The Washington herald., 1912-12-16
Began Career
on Newspaper

4
Of which. it was said, had undermined his
health. His last attack from this source
i came on December . and Immediately
after he was placed in bed in his Lon
don home.
| He had made no public appearance
| since. His illness caused a postpone
ment Of reception he had planned TO
give at his country house at Wrest Park,
| SilsOe, Bedfordshire, one OF the most
| beautiful estates of England, for which
he paid almost $1,000 a year rent in honor
of Prince and Princess Alexander OF
Teck.
Physicians in charge or the Ambassador
reported at that time that no serious
results were expected. although shortly
after he began TO grow weaker almost
| hourly. Mrs. Reid. and his daughter.
Mrs John Ward, who was Miss Jean
Reid. have been at his bedside almost
Constantly.
Mr.. Reid was born at CedarvlIle. near
Xenia. o.. October 2, 1887. He studied
at Miami University. in Ohio. and in later
years received honorary degrees from
many Of the large universities Of this
country and England.
He was married TO Miss Elizabeth Mills,
daughter of D. o. Mills. on April 2s,
1881.
Incomes W. F correspondence
Mr. Reid began his journalistic career
in 1883 when he became associate editor
OF the Xenia COhio). News. The following
year he became the legislative cores
pendent From 1850 to 1851 he acted as
war correspondent for the Cincinnati
Gazette. being present at several Of the
important battles of the civil war during
those years. The following year he came
TO Washington as correspondent for the
Gazette.
Later, he SCI we'd on the military STATS
OF Gems. Thomas a. Morris and w S.
Rosecrans in the West Virginia cam
paign and returned to Washington in
1865 to accept the position as clerk OF
the military commission OF Congress.
For a while he served as librarian OF the
House OF Representatives. Later ne took
Up cotton planting in Concordia Parish.
La In 1867 he was a member Of the
editorial staH of the New York Tribune
and during the next three years served
as managing editor, finally taking over
complete control Of the paper
With the taking over OF the Tribune
Mr.. Reid started the movement OF erect
ing tall buildings IN New York City by
erecting a home for the paper on Nassau
Street at Spruce Street. which is still the
official home Of the paper. In recent
years the building has been added to,
but nevertheless. it was one of the early
slyscrapers OF New York.
Greeley His Tutor.
Mr.. Feds initiation into Eastern jour
nalism came about through the urgings
OF Horace Greeley. founder OF the Trib-
une, who had heard OF young Reds
great ability. After taking up his work
here he was always under the tutorship
OF Greeley. who explained to him many
things in the journalistic life of the me
trOpolis that were entirely new to him.
Greeley was Grants opponent for the
Presidency in 49,. He was defeated
and died a short tune later. II was then
that young Reid stepped into control OF
the Tribune and he has maintained pos
session OF Il ever since.
Mr.. Reid furnished the introduction OF
the linotype machine, which brought
about a complete change in the printing
Of newspapers. In 1877 and again in 1851
he declined the appointment of Min
lister TO Germany. Because of the social
prestige Of the family Of his wife. Mr.
Reid moved in exclusive social circles
of two decades ago. He was also a
powerful factor in politics, always de-
voting the columns OF his paper to the
Republican cause.
Serves ms Ambassador.
During 1889 and 1899, Mr.. Reid served
as Ambassador to France. and on his
return was chosen for the vice presi-
dency on the Republican ticket He
was defeated. He was a special Am
bassadOr of this country to Queen Vic
toria's jubilee and later a member of
the Spanish Peace Committee which met
in Paris He was chosen Ambassador
at the coronation OF King Edward VII,
and in 1906 was appointed Ambassador
TO England by President Roosevelt.
He has held that post ever since. al
though It was recently reported that he
would be succeeded on January l next,
in all probability by Seth Low, former
Mayor OF New York City.
Immediately after taking up his official
duties in England. the new Ambassador
leased the famous West House, where
he has entertained royalty on a lavish
scale. King Edward and Mr.. Reid were
boon companions, often dining each other !
and spending weeks together on the |
shooting preserves maintained by both Of |
Them.
Mr.. Reid. however. was often reported |
As persona non grata to King George V, !
and as a result the present administra- |
lin has been in an embarrassing posi- !
ton more than once.
Mr.. Reid was an author II world wide |
repute, being an authority on interna- !
tionaI history and a speaker OF great |
merit.
Mrs Reid, in 1910, with her brother, |
Ogden Mills shared equally in a fortune |
sstimated at between $4,000 coo and sso,-
90 900 which had been left TO them by |
heir father.
The layishness displayed by the Reds /
n their entertainments abroad was dupli-
;ated on many occasions here. During
he visit to this country of the Duke Of |
connaught and the Princess Patricia, two
'ears ago, Mr.. Reid entertained them on
everal occasions.
More than once Mr.. Reid has been as
allied in the newspapers for the topics
discussed in his addresses. Only recently Il
n one Of his speeches abroad he attacked I
jefferson, referring to him as "a man /
With CLAY feet" and declared that he was Il
lot a man OF genius, not an orator, not |,
soldier, not a good executive, and least 4
4 all q well balanced statesman.
For this speech Representative A. NJ
'almer of Pennsylvania bitterly censured
he Ambassador on the floor Of the
louise. X
Mr.. Reid paid his last visit to this :
ountry during the past fall, returning on /
october 22nd. At that time he said he i
,as in the best of health and limited that
e was ready to retire from the dlplo- ]
latic service Just as soon as a successor ,
Tas named by President Taft II