice. A
warm personal friend e James Brooks,
named White. who occuFred front rank
at the bar, defended the g,per and its pub
fishers in vain. Then Books, who had
no previous schooling orstraining for the
law, took the place of th1 practised attor-
ney, entered an appeal @and moved for
change of venue. He fought the case in
several counties and sc 4eral courts, had
the damages twice REDUCED, and did not
cease the struggle until Che penalty was
cut down to 5000. This-he paid, but he
would have escaped the I4yment Of more
than 81 if the Offense ha1 been less fla
grant. In this contest he ION the applause
of many able lawyers.
Editors and publjsherS at that period
daily incurred the risk ofpeing prosecuted
for libel. 1t was held thSt. under the law
as it then existed, newspaper became
liable to prosecution for ,abel every time
it published the arrest Sof any person
charged with felony s. misdemeanor.
'.The greater the truth, 1.-THE greater the
libel" was then a legal aGsom with which
all were familiar. 1t wa3 for publishing
the truth, as it seeme4 to him, that
Colonel Stone, of the Iew York COM
mercial Adrertiser, was rsice mulcted in
heavy damages by ]. Fen9nore Cooper for
criticising his works. It gas for publish
ing the truth concerning:,one of the most
notorious rascals with which England
was ever cursed that NJ. Walters, pro-
prietor of the London Yimcs, was COM
PEELED to pay several thousand pounds
sterling. In this case tl.a merchants and
bankers OF England, for chose protection
the truth was told and th> rascal exposed,
offered to reimburse Mr. Walters, but he
declined to receive penny from them;
whereupon they presensad him with a
costly service of silver. THE libel law in
America was then but i copy of the
English law, though rarsay so rigidly en-
forced on our side. BIT this is a di-
gression.
Never did partisan entez political cam
paien with more zeal tha.l James Brooks
displayed for that of HatSison and Tyler.
One of his first acts was tt- present a time
worn and battle-stained gag at the Bat
terry 10 an enthusiastic. assembiage of
voters. who yelled themselves hoarse with
the cry of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too"
Many speeches were mac. by him, both
at the North and the So.th, during this
notable campaign. 1t wss while stump
ing Virginia that he met >sis wife, then a
handsome young widow9with 800 slaves
and several valuable plas tations. While
participating in the camp~ign in the city
and suburbs of New YORK; James Brooks
| always wrote out his speeches in his edi-
| torial room and placed ts~e manuscript in
| the hands of the printers ~efore delivering
them One of his gifts was retentiye