The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-28

Bennett. with whom he had always been
on familiar terms. he said:
Mr. Bennett, don't you think have
been getting SIS week long enough2"
What do you mean, Joe?" asked Ben
nett, with n puzzled expression.
Il mean that lt Is tine my wages were
raised, said Joe.
Cant you live on So week ?" replied
Bennett, cycling from head To foot his
foreman, who vas one of the best dressed
men in the city.
Yes, ran i've on it in an economical
way. said Elliott: but / want something
more than that"
Now, tell me what You want more
wages Tor. Joe" said Bennelt.
II want 1t TO enable me TO keep mp the
dignity of the Herald, now the leading
paper of the country" SAID Elliott.
The reply so pleased Bennett that he
told Elliott his wages should be advanced
to so immediately. From time TO time it
was further increased until oe was able to
maintain stylish horse and buggy aud .
handsome dog. He subsequently, became
quite sport, and noted racer was
named after him.
Joe Elliott always enjoyed the unlimited
confidence of Mr.. Bennett, who made him
MS trusted agent on more than one oc-
casion. When Bennett wanted election
returns from adjacent states in advance of
the mails and ahead of his contemporaries
he sent Joe Elliott TO procure them, giving
him carte blanche to incur any expense
necessary. Eilott's first experience of
this nature was in 4 Connecticut election
when he chartered the only steamer TO be
obtained on Long Island sound and dumb
founded the enemies and competitors of
Bennett by arriving IN the city with the
news many hours ahead of his rivals. In
fact. Joe did more work, maintaining tho
dignity of his position included, outside
Ni.U,, 4.
capable assistants to discharge his duties.
Musical and dramatic critics are men,
toned as among the attaches of news.
papers nifty years ago. These were in
variably scholarly men. who had q
thorough knowledge of music, as we'll as
an intimate acquaintance with Shaks-
peare. 1t Is supposed to have cost the
proprietors nothing TO retain them. Ger
tain | am that they often received large
sums of money from actors and managers
for favorable criticisms. About the year
1915 Charles keane came to New York
from England with n retinue of actors,
elaborate scenery and costly costumes to
produce in style of grandeur never be-
fore attempted the plays of Shakespeare.
He also brought with him well-hlled
purse. James h. otis, the critic for many
years OF the Express, informed me that
keane's first step after reaching New
York was TO visit the different newspaper
CRUCES I'd Despeak anu pay IOr favorable
criticisms. TO the Herald he paid $3.50.
to the Express 500, and to others various
sums according 10 their supposed iutlu-
ence. When Barnum arrived in New
York with Jenny Lind. the Swed-
ish nightingale, he summoned the
musical critics of all the journals
To meet and hear her lbeforo
anybody else had chance to exchange a
word with her. On the return of Mr.. Otis
from this interview, in which he had en-
joyed the pleasure of hearing the divine
Jenny sing, he was so overcome with
emotion that for some time he could not
reply when / asked. What do you think
of her vocal powers?' l have since
thought his excessive emotion was
due in II large measure to Barnum's gener-
osity, the extent of which / never learned.
The praise of the critics in these cases was
fulsome and wearying.
There were other methods of raising the
wherewithal to keep the press running in
old times of which | may have something
to say i'll future. CHARLES PRoscH.