The state herald., 1897-10-22
CHARLES A. DANA DEAD.
Tho Noted Editor Of the New York Sui
Passes Away ut the Age of Seventy Eight.

Aho Notcu OF tue new hoEh Sut
Passes Away ut the Age of Seventy Eight.
New York, Oct. 17.-Charles A. Dana
editor Of tho New York Sun, died Ut
20 this afternoon at his home at Glen
Cove, Long Island.
Mr.. Dana's death had been expected
for several hours, and his family and
physicians were ut his bedside when
the end came. His condition had been
such for several months tlat the mem.
bers of his family had kept themselves
in constant readiness to go to his bed
side ut any moment. On Saturday
morning he had n relapse and it was
apparent that recovery WAS impossible,
Several times, however, he rallied, but
toward night began to sink. During
the night there We're feeble rallies, bu;
they did not hast long. This morning
1t was seen that the end was but few
hours Off, and his attendants remained
almost constantly at his bedside. The
end came quietly.
The cause of Mr.. Dana's death was
cirrhosis Of the liver. On June he was
Mt his office apparently strong and
healthy. The next day he was taken
Ill, and he never afterwards visited
New York. He was IS years of uge.
Charles Anderson Dana was born In
Hinsdale, N. H., August 8, 1910, and
was therefore IS years old.
His boylood was spent In Buffalo.
N. Y, where he worked in n store until
he was 1S years old. At that age he
first studied the latin grammar and
prepared himself for college, entering
Harvard in 1890, but after two years a
serious trouble with his eyesight COM
pelled him to leave. He received an
honorable dismissal and was after
ward given his bachelors and masters
degree. In 1S42 he became member
of the Brook Farm Association for ag-
ricuhure and education.
His earliest newspaper experience
was gained In the management of the
Harbinger, which was devoted to So
cfal reform ard general literature.
After about two years of editorial work
ON Elizur Wrght's Boston Chronotype,
n daily newspaper. Mr. Dana Joined tho
staff of the New York Tribune in 1871.
During the first years of the war the
ideas of Mr.. Greeley and those of Mr..
Dana In regard to the proper conduct
of military operations We're somewhat
at variance: and this disagreement re-
suited in the resignation of Mr.. Dana,
after fifteen years service on the T'ri-
bune. He was at once employed by
Secretary Stanton in special work of
and in 1903 was appointed assistant
secretary OF war. which office he held
until after the surrender of Lee.
Returning to New York. he organized
in 1867 the stock company that now
owns the Sun newspaper. and became
its editor. The first number of the Sun
issued by Mr.. Dana appeared on Jan
uary %. 1868.
Mr.. Dana cortinued Mt the head Of
his paper until his death. Advancing
years seemed to have but little effect
upon him, and up to n year or so ago
no member of his force was more reyu-
lar In attendance at the office than he.
Under his management. which ex.
tended to every department Of the
newspaper. the Sun was immensely
profitable. and he accumulated a large
fortune. while at the same time inau.
gurating system OF high salaries at
the time unprecedented In Journalism
The Sun was Democratic. espousing
the cnuse OF Tammany in New York
municipal affairs. but Mr.. Dana was
never bound very closely by party ties
Mr.. Dana built up on the Sun n staff
Of newspaper workers which was un-
eIualed In its time. and did morc than
any other man to create and supply u
demand for frs. -c';iss literary style in
n newspaper. He was n great believer
in American literature. and from en-.
cournging notices In the Suns columns
many writers date their literary sue
cess.
It may he truly s,id that It was he
who lifted Journalism to the dignity of
profession. There are those who at-
tribute TO his influence, the fact that
newspaper writer's have been enabled
to carr salaries more or less commen
sur1te with the intelligence and ability
involved In their work. He worked
with Honce Greeley on the Tribune.
and was paid 500 a week for work that
he afterwnM avowed was worth four
times the money. II was these early
rebufrs that determined his career. He
was not impressed with the newspa-
per hack Of the carly days. and he set
TO work to teach newspaper men tho
real meaning OF their calling and to es-
tnbllsh q code Of journalistic ethics
which will long survive him.