The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-10-23


in his unclcs dry goods store at Buffalo"
There he clerked for seven years. and
proved an apt assistant, occupying his
spare hours mainly with reading.
The uncle failed and young Dana re-
mained for two years assisting in un-
tangling the skeins of the raveled bust
ness. He was determined to go to col
lege and, at the age of 20: perfected ar
engagements for entering Harvard. He
made excellent progress, but his eye
sight failed him and at the end of tho
second year he was obliged to abandon
the work
The necessity OF outdoor work to
build up his health was painfully ap-
parent, but the desire to remain in touch
with intellectual companions was equally
strong and it is not strange that he
turned his thoughts to the Brook Farm
association, which had just been
founded by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
George William Curtis, Margaret Fuller
and others. Young Dana was assigned
to the management of the fruit depart
ment. The history of this ill-starred en-
terprise is familiar to all. hut it is
worthy of note that it has been recorded
that of all the enthusiastic colony Mr.
Dana was the only member who showed
any real adaptabity i'll combining intel
lectual and agricultural pursuits. As
his eyesight improved, he devoted part of
his time to aiding in the publication Of
Il he Harblngcr. 4 magazine devoted to
social reform and kindred Subjects
There is little doubt this work directed
his bent toward journalism as Il profess
sion.
His First Real Newspaper Work
Leaving Brook Farm in 1914 he went
to work on the Boston ChrOnotvpc, a
daily newspaper, and with the exception
Of his government service during the
Civil war his connection with news
paper work remained unbrokcn Iu-
til i'll health compelled an abandon
mcnt of active work q few weeks
ago. Versatility was an essential
qualification for i position on the Chro-
notype, and Dana wrote editorials. read
exchanges. ''handlpd COPY" read proof =
for the munitic"nt sum of 81 Il week.
Determined to better himself. he went
to New York i'll 1877. He became city
editor of tho Tribune under Greeley
When the French revolution broke oit
Dana conceived the idea of going abroad
as the Irihune's correspondent. Greeley
frowned on the idea. thinking he lacked
fitness for such 4 responsible position
But Dana, with the decisiveness so char
acteristic of his whole career was de-
termined to 90. Finally he made an ar
rangcment whereby he was to write a
letter a week TO the Tribune for SO
apiece. BY "syndicating" other letters
he raised ms prospective receipts to $40
a week. He went 10 Europe leaving be-
hind his bride, who had been "A Miss Eu-
nice Macdaniel. He remained in Europe
nearly a year and his letters built up
quite reputation for himself.
On his return from Europe Mr. Dana
went back to the Tribune, this time re-
ceiving a salary of $50 Il week. Later
he was given SO, and there the salary
remained until An cnterprising rival pa
per offered Grceley'S Man Friday 800 4
week, figure then unheard of III jour
nalism. Mr.. Dana. in Il recent reminis-
cent talk, related that he went to the
Tribune management and told of the Of
fer. The managers told him that Mr.
Greeley only drew $50 and that it would
not do To have Il subordinate draw Il
higher salary. Dana was finally offered
500. and he consented 10 stay And b.
continued to work for this salary until
he Went into the war department.
Most historians give to Dana the credit
for having been the balance wheel in the
editorial machinery of the Tribune
Greeley. they say was too much man
OF one idea to make Il complete success
of a newspaper. II was Dana. it i
claimed who saw to il that variety was
provided; who. in fact, made it mirror
of events and chronicle of the best
thought Of the time. Incidentally he gave
SONG attention to the business office and
succeeded in rendering the circulation of
the Weekly Tribune past the previously
unseen mark of 2ou.GHb. SO closely AZ
sociated with Mr.. Greeley it is not
strange that Mr.. Dana should have he
come quite a factor in politics. While
he had done everything in his power 10
AID irrceiey in his ambition to get INTO
the [ nited States Senate and had other
wise aided his chiefs political ambitions
Mr.. Dana WAS not a man to >aCrltlce his
own opinions and the time came-just at
the beginning of the Civil war. when ed
ltOr-n-chief and managing editor found
they could not agree as to the policy the
paper was to pursue. The managing ed
ltOr resigned.
Enters the Government Service.
Mr.. Dana's work had already attracted
the attention of the new secretary Of war.
Edwin NJ. Stanton. ana the latter s.
cured Mr.. Dana TO 20 to limos and
Straghteu out some accounts in the quar-
amount involved running into the nil
lions The thorou-hneSS Of his work al
this capacity undoubtedly led To Stan
tons selection Of Dana for assistant SEC
rotary Of war. H continued tn hold
this position until the clpSe If the Is.
and as is we'll known his services were
If the greatest value fo the authorities III
Washington. He was kept at N" tigut.
that was the best place for him \
trained repor-r. he was able TO furnish
70 his chief. and Indirectly 10 President
Lincoln, prompt concise and accurar-.
yer Withal graphic accounts Of what w
traus2lrlns on the scene OF action. y.
was With Grant Ut AIcksburC. Wit
Sherman ~ Knoxville. with Sher.I4i -
ihs Shena nd"ah. L. say nothing OF r.
i-1lpat!Gg in hundreds Z other eXc.flEs
Incidents II scarcely a~S histories, inter
st OF .mporJaur., And throughout italI he
4reveT failed 70 keep Washington pasted;
President Lincoln one, said that Dana
VAS The eyes at tie government II the