The herald., 1897-11-03
A COMPLAINT TO MR.. DANA
Stories of His Activity and Alertness
in Everyday Work

| Here are several typical stories of
Dana, gathered from various newspa-
pers: Mr.. Dana had way peculiarly
his own of treating outside interference
with the policyof his newspaper. Per-
sons who presumed on their long ac-
quaintance with the distinguished editor
| to proffer advice to him regarding the
proper journalistic treatment Of public
questions or of special topics were usual
ly taught lesson by Mr.. Dana that left
lasting impression on their minds. His
manner of dealing with such persons was
usually suave, and almost deferential.
He applied his personal castigations on
such occasions with gentle tongue and
a touch of velvet.
One afternoon one of New York's mer-
chant princes called upon Mr.. Dana at
the Sun office and angrily demanded
that the financial reporter for that pa
per be dismissed at once. Take a
chair my dear Mr.. -. You know that
would gladly do anything in my power
to oblige you,' said Mr.. Dana, in his
most cordial tone. Tell me what the
trouble is.''
"Your financial reporter asked me yes
terday about a certain transaction that
| L Vas lHtcItSteu III, anu L lOlu llllIl lIldl
there was nothing in it. This morning
he printed the story, and made me out
| a liar
Wasn't the story true?" mildly insin-
uated Mr.. Dana.
well, er, yes, suppose so; but I did
not want anything said about it,"
"Ah, um," said Mr.. Dana, meditatively.
THAT is very bad, very bad. I will see
what can be done. 1t won't do to have
a man on a newspaper who insists on
telling the truth, will it?" Then the
editor directed searching glance full of
innocent inquiry upon the face Of his
caller The latter saw the point, fidget-
ed little, stammered something about
reporters being too impertinent, and
bade Mr.. Dana a hurried good day.
Amos ]. Cummings had left the Trib-
une but short time before the transfor-
nation of the Sun was projected, and
Mr.. Dana, appreciating the value of such
an assistant in making the sort of paper
he contemplated, he sent for him and
told him: 1--WE want you to become man.
aging editor of the Sun" "All right, -
said Cummings. But first" continued
Mr.. Dana, Il would like to ask you why
you left the Tribune" II was dis
charged" replied Amos, "for insolence
and profanity" and waited, expecting
some expression of surprise or question
as to the facts, but there was nothing of
the sort. Mr.. Dana looked over his
glasses and his eyes twinkled as he re-
joined: when are they going to dis
charge Greeley?"
Above all things else he was quick in
mind and movement. He is said to have
been able to read all the morning
papers of New York in fifteen minutes
There was whirl of paper in the air
during the operation, as he turned leaf
after leaf, and ran his eyes up and down
the columns. He seemed to see instinc-
lively whatever each paper contained
that was peculiar or noteworthy
whether 1t was a stickful or a column.
A new man at the city desk of the Sun
noticed that Mr.. Dana sent for the pa
pers every morning and almost instantly
returned them. Wondering at this, he
asked the office boy what the chief did
with the papers. "Well," said the boy, a
typical New York lad, pile 'em on his
desk and he fires 'em on de floor and
then l gadder em up again and bring
'em back to you."-Louisville Courier
Journal.