The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-11-03

seemed to violate all the traditions Of jour
nalism, yet they were written and printed
for the purpose OF compelling the readers
OF the paper 70 talk about the editorial
page Mr.. Danas extraordinary learning
for he has been a student and investi-
gator all his days-enabled him to detect
errors in the writings of his associates, so
that The Sun under his active manage
mcnt seldom was historically or scientific.
ally inaccurate.
Mr. Dana was a hard worker. Mental
application was a delight TO him. He
learned botany while riding to and from
his Office. In his spare moments he mas
tered the Icelandic language. He knew
Dante probably better than any other
American In New York, so that when he
had his interview with the pope he re-
sponded in quotation from Dante TO an
other which the pope had made to him
Spanish literature delighted him, and he
mastered IL at odd moments He could
speak French with the Partisan accent,
German with the accent of Berlin, and he
conversed in Russian If required.
A learned horticulturist, the gardens of
his summer place were filed with choice
flowers, and for trees he had an affection
which led him TO know them all and to
I raise upon his island retreat In Long Is.
land sound every variety of fir tree capable
of living in a temperate climate.
He liked good horses, and he kept his
health, he thought, by driving high spir-
tied team daily between his country place
and the railway station. Mr. Dana was
fond of good cooking, and he knew wines
like a connoisseur, although sparing In
the use of them. He was an excellent
critic of paintings and In his later years
became fascinated over ceramics and choice
pottery, the history of which he knew as
though his life had been devoted to the
study of IL.
Mr.. Dana probably got more rational
enjoyment out of life, more honorable and
exquisite delight in learning and in nature
and art. than any other man Of his time
He was not fond of the mediocre either in
inanimate objects or among men. For a
mediocre reporter he had small federation,
but he was enthusiastic over brilliant re-
porter or writer, although rather careful
not TO let the young man know it.
He was 90 years of age before he began,
of his own experience, TO know the luxury
Of wealth He would not have made a
great money maker, since he cared but lit
to crafty his cultivated desires Some
times he was thought to be foolish in his
expenditures, for If thing suited him he
took it, even though the price was ex-
orbitant On the other hand, if he was
not satisfied he would not buy, no matter
how great the reduction in price
The royalties on his book of household
poetry and upon Appleton's cyclopedia
brought him generous income, although
this money came TO him mostly after he
became editor of The sun In his later
years Mr. Dana received "A salary of $50,
600 year from The sun and handsome
dividends upon the stock, majority of
which he controlled, despite all reports to
the contrary
Those who knew Mr.. Dana well have
always felt that the single limitation of
his character was that he could not always
control his prejudices He was as stanch
and true as steel TO his friends, even
though others accused some of them of
abusing the friendship, and he was also
persistent, vehement and, his enemies used
to say, malicious in his antagonism.
In his private life Mr. Dana was one of
the most charming Of men to meet. He
would have made fine orator had he
chosen TO speak very much He loved fun
and reveled in humorous anecdotes and
when he had passed threescore and ten and
was asked how he kept himself so young
he replied that he did it by keeping up his
love of fun.
Not long before Mr.. Danas death re-
porter of The Evening Sun who had recent
ly joined the staff was coming down town
in an elevated railway car one morning. An
elderly gentleman with a gray beard and
spectacles came into the car, and, sitting
down beside the reporter, accidentally
leaned on him as he was reading his news
paper Flattering himself somewhat on
his powers of sizing up his man, the re-
porter addressed the stranger in tones Of
freezing politencss with;
Have you had your breakfast, sir?'
Eyes, I" replied the stranger blandly.
"Well, SIR / should feel much obliged If
you would lean on it rather than on me. ="
With this somewhat crushing annihila-
ton the reporter again settled himself to
his newspaper and half an hour afterward
was gleefully telling his colleagues in The
Evening sun office the incident when the
gentleman who figured as the other party
entered the room. He Immediately told
his companions of the fact, but found the
laughter gone out of them.
do you know who that tsp" said one
THAT is Charles A Dana, editor of The
Sum-"
MIR. Dana was never in society, using
the common meaning to that term. Not a
single member of the Four Hundred in
New York would admit that Mr.. Dana
had such a thing as a social position.
Probably he never wanted 1t. Although
his learning and ability were admired by
the high society leaders, or such Of them
as had sense enough to appreciate them,
they probably drew line which passed
between him and themselves. Neither was
Mr.. Dana a member of any club, and this
likewise was probably according to his
taste. He had a handsome summer home
on Long Island and he spent his money
literally for things that pleased him.
Mr.. Dana was not a hard taskmaster.
Under him The Sun men were not over.
worked, and they were well paid but al
though usually courteous TO his subordi-
mates he was often hasty in forming an
opinion, and he seldom changed his mind.
Mr.. Dana leaves The Sun in good hands.
There may be less vitriol In its pages
under Paul Dana's management, but it Is
safe to say 1t will not lose in enterprise
and energy. Dana fills Is about 40 years
of age, able, active and resourceful. In