Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-24
Editorial Comment
The Youths Companion Editors.
fRoston Transcript

| When in the later eighties, Daniel
! Shsrp Ford was warned by advancing
age which brought decrease OF
| strength that he must throw OIL some
of the burdens which he had borne as
, editor and publisher of the Youths
| Companion he summoned Edward
Stanwood, at that time managing edi-
| tor Of the Daily Advertiser, To organ
| ize an editorial staff. MIR. Stanwood.
who had already shown himself
journalist of rare attainments, builded
wisely and Mr.. Ford sustained him
generously. In 1892. when the Com
panion occupied its new nome at the
Back Bay. Mr.. Stanwood's associates
and assistants included william IL.
Rideing, +. W. Thompson, c. A,
stephens, James NJ. Hubbard, Brad
ford Torrey. Hezekiah Butterworth,
Theron Brown, NJ. A. DeWolfe Howe.
VIII n Harlem and a dozen others,
and besides the Office force, there were
MANY staff contributors" of whom
may be mentioned Rebecca Harding
Davis, Alice Brown, Heloise f. Her
sew. Elhu Thompson and Charles
Gordon Ames. From that time on
ward, Mr.. Ford trusted more and more
| to Mr. Stanwood and his coadjutors.
and though, when health permitted,
the head of the establishment scanned
the page proofs he seldom found oc-
ca sion to question the broad grasp OF
events, the wide and accurate learn
| ing and the sound judgment which Mr.
Stanwood's officemates admirinely rec
| ognized in him.
In his turn Mr.. Stanwood, who has
been So frugal of his few spare mo-
ments that he has five standard books
| 10 his credit, now feels the need OF
rest and leisure; and, though he has
| consented TO remain as advisory edi-
tor. the heavier and more constant
tasks of the managing editorship Will
| be assumed by Mr.. Charles Miner
| Thompson, who was engaged in 1880,
| by Mr.. Stanwood himself, from the edi-
torial staff of the Advertiser. AS as
sociate editor since 1900 Mr. Tnomp-
son has indicated his policy by sur
rounding himself with younger men
whose names are known to all readers
of magazines-for example, Arthur
Stanwood Pier Henry S. Chapman
and Ira s. Kent-and he will continue
| the best traditions of the Companion,
while holding himself always ready
| to broaden. revivify and adapt them
| TO the new life of new day. Like
Mr.. Stanwood he commands the full
est. respect and most answering 10y
atty of his associates. If one may
adapt the phrase that sailors use, the
| Communion Office has always been a
''happy ship" With Mr.. Thompson in
command. il will continue so To be.
When in 1857 Mr.. Ford took over the
| To,,pop;op n faur-papaG sheet about
| the size of the original Transcript, II
had lived thirty years at poor, ay-
| ing rate and had gained a circulation
| of $500 copies. When Mr.. Ford died,
| in 1899 uhe circulation Appropriated
| SIS, 600 and it has never waVered lar
| from that figure through all the years
| between. The late Charles A. Dana
| once declared that Mr.. Ford was the
| greatest editor in the United states
| in that none other had so intimate
| knowledge of the wishes and tastes
| of his constituency, and results nave
| seemed to- bear out Mr.. DanaS view
| But this is not to intimate that MT
| Ford was a time-serNer, or that ne
| ever made concessions to preferences
| or tendencies that seemed to HIM base.
| demoralizing or unworthy lie ied ms
| readers. Associates who were honor
ed with his confidence know that us
/ feryent prayer was that he might leaa
| them rightly. 1t is worth noting that,
~ n period when ideals are ruthiess-
| ,v set aside for the sake of temporary
| nonnlaritv or success, the Companion
| has never suffered it's own Ideals 10
| be obseured. and yet continues To
| prosper