The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-18
DEATH OF Librarian YOUNG.
Notable Career as IA Diplomat and
Public Onicial.

Washington, Jan. 17-John Russell
Young librarian of the congressional IL
brary, died at his residence here at $40
o'clock this morning, after an illness Of
several weeks.
Mr.. Young was at the point of death
nearly all yesterday. This morning it was
evident that the end was close. There We're
with him at his death Mrs. Young, Berk-
ley Young. his son, DR.. Freer, his physi-
clan and Ralph ]. Meeker, one of the old
newspaper friends of the librarian.
Dr. Freer, the attending physician, made
a brief written statement that death was
due 10 acute Brights disease, with com
phcations, overwork and too much brain
work.
John Russell Young had a notable ca
reer as journalist, dipiomatist, public Of
fetal and the intimate associate OF dis
unguished public men. He was horn IN
Downing, Chester county, Pennsylvania
Nov IS 1871. The family moved to Phla-
delphia and he was educated In the puDhc
schools of that city. Later, he went TO
New Orleans, where an uncle lived ana
continued his school work in the New Or
leans High School Returning to Pennsyi-
vania he secured a place on the Phila-
delphia Press in 1857 as copy boy, and from
this dated his newspaper work
How He Won His Spurs.
When John w. Forney came to Wash
ington, in 1861, 60 become Secretary Of
the Senate. ne brought along Young, VINO
by that time had become fluent writer
While acting as Col. Forney's private sec
rotary, Mr.. Young continued his Writings
to the Philadelphia Press, and it was by
his description of the first battle OF BuiI
Run that he won his spurs as a graphic
war correspondent.
On returning from the seat of war ne
became managing editor of the Philadcl-
phia Press which position he resigned m
1865 to start the Morning Post, which,
however, was not a success.
He had contributed 60 the New York
Tribune and his pleasing style attracted
the attention of Horace Greeley, with the
result that in 1866 Young became man
aging editor of the paper with which
Greeley had been so long associated AZ
that time Young was only 25 years of age.
His leisure time, he devoted TO study Of
the law and in q was admitted TO the
bar in New York city.
In 1870 he again tried the establishment
of a newspaper of his own, this time the
Standard About this time, however, Sec
rotary Boutwell,. who was at the head Of
the treasury department in President
Grants cabinet induced Young to go
abroad to look into financial affairs While
abroad on this mission the awful days Of
the Paris. commune occurred, and Mr..
Youngs account of the rise and fall of the
commune and of the stirring days throush
which the French capital passed is re-
garded as one of the best examples of
English descriptive writing.
In 1872 he became the European repre-
sentative of the New York Herald.
Travelled with Grant.
In 1877 Gen. Grant started upon his
rnenorabl trip around the world. and on
his invitation, Mr.. Young Joined the
party This made him for two years al
most a member of the family of the great
general and a warm friendship sprung
Young wrote Around the World With
Gen. Grant"
During this trip Mr. Young was espe-
cialIy interested in China, to which Presi-
dent Arthur sent him in 1882 as United
states minister. He remained in China
until the opening of the first Cleveland
administration, when he returned to this
country and engaged in literary and bust
ness pursuits.
When the new library of Congress was
completed attention was directed to the
choice of a librarian, embodying literary
ability and executive management, and
President Mckinley named Mr.. Young on
July 1. 1897. He entered upon his duties
while the library was still in the cramped
quarters at the capitol. and saw it ex-
pand into the classic temple of the arts
and literature which II now occupies 1t
is said that his time has been spent in
part on a contribution TO literature which
he had hoped to complete as, the chief
literary achievement of his life.
The funeral will be held Saturday morn
ing at II o'clock at ST. Johns Episco-
pal Church, in this city. The service will
be rendered by Rev. Alex Mackay-S Smith
The interment will be in Washington, and