The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
Personal CHARAeTERlsTIcs.
Mr.. Dana a Man of Marked Individ-
uaIity-His Appearance and Habits.

ualtty-His Appearance and Habits.
For many years Mr.. Dana was one of the
most unique figures in the arena of American
journalism. His strong personality marked
individuality, his force af character his
virility of ideas and the fearlessness with
which he expressed his convictions served to
make him one of the most notable person
ages before the public. For almost ffty-five
years Mr.. Dana was engaged in journalism
in some capacity, but It was as editor-in-
chief of the New York Sun that he was
brought most prominently before the public.
In this position he showed much ability,
both executive and literary such a variety
of attainments and such capacity for hard
work. coupled with the most tireless energy.
as to command the admiration of all who
came in contact with him.
Mr.. Dana was in SONS respects looked on
as a man possessed Of almost phenomenal
gifts For instance. his tremendous vital
energy during late years seemed something
extraordinary. Although in his seventy
eighth year, until he contracted his last
illness, he continued to direct his paper with
as much energy as he did twenty years ago.
He went to the Office every morning as regu-
larly as the reporters and editors, and be-
fore he left in the afternoon he had looked
over the proofs, dictated edtorially and
taken steps for the next twenty-four hours.
Mr. Dana also showed a great talent for
the study of general literature. He was
considered one of the finest linguists in the
country. He had mastered nearly every
modern language of any Importance and was
a thorough Latin and Greek scholar. Mr..
Dana was probably as much misunderstood
as any public man ever was. From reading
the pungent articles on the editorial page
of the Sun, with their whitening sarcasm,
stinging witticisms, sallies of scorn and
fierce invective, the impression frequently
conveyed to the reader was that Mr.. Dana
was cynical, cruel cold-blooded, austere and
sour of temper. The reverse was the case.-
His so-called 'ferocity was confined to
the editorial sanctum. Outside of that he
was kindly good-natured, sympathetic, with
the manner of a philosopher and the air of
a man who was at peace with the world.
Mr.. Dana was a tireless worker, going 10
his office from his country home by 10
o'clock every morning and remaining un-
til late in the afternoon.
WROTE WHEN A BOY.
When asked recently how he happened
to drift into Journalism, Mr.. Dana said: Il
think / had a natural disposition to write.
I don't know of anything else. When was
a boy of fourteen / used to write letters
to the papers, put them in the box and
wait and see if they would be published.
Then when l got to place where I could
write with some effect it was natural L
should do it, and 1 did it, We had at Brook
Farm a weekly paper called the Harbinger,
very handsomely printed and certain things
had to be written for 1t. AS IT was conven-
lent for me TO write wrote and naturally
became a regular writer then afterward
all the people who read these papers knew
me. l first went into I,1e. the Chrqnotype in
l became Wrights principal assistant. He
had no money, but was witty and capable.
/ got $5 a week. Then l came to the Trib-
une as city editor in lSL
How old were you Ihen!
Twenty -eight! began as city editor at
rope to report the revolution in 1S4s for the
Tribune and other papers, wrote five long
Vienna. There was no telegraph then; the
mail was the only thing
Dana himself recently described how he
found time for work. rest and recreation as
follows: II never work at home either at
night or morning, never study at home.
1t is all done here and in the railroad trains.
l get down here take the year through
about 10 or IL o'clock The first thing /
do is to read my letters; then read the
newspapers; cut out anything l want, then
/ read the proofs, read them all every day
of the entire Sun-not all with attention,
about work after l get away in the after
noon. / stop usually from to $50 and
after that l do not bother.
DR.. Dana probably asked for advice
and opinions on literary and journalistic
matters more frequently than any newspa-
per man in America, and his ideas were fre-
quently quoted. Recently when asked what
the best equipment for successful jour
nalist was he replied: Good health good
temper, upright principles, the best educa-
ton he can possibly get, and the most va
We'd knowledge, provided 1t Is accurate. In
accurate knowledge is nuisance"
Mr.. Dana was tall six feet in height and
proud of it, and caricatures of him only an
noyed him when they represented him as
diminutive in stature. Others he enjoyed
and considered them good advertisement.
His tastes were those OF man Of mental
rennement. Poetry languages, flowers.
paintings, bronzes, and porcelalns were his
delights and he was always fattered at
the suggestion that he owned the $4,000
peachbiow vase He had a keen sense of
humor and a morbid dread of a bore and
for this reason it difficult, ii not i'm
possible for a stranger 10 see him during
his office hours, which were from about II
a. m. 10 5 p. He admired old-fashioned
simplicity in business and the sole decora-
tions of his Office consisted of a stuffed owl
and a bust of Horace Greeley. His office
suit was always one that had seen better
days.
BY no means an epicure, he was never
insensible to the pleasures OF the table, and
Continued IN Fifth pacal