The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-20
STORIES OF EDITOR DANA.
A WONDERFUL LINGUIST AND A
GREAT WORKER.


His Unique Revenge Upon George w.
CHILDISH Relish For Fun and n
Keen Sense of the RidicuIOus-An
Example of Newspaper COndens-
ing Which Won His Heart-A
Preacher Who Wrote an Article
"TOO D. Wicked" to Appear in the
sun.
The death of Charles A. Dana, the bril-
liant editor of the Sun, has called forth
a wealth of Renaissance from various
writer's more or less intimately associated
with him during his long career. OF his
activity and democracy of daily life, a
writer in the Herald, says:
His activity and capacity for work We're
a source of constant wonder to those who
labored beside him in his later years, but
Mr.. Dana had as firm and buoyant a step
and as bright an eye as the youngest of his
young men, as he called his reporters
His spirit pervaded the entire office. His
likings insensbly became the likings Of
his staff; his prejudices were Immediately
absorbed and assimilated. His genial off
hand ways were the ways of the office. 1t
is to this source that is directly attribu-
table that atmosphere of good fellowship
and a common cause which made the Sun
office so pleasant a working place, that
won it the name of club among newspaper
workers generally. He was more prone to
distribute praise than blame. He sought
to develop a common interest, to inspire
rather than to drive his men to their best
efforts
This is a democratic office, was a fire.
quent phrase with him.
By it he meant that there were no
classes, few distinctions. All men were
equal. An office boy could walk at viii
into his private office and lay his griev-
ances before him, sure of sympathetic
kindly treatment. He was often in his
city room. He called many by their first
names He knew all who contributed to
any department of the paper.
For many years Mr.. Dana's sharp, de-
cisive pen traced the majority of the
trenchant editorials that have done so
much to make him famous. His eye scan
ned every editorial article submitted by
his subordinate editorial writer's. His pen
added much that lent them force and Wig
or. 1t was of this page that ne was es-
peclally proud. Many famous men have
at his invitation contributed anonymously
to it's columns.
But he was always open to suggestion.
He would accept an editorial from an Of
fee boy as quickly as from a senator. In
at least one instance a man of lowly posi-
ton rose to newspaper prominence in this
manner
In other departments Mr. Dana was
nearly as active. The news columns I'M
der the charge of men who knew him
through and through, were wholly colored
by his personality. He had no Sunday
editor That position he filled himself
Every article that for many years appear
ed in his Sunday pages was read in proof
by himself, and that line for line On Fri
days he himself made up the Sunday pa
per, the schedules passing directly from
his hands to the composing room.
This will give some idea of this remark
able mans busy life.
And yet he found time to become a mas
ter of several languages, speaking and
writing French in particular with a purl-
ty that continually surprised Parisians
He found time to keep abreast of litera-
ture, not only American, but English,
French and German as well, to delve in
philosophy, to stand in the van Of popular
scientific knowledge.
He had time also to become a prominent
collector of things artistic particularly of
the pottery of the east, and to develop the
finest collection of orchids in private nos
session in this country.
The shabbiness of the Sun office and of
Mr.. Dana's private room has been fire.
quenty commented upon. ! really think
he was proud of it. 1t has been reported
of him that, as he looked upon the costly
modern structures of his CONTEMPORARIES
he once remarked, with an almost trium
phal smile, that with all their display none
could issue apper equalllng that which
came daily from the meanest building Of
them ALL
The approach to the editorial rooms was
up two flights of dark, narrow and often
dirty wooden stairs These Mr.. Dana
climbed daily for many years.
His own office was diminutive A few
ancienti and worn out book shelves. an
old and battered desk and several dilapid-
ated chairs were its chief furnishings. The
floor was uncarpeted. In one corner stood
a small, square, wooden table, which
doubtless years ago, when new, cost a.
couple of dollars. This table was a favo-
rite working place of the man who made
the Sun.
In this room he received all his visitors
Many Of the most distinguished men of
the country have sat in common cane seat
ed chairs there. Many more, unknown to
fame or wealth OF even standing, have
seen him there. He was. probably the most
accessible rich man of affairs In New
York. His door was open always TO any
one not drunk or a ruf1ian.
And here is the place for an incident
very descriptive of the man. The city
room was always open TO any conner. A
calling with swinging door easily opened