University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-12
John Thaddeus Delane
The Man Who Made The London Times.

What the London Times though
one day the government thought tn
next day and the people the day afte
THAT" was said of the paper that De
lane edited. OF the man himself
was said that he was by nature in
ltelligent without the help of instruC
tion, the best judge on the shortes
ldeliberation of any matter in hand, ant
also the ablest forecaster OF what th'
Tissue would be-" His work on The
Times was brought about accidentally
in a sense, for residence near JOIN
Walter, the proprietor OF this paper
was the step that led to his position
in after life.
He went TO Oxford in stage coach
days; good student at all times. he
would leave his studies 10 go Off with
his horse to join the hounds, for he
loved riding. In these cases he would
leave a note for his tutor to be de,
Uttered after he had gone. He ma
circulated from Oxford in 1910 and
Went into the Times office, first as a
writer, but by vacancies he became ed
itor of the paper at twenty-three. and
for thirty-seven years kept this posi-
tion.
Delane's life is divided into three
periods, as editor of the Times from
1910 to 1852; then holding this place
there was a period of the Crimean
war and all it entailed; followed by a
GladStOne-Disrael political period. AT
all times Delane was closely Oh the
path OF the government and thus his
entire life may he said TO have been
wrapped up in government dealings
Selected writers, chosen by him, sue
ceeded in leading opinion, not follow
ing it. An amusing incident is told of
Delane and Doctor Woodham. one of
his special writers. The latter wanted
a ticket to the Lord Mayors banquet.
SO Delane, as he thought, sent him 4
ticket which would allow him to par
AXE Of the banquet. When the day
arrived the editorial writer was shown |
ntO gallery around the room where |
he people We're allowed TO watch the |
Delane had sent a green |
iCket instead of a white one to the !
writer and the doctor Went hungry.
The Times when Delane took charge
odd for SIX pence, about twelve cents.
Dut the cost OF the newspaper came
Own when the tariff was taken off
'aper BY fears of journalistic PROV
IS. the Times confirmed its already
reputation. First hand in
was given to the Times re-
arding a railway mania i'm 1854. Again
he first news of the corn laws was
lne took trip TO France and from
here in a letter TO George Dasent, his
rother in law, then on the Times
taft, upbraids him because there is !
o mail for Delane in Paris While Is
am pining for letter. every John {
mith writes 10 ask how tall the Queen q
). and if the Prince of Wales has cut
is first tooth Yet. Ii is the adage that ,
lie worst shOd woman is the shoe 7
aker's wife, and here am | without {
formation on anything" {
In 1854 the Times made itself OBJ n
DXiOus TO Louis Philippe by COM n
ents on French morality; therefore o
e king determined news should be
alayed for the Times, so other papers
'uld get ahead of it. The messenger !,
+ the paper was fraudulently DELAYED,
ltdone. established its own courier
1t the Times. determined not 10 be
ltGOn6, established it's own courier
rvice from the Suez and had the
all before any competitors. =
An extract from the diary of Delane
Ows something of the inside work
gS of the paper. This evening the
nperOr of Prussia's speech arrived /.
)m Berlin, and as it was not trans
ed Dasent had long job at it.
luckily. we had agreed to share the
press with the other papers and so
ay claimed our translation. gave
TO them, but wrote note to John
alter, protesting against Our being
liged to confer upon them advan-
ses for which they did nothing"
It has been said Delane never wrote bl
the paper. This is not strictly tn
e, for he could write better than te
st men, and in reality much of the 81
tier he edited was so changed by 90
II that it was really his handiwork. ed
alone was responsible for what he as
Dlished and 80 had free hand. in
)f great journalism feats the Times
'tured one when il announced the ST.
ginning of the French Revolution ma