The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-01
A BRILLIANT EDITOR.
Geo. D. Prentice, Wit, Politician,
Journalist, and Stanch Patriot.
BY GEORGE DALLAS MosGRovE.

| BY GEORGE DALLAS M0SGROVE.
| Here in the borderland where civil war
| stirred the fiercest passions and many a
house was divided against itself, no man
| welded n more potent influence for the
Union than George d. Prentice. editor of
the Louisville Journal. Indeed, his pen
was mghtier than the sword in preventing
| Kentucky from uniting her destiny with
that of the Confederate States. He was
Gamalel at whose feet sat Generals
and statesmen, and the common people
heard him gladly. His editorial para
graphs in the widely circulated Journal
inspired many gallant son of the dark
and bloody ground" to march to the music
of the Union. However, 10 his sorrow,
the house of Prentice, like others. was di-
vided. His two promising sons ignored
his teachings and followed the starry cross
of Dixie, one of them, a youthful officer
serving in Morgan's cavalry, being killed
| in battle.
While increasingly and relentlessy using
his mighty pen against the South, Prentice
was a generous foe, performing many
| deeds of kindness for individual Confed-
crate sufferers, a number of whom had
| been his neighbors and associates.
A PRODUCT OF NEW ENGLAND.
A native of Connecticut, Prentice was
| precocious genius. He was ready
reader Of books when only four years old,
and was familiar with Homer and Virgil
at the age of 10.
At Brown University he distinguished
himself at a scholar and as q writer of
prose and verse; some of his best-known
poetry having been written before he grad
uated from that institution. The Pffac-
tice of law, which he attempted at the
close of his university career, was distaste-
full to him, and he soon abadoned it, the
courtroom, musty records, and dry de-
tails of litigation being uncOngenial to his
poetic temperament. l here mention QUE
only of his poems, The Closing Year"
which holds high place in English litera-
ture:
"Remorseless Time!
Fierce spirit of the glass and scythe-
what power
Can stay him in his silent course, or melt
His iron heart to pity!
1.-THE very stars,
Yon bright and burning blazonry of God,
Glitter awhile in their eternal depths,
And, like the Plead, loveliest of their
train,
Shoot from their glorious spheres, and
pass away
To darkle in their trackless void"
For time Prentice was editor Of the
Connecticut Mirror, and in 1880 he
was associated with the poet Whittier in
the publication of the New England Week
ly Review. In 1880 he came TO Kentucky
to write his Biography of Henry Clay"
a work which he wrote 'in glowing and
ardent STYLE" while a guest in the home
of his idealized statesman, the Sage Of
Ashland"
PRENTICE AND PENN.
When Prentice came to Kentucky a fu-
rious political warfare was being waged
between the Wings and Democrats. Ten
days after he had finished writing his
Biography of Henry Clay" the Wings
invited him to Louisville to measure his
lance with that of mighty adversary
Shadrach Penn, editor of the Public Ad-
vertiser, champion of the Democracy, and
undisputed master in the Kentucky field
of journalism. especially in politics. Fond
Of controversy, he had vanquished the
ablest editors who had dared to enter the
lists against him, among them being the
formidable Amos Kendall.
Prentice issued the first number Of the
Louisville Daily Journal Nov. "a 1881, and
it created an immense sensation, convinc-
ing Wings and Democrats that in the,
new Richmond in the field" Penn was
up against foeman worthy of his
steel. Prentice introduced new style of
journalism, peculiarly his OVID. His edi-
torials were short paragraphs, especially
distinguished for their wit and humor, sar-
casm and satire. Another writer has well
said: During the SO years of editorial life
in the Journal, Prentice perhaps wrote
more, and certainly wrote better. than any
other journalist that ever conducted a
daily paper in this State. He made the
Journal one of the most renowned papers
in the land, and many articles from his
pen would have done honor to the highest
literary periodical of the day. The Jour
nal, under his guidance, made and unmade
the poets, essayists and journalists who
appeared in the West for the third of q
century which preceded his death. His
wit, his humor, and his satire were the
best friends and the worst enemies that
aspirants to fame in his region could have.
AS an author and poet Mr.. Prentice had
few equals, but he was journalist of
preeminent ability and versatility. AL
ways bold, sometimes rash, he was not
always prudent. He thought with precis-
ion, scope and power, and what he thought
he expressed in language, clear, forcible
and beautiful. In writings of Ii personal
cast or character he excelled, in retort and
sarcasm was keen, and in ridicule was
inimitable. His surgical knife was al
ways sharp and polished, and his dissec-
tons thorough"
From the first, everybody, Wings and
Democrats, read the Journal. The Dem
ocrats. if not subscribers. were borrowers,
and if they would not borrow, their Wing
neighbors would read aloud for their delec-
tation. In truth, Prentice made things
lively in Old Kentucky. He made every
Kentuckian laugh at Shad Penn For II
years Penn ably and bravely withstood
those terrible weapons of his adversary,
but, although fond of controversy, his SEN
stiveneSs was such that the torture inflict-
ed by the terrific sallies of wit and ridi-
Guile drove him from the field. He went to
st. Louis, where he established The Re
porter, which became a power in Missouri
politics. OF all the history of newspapers
in Louisville the II years of controversy
between Prentice and Penn is recounted
with most Zest and relish. When Penn |
left Louisville Prentice wrote kindly of |
him, saying that he was an able and sin |
cere man, and that his removal was pub |
lie calamity.
FRIENDLY FOES.
When l was a boy l was familiar with |
innumerab BILE funny stories regarding the |