The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-06
Anecdotes OF James Gordon Bennett,
the First.

Anecdotes OF James O0rion bennett,
the First.
When lie had grown so feeble that
be could not walk very well, Mr.. Ben
nett got a curious conveyance TO take
him gently round his grounds at Wash
ington Heights. This was a donkey
and a small, low cart, with one seat,
into which he could step easily. The
we'll trained donkey became a pet Of the
old gentleman. who rarely let any one
ride behind it, Hardly any Of his yis-
itors, it is true cared to ride about in
that manner, but he occasionally Of
fered a ride as a particular favor to
those for whom he had a friendly feel
ing. One day a gentleman who was
visiting him, and who did not know a
donkey was on the premises, heard sud
denly near the window the drawing Of
the ass in the loudest and most vigorous
fashion. "What is that?s be exclaimed,
very much startled. why, that, Mr..
Bennett replied, in his dry, comical
way, s. is Fernando Wood The prom
inent politician who had been Mayor Of
New York City and had made a great
noise in public life had been frequently
butt for the sarcastic humor of Mr..
Bennett, and hence the old gentleman,
who never lost his sense Of humor,
named his donkey Fernando Wood
The donkey, however, like the man
from whom it was named, created
trouble sometimes. Being driven furi-
ously one day by Mr. Benefits only
and beloved daughter and some young
visitors about her own age, unknown to
her father, they ran against and broke
a large and valuable vase which stood
in front of the house. Miss Bennett
had at that time a governess. Her
father INDUCED her in this for the sake
Of her company and because she pre-
ferred living at home to going to a con
vent school. When Mr.. Bennett
learned what had happened he was
angry, not so much, perhaps, for the
damage to the vase as because the young
people had used his favoite donkey,
and he declared his daughter must go
after that to the hated school.
As an example Of Mr.. Benefits kindly
disposition in granting fayors to those
deserving them, as well as of the able
manner in which the Herald was con.
Quoted, the following may be mentioned.
A gentleman of some prominence had
delivered an address which was not re-
ported in the Herald A day or two
days after he took a copy to Mr.. Ben
nett and asked him to publish it. The
reply was that it was too late, that the
Herald did not publish stale news.
Being disposed TO oblige the gentle
man, Mr. Bennett said at the same
time: Deliver the address again at
another place, let me have early infor-
nation of it, and due notice of it shall
be published. Everything for his pa
per had to be fresh and up to the hour.
In fact, public interest in the Herald
was kept up, so that people talked about
it, and wanted TO know what it was say
ing, because Of its freshness aud full
ness Of news. The ears and eyes Of the
editor were always open,
wherever he might be, to whatever
would be Interesting to the public, and
he would reproye his writer's
if they did not show the same quick
Many will remember the fight Of the
theater managers against the Herald, |
when they posted conspicuously at the |
doors of their places Of Amusement the |
notice that "this theater Tor establish /
ment) does not advertise in the New I
York Herald Mr.. Bennett had re-
fused to insert in his paper the adyer-
Of Mr.. p. I. Barnum because I
he thought Barnum had deceived or
him in the transaction of /
selling the museum building and lot, /
where the present Herald building is
The Managers Protective I
Association, OF which Banum was a
sent deputation to Mr.. Ben
nett, headed by Mr.. Wallack, to re-
quest, or rather to insist, that Barnums /
advertisement be published. Mr. Ben
nett coolly heard what they had to say,
and then quietly told them he knew |
how to conduct his own business with 4
out dictation from others, and that he /
would not insert Barnum's advertise /
ment. Thereupon they ceased to adj I
yertise in the Herald for a time, until
they discovered that the fight was a
osing one for them. Mr. Bennett at
lines used to remark, laughingly "The
.ools, they are giving the Herald every
lay a capital advertisement. - IPuliam
b. Phillips.