Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-02
ASTOR AS AN EDITOR.
Inside History OF His Ventures in the
Newspaper World.

capacity has ever established himself
in LOnden in SO short space of time
us WV. Astor has done.
How he acquired The Pan Mall Gaz
cite, strong Radical organ, and prac-
tically in Il day turned it into an out and
out Tory paper is past history. Suffice
it TO call TO mind that he paid AN en-
ormous sum Of ready money for the
property, and promptly set himself TO
work 10 fashion it according to his own
sweet millionaire will. His first step
was to appoint as editor a clever young
member Of parliament named Harry
Gust fresh from Cambridge, with
strong party views and Of considerable
social standing as the possible heir OF
the Earl OF Brownlow. whose kinsman
he is
He then looked out for new premises
and found some far removed from
( Fleet street, the Park Row Of London
I These he fitted MP with every mod
ern Improvement. The wall papers are
mode of taste and very "chaste,"
the pattern Of the linoleum and carpets
is severely classical, and the very door
knobs, made OF solid brass, seems to
breath the spirit of come to stay
which pervades he whole establish
ment This air Of unlimited wealth ana
( its accompanying sense OF solidity is the
striking feature of the new venture;
/ but for all that, 1t is not to be suppos-
ed that there is any apparent throwing
away Of gold.
The discipline of the office could not
be eXcelled in any government establish
ment, and in a maWelously short time
the whole place has shaken down to
strict lSineSs. This is due in a great
degree to Mr.. Astor himself lie has
apparently chosen his lietenants and
/ then leaves them to do their work.
/ This does not mean that he keeps aloof
/ from the office. On the contrary, he
4 is always there and as a rule, sees a
proof of first edition.
Mr.. Astor cannot be called popular
/ with his staff, for his reserved, not to
say grave, demeanor, does not lend it.
self to any familiarities with his sur
roundings On the other hand, however
there is a very general feeling of 10y
atty and respect, rs it is felt that he is,
in the stIictest sense of the word, just
man. After all, ii is not difficult to get
up feeling Of loyalty for millionaire.
and this may possibly account for a
certain awe, not TO say mystery which
I surrounds him in the eyes Of his staff.
The offices Of the Pail Mall publica-
tons are Of a very modern and eSpen-
sive order, and this, in addition to the
aristocratic surrounding, have earned
for the building the name of The
House Of Lords !" Mr. Aston himself
takes a keen interest in every depart
ment, each of which IS under the
charge of an expert, who is in daily
communication with The Chief" as he
is called, and who by this time has
very fair knowledge Of the printing
business Indeed the testing Of various
brands Of printing ink affords Mr.. AS
tor well disciplined thrill which all
his millions cannot give, and in the rel
ativc thickness and durability Of print
ing press blankets he is already an
authority. All matters Of accounts are
gone over with him, and II is said that
he knows each day the exact financial
condition Of his journalistic property.
or The Pan Mall Magazine Mr.. Aston
is practically the editor-in-cheif, having
as his co-editors Lord Frederick Hamil-
ton, NJ r; Sir Douglas Straight and
Mr. r. Dove Keighley, his trusted ag-
ent, who negotiated the sale of the
properties Mr. Aston takes the liviest
interest in the selection for the copy Of
this magazine, and the question Of the
illustrations is a distinct matter or mo-
ment with him In addition to this he
contributes himself to the letter press
his subjects being Of decidedly abstract
order, as their titles being Of decidedly
order, as their titles viii show.
His personal literary staff is compos-
ed of Harry Gust, NJ. p, already desert
bed; Y. Dove Keighley, art editor Of
the magazine; Lord Fredick Hamilton,
who has served an apprenticeship in the
diplomatic service, having held appC t
ments at St Petersburg and Berlin,
and, lastly, Sir Douglas Straight, an ex
Old Bailey barlister, who was translat-
cd 10 an East Indian judgeship and has
ben penshiOned home.
Just what these last two gentlemen
do in a newspaper office it is difficult to
say, but 1t is certain that they at least
hearty join Mr.. Gust and Mr.. Keighley
in a fervent blessing on the country
that rains American millionaires into
London newspaper Offices.
MIR Aston, It must be understood, has
not in any way Joined the newspaper
world, and evinces no desire TO do 50,
not even In its innermost sacred circles
made up Of editors OF great daily pap
ers and the immortals who write the
beloved satgy leaders, Of which Eng
lishmen are so proud and which they
never by any chance read. II he meets
any Of these gentlemen and any ques-
tion Is raised. be at once says that he
does not understand the matter and
win be glad to introduce the disputant
70 his editor or manager as the case
may be