The Washington herald., 1908-06-07
SUCCESS OF DELANE
Stories of Famous Editor of
the London Times.
GATHERED BRILLIANT STAFF
Made the Thunderer World Famous.
Accustomed to Getting Secret Mes
sages, and Was First to Let Car
Know of UItimatum from England
to RuSsin in CrimeRn War.

Who was the greatest newspaper edi-
tor of the nineteenth century? There can
only be one answer to the question-John
Delane. the man who became editor of
the Times at the age OF twenty-three,
and who made that newspaper not only
the first in England. but the first in the
world. His success, says Tit-Bits, was
mainly due to two things-single- mind
edness and thoroughness. When. in 1861,
Palmerston offered him the under-secre-
taryship of war, Delane said that his
whole life was bound up with the pa
per. 1 must either work for II or not at
ALI"
He gathered round him brilliant stan.
including such men as the late Lord
Salisbury, Sir William Hareourt, H. Lyt-
ton Bulwer, Dean Stanley, and a host
Of others; made such powerful friends
that ne was on terms of intimacy with
everybody who was anybody, and estab-
lished reputation of being the best-in-
formed man in London: while his news
instinct and capacity for using informa-
ton which he collected from all sorts Of
sources without offending or losing the
friendship and confidence Of his inform
ants, amounted to genius.
Not n Writing Editor.
Delane was not a writing editor. but he
supervised what other men wrote. and he
thing Of his, in the way OF correction or
emendation. in practically every article
which appeared in the Times. He invari-
ably saw the paper to press. and save for
his annual holidays. Arthur Irwin Dasent
tells us in his life of Delane. he was at
Printing House Square every night by
10 or IL o'clock and remained there until
4 or o'clock in the morning. Every
great house in London was open 70 him.
and his social engagements were quite
as much part Of his daily work as his
nightly attendance at the office.
He had a splendid constitution; other
wise he could not have maintained his
position as editor of the Times with such
unfailing distinction and power for thirty
Sky ears. AS a matter OF fact, Delane
took great care Of his health. He did not
smoke, drank very sparingly Of wines,
and in his younger days not only rode
20 the hounds and played tennis. but also
learned 20 use his fists.
and brother-in-law Sir George Dasent.
and two other friends. he was surround
ed on coming out of the inn at Wheat
ley. beyond Shotover. by an angry group
OF quarrymen, who had a grievance, real
or imaginary, against undergraduates In
general After a preliminary shower OF
stones there was an ugly rush. and in
a moment Delane found himself pitted
against The Chicken, OF Wheatley. who.
besides being the leader Of the assault.
was retired prizedghter Of something
more than local celebrity. But after a
round or two The Chicken found that
he had met his match. for when the hot
Irish blood which was in him was arous-
ed. Delane was giant in strength"
Wrote Standing at Desk.
a curious fact is mentioned regarding
Palmerston, who wrote 10 Delane with
great regularity. Tt was Palmerston's
habit, even in HIS old age. 10 write all
his letters standing at a high desk This
interesting piece OF furniture is stiu pre-
served In the sunny library which he built
at Broadlands. overlooking the River
Test Asked by a friend why he adopted
this singular mode OF conducting his cor
respondence. he replied: 7 have so many
letters 10 write in the course OF my days
work that II ! was once TO sit down I
should fall asleep, Delane wrote all his
letters. invariably using quill pen. at
a small davenport. now in the possession
Of the writer. and his inks tand was form
ed out OF the hoof of one Of his favorite
horses, set In silver
There were few public men who cared
10 keep any secret from Delane. or could
II they would, and the following incident
illustrates how readily he was supplied
with information from the highest quar-
ters On the meeting OF the Parliament
unusual precautions were taken by the
government 10 prevent the terms Of the