The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08

ny WAS the DTlSQloSs III the CITY,
Other newspapers published long, dull,
commonplace discourses on events of the
day, which nobody read. Dana's articles
were sharp, piquant. brilliant, short,
flashing and 10 the point. everybody
read them. Instead of filling his columns
with endless dreary news dispatches he
hired a man, who won the sobriquet OF
1.-The great American condenser" TO cut
down the news reports SO as TO present
The pith of them and nothing more TO the
render. People found out that they could
get all the news in five minutes by read
ing the Sun, whereas it took them half an
hour or more TO dig it out CT the other
dailies He devoted especial attention to
local rews. but he compressed an account
OF local event into paragraph OF a few
lines, while his rivals eushed over it 10
the extent of column. He acted upon
the principle that people don't read news
papers because they want to, but because
they have to.
The effect of this policy was twofold.
The Sun acquired a very large circulation,
indeed. and Mr.. Dana, who had bought
the bulk of the stock held by his asso-
ciates, became rich man. Secondly. the
certainty that the Suns articles were read
while the editorials of the Herald, Tribune
and World were not, mparted to the
paper a vast influence. There have been
times in the last ten years when the Sun
was more Influential than all the other
papers in New York together.
Being human he made mistakes. Many
excellent people resented his hostility TO
General Grant, and thought he should
have subordinated his personal grievance
to his sense of the public interest. In a
momentary fit OF alteration of mind he
fell in love with that typical demagogue,
Benjamin +. Butler; the utilization cost
him friends whom he might have retained.
Nor were his sarcastic attacks on Mr..
Cleveland in good taste. He did not like
the man; herein he was like most people.
but II was thought he might have given
him credit for the sincerity of his pur-
poses and the stalwartness of his patriot
ism-which, OF all men, Dana was fitted to
appreciate. These ecCentricities apart
his conduct of the Sun has been a model
for Journalists to follow. He has ALWAYS
aimed at being truthful; he has always
tried to be guided by lofty principle, and
his skill in dodging the faker has been
marvellous. There has been foundation
for the saying, "If you see it in the Sun, it
is sou
The editorial columns OF a newspaper
are reflex of the nature of its editor
When they abound in abuse of rivals or
others, 1t is safe to infer that the editor is
cross-grained, ill-natured, malignant
churl. The editorial columns OF the Sun
have reflected the kindly, good-hearted
disposition of Mr.. Dana. He has never
suckled at calling spade spade, or of
making fun OF political Imposters; but his
humor is genial, and his rldicule SO de-
void OF bitterness that its victims cannot
find it in their heart to resent it, There is
no gall in the sanctum where Charles A.
Dana writes.
When riches came to him and he had
paid all his old debts he bought himself
an island in Long Island Sound and built
thereon mansion after plans he had
nursed when they were mere day dreams.
In his house he collected one of the best
private Libraries in the State of New York ::
not the library of a working journalist,
but gentleman's collection OF choice
classics, in fine bindings, and rare editions
OF the standard works of bellies lettres
No price was too high for him to pay to
secure book on which he had set his
heart. In the basement of that house
Is a wine cellari stocked with the
priceless vlntages OF France, Germany and
Italy. When the guests wnom 1t was his
delight to entertain, were men after his
own heart, he would astonsh them by
producing a Chambertin, which. as Ma
poleon said, was like bottled velvet.
tipped over the lips, or flask of Lacrim e
Christi, which, by some witchcraft, had
been carried over the sea without losing
its bouquet, or long-necked bottle OF
Johannisberg, whose presence could onIy
be accounted for on the theory that Prince
Metternich's butler had stolen it from the
cellar TO sell it at $50 a bottle. Mr.. Dana
was princely host. When he sat at the
head OF his table and with quio and Jest
watched the wine sparkle III a glass no
thicker than film he looked like one of
the old barons, too noble to be a mere PEN
man.
L saw him frequently last April. and
nothing in him struck me so much as his
boyishness. He was full of good hum ored
Jokes and pleasant stories, as if he never
remem bered that he was the last survivor
Of generation Of great journalists. He
said he was as insatiate a reader as ever;
but, said he, AZ never read the learned
and wise books which Hazeltine reviews
for Us. l read love stories, and cry over
them. A zeal love story is the best read
ing in the world" The mans heart was
as youthful as it had been when first
met him. He loved to talk to pretty
girl as be did in the fistes. "And upon
my word" SAID lady 10 me, "he is m ore
fascinating than any of the young men of
my acquaintance; but don't you think it
is. ridiculous for gentleman of his age.
with such a patriarcha al beard, to be put
ting his arm round a girls waist and
squeezing herY' JOHN Bonner,