Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-02-28
ROBERT M. WHITE.
First OF a Series OF Personal Sketches
of Missouri Editors Written for
the Missouri Editor.
From The Missouri Editor.

Ii | were asked to name the ma OF
IS years of age who has been longest
prominently before the people of Mis-
souri, l should think, first of all, of
Robert NJ. White, of Mexico, editor
and proprietor of the Mexico Daily
and Weekly LEDGER. 1t may be there
are other men of his age who are as
well known in the State at this mo-
ment, but it would be interesting to
know il there is n who has held this
prominence since the days of his boy
hood.
1t is a big task to attempt to say
something new about n who is such
a familiar figure to the readers of this
periodical. They have known him
through the columns of his newspaper
for these fifteen years; they have seen
him in convention, in travel and III
his home. Ask all of these about
| Robert, take their combined estimate
and secure a composite opinion and
the result is this: "Bob is a hustler,
a good fellow in the best sense of the
| phrase and a MAJ of a force peculiarly
his own"
Most men dislike to be called pc
culiar. Mr.. White may object to it;
| but in this recital of facts it must be
said that he is peculiar. He makes
friends by the by no ordinary
method of Establishment. He does
| 49, hoo 4In~N ~ HAT yrav ITa anAaG
| about the most delicate business
| transaction with as little thought of
policy as if he were carrying a bod.
He is open, blunt and direct. Some
times there is a mar who mistakes
his manner; but oftener does White
succeed in his undertaking when
suavity would have lost the day.
Every paper in Missouri probably
has used the expression, sometime or
other, of ''hustling Bob White" 1t
has been used so much because, like
most things true, it has the popular
ring. Physically well endowed, Bob
| White moves like a human hurricane.
III his younger days-one would think
him old now from this phrase!-he
usedto take part in walking matches
andbeat the fastest of the profession
ais. Ihave seen him walk the length of
the square at Mexico while a sleepy
pedestrian of a storekeeper would be
covering ten yards. He would get
fifty letters at the post office. Some
II 49,. -1.1 l. -~f-, &c eTVT1s
such as editors so frequently get.
Others would contain money for sub
scription and still others would be
orders for advertising. On the way
from the post office to his own pub
fishing house he would dispose of all
of this mail. The money and subscrip-
ton memoranda would go into one
pocket; the letters of inquiry into
another; the orders and miscellaneous
matters into another-alI classified
with hurried care. And to the winds
of the town went the wrappers and
envelopes and such of the letters or
circulars as were of no value. Such
are the hustiing characteristics of one
of Missouri's best editors.
1t is one of my fixed beliefs that
much of all that a man is is due to his
wife. This is one of the popular things
to say, l know, but the facts will bear
out the statement SO often made by
men: "I owe everything to her."
Bob White is IL of the users of this
expression. IF anybody thinks that
he is wrong let that somebody walk
through the grounds and the home of
the Whites at Mexico. Let him drive
behind their steady family horse, chat
with the boy of the household-the
sturdy Mitchell-sit in the spacious
dining-room and afterward loll with
the master of the house to his own
comfortable study-everywhere he
will find the touch OF the mistress
hand and the dainty, tasteful impress
of this best of domestic pilots.
Usually, the editor and proprietor
of a successful paper is willing to take
his ease and leave the hard work for
the editorial, mechanical and business
associates under his hire. This is not
so of editor White. He is II of the
first to reach his Office and one of the
last to leave it at night. He may have
representatives at meetings and at
business gatherings, but he is there
himself in so far rs he is ubiquitous.
His lieutenant may purchase a ne.T
plant for the mechanical department
even to the smallest detail, but White
is at hand when it is being done. No
item that he sees is too small for him
to write and no job too intluentially
supported to keep his hand from in
terfering in the public good. In his
earlier days editor Whites zeal was
greater than his Judgment and more
than once did he suffer personal
violence at the hands of those who
thought they were injured.
1t win be gratifying to people who
believe in the reward of merit to know
that this editor has been appreciated.
His iabors have not, in any way, been
vain. / believe, however, that until
he retires from active journalism in
| the community that has been so for
tunate as to have his iabors, his friends
and supporters will not know his full
worth. Let me hope that such a day
| viii be far in the future.
HOMER BASSFORD.
: JAMES DowELL, Collector elect of
.Audrain county, takes charge of the
office this week. He is i'll every way
qualified for this most responsible po-
sition and will make n faithful and
popular officer. The outgoing Collec-
tor, MIR. Jesse, has made d splendid
record in his Office, which he has filed
with satisfaction to all the tax payers
ofthe county. Mr.. Jesse is a thorough
business man and gave the county a
good business administration. The new
Collector Will do the same thing.
Farm for Sale.
Farm for sale; 100 acres; $500 down;
long time on balance at : per cent, or
viii trade for small farm or Mexico
property. Enquire of
4i-5t H. P. Warden.
TIKI Novy-o prbI;o GobooIp