The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-19
CHARLES ANDERSON DANA.

u JUS ftltviihl 'Oauiths
Charles Anderson Dana, editor of the
| Sun. died yesterday afternoon
with these simple words. and with
these words only, docs the sun consign
TO the tomb the most interesting char
! acter in American journalism, and one
OF the most unique brilliant and inter-
esting men that this country ever pro-
duced.
Mr. Dana is one Of the last OF the old
| time journalists. When he first took up
editorial work, newspapers were very
| different from what they are at this time.
| News was matter OF minor importance
| and only the most startling happenings
| OF the day were chronicled. The paper
was made up largely Of essays and was
| the mouth-piece of the editor and that
| party or faction which he CHANGED TO
\ represent.
| Every great newspaper had its distin-
! guishcd editor who was known wherever
! his paper was read and was more dis
tinguishod usually than the paper itself.
| Bennett, Greeley Prentice, Richie and
| Peasants and editors Of that day and
! generation were the life and inspiration
Of the papers which they respectively
controlled The newspaper was not an
institution in itself, but the mouth-piece
| Of its editor.
But Dana changed with the times and
as the demand for newspapers grew. he
cut loose from the old school and finally
! getting hold Of the Sun made it one Of
! the brightest, new siest and most interest
ing newspapers of the day. And he kept
it up TO that STANDARD to the day Of his
death, yet he never failed at any time to
stamp his strong personality upon the
Sun, not only upon its editorial columns,
but upon its every department. He
went to his Office at 10 O'Clock in the
| morning and remained until 8 in the
| ef,ning and was one of the busiest men
in the building. lie contributed to every
department Of the paper, except the ad-
| vertising columns, He was not only q
terse political writer but was pro-
found scholar and had travelled in all
paris of the world. lie was capable,
therefore, not only Of doing the leading
editorial work of the paper, but Of oriti-
Ching books and plays and of writing es-
says and poetry.
MIR. Dana was great Bible student.
While never noted as a religious man,
ae was thoroughly conversant with
3,ble history and with religious teach
| ings and he would not hesitate at any
time TO discuss either a religious subject
or a question OF church history or church
doctrine with the most Learned preacher
in the land.
SO rapidly did his mind work that it is
said of him that he would rarely take
time to listen 10 the conclusion Of a SEN
! tence. usually anticipating and correctly
anticipating what his informant had to
say. And he was equally quick in his
decision OF any matter connected with
the paper, a most desirable quality in q
managing editor.
by way Of illustration, we clip the fol-
lowing from one of our exchanges:
in order not TO bothcr.hlm too often,
one OF his lieutenants used - save up"
things to sec him about Cu one day
only two matters occurred tldt called
for his counsel The lieutenant decided
TO go 10 the chief and say that there was
a man i'm the Office who had tanned ~
! piece Of human skin and made n pair
of boots OF Il, and did Mr.. Dana want an
article written about the matter; Also,
that up In ST. Johnsbury, VI, clergy
man had been arrested upon criminal
charge, and there was to follow a long
and complicated story about that. The
lieutenant went into the chiefs room,
and this Is what was said:
MIR. Dana, there's man at my desk
who has tanned human hide and made
a pair OF boots"
ugh" said Mr.. Dana, show him out
/ Of the ofice.'v
Yes. sir" said the lieutenant. land
up in 81. Johnsbury, a clergyman has
| been arrested for "
"Go yourself. Take the o'clock train
this evening. Anything more, Mr.. ---?'
But with all his brilliancy and enterprise
and good generalship Mr.. Dana was one
Of the most erratic and Eighty men who
! ever undertook 10 conduct great news
paper. lie seems to have no well
grounded political principles or opinions.
but changed with the occasion and no
man could tell one year what position the
sun would occupy in the next GAM
paign. He was during the war Repub-
lican, and at one time Assistant Secre-
tary Of War under Lincoln. In that ca
pacity he had a quarrel with General
Grant and never forsave him, so that
when Grant was nominated in 1872 Dana
and the Sun went to Greeley's support.
The Sun then became an ardent Demo
cratic paper and gave Tilden cordial
support 1t was rather luke-warm, how
ever in its support OF Hancock whom
he characterized as "a good man. weigh
ing $50 pounds and so bitter was its OPP
position. that when he was nominated 1t
refused absolutely to support him and
made itself the laughing stock OF the
country besides driving away thousands
os it's patrons, by espous!ng thescause OF
| Ben. Butler. Again in later campaign
II supported the Democratic ticket in