The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-04-21
BENNETT
Has Been An Active Man All
His Life

Bennett, the owner of the New York
Herald, no has been critically i'll in
Egypt. There was time, though long
..ago, when Mr. Bennett was familiar
figure in the streets of New York. But
= the New Yorker of today knows moth
ing of Mr.. Bennett personally, for the
reason that he has lived abroad, most
ly in France, nearly all of his man
hood. OF late years his visits to this
city have become fewer and farther
between, although he 'is the Herald
4. as of old. 1t is commonly told in news
paper circles that there are many vet
-eran employees of the Herald who
would not know Mr.. Bennett if they
were to meet him face to face.
MFR. Bennett is man of many pecul-
;iarities. One of the most pronounced
- ef these has been his desire that he
: should remain personally unknown TO
the readers of the Herald and, if possi-
ble, TO the community at large. He
has never sought to impress his per-
.- sonality upon the Herald's pages. 1t
is doubtless true that, in a large sense,
he has been the editor of the paper
and dictator OF its course. But he has
always paid more attention to its news
enterprises than TO its political poll
cies. His hobby is the news" In
his view, the daily record of the
worlds occurrences is journalism and
the whole earth should be raked every
day of the week for news" as to the
significance of which the readers
should be left to make up their own
mind. Mr.. Bennett once told an ac-
uuaintance that he entertained the pur.
pose of abolishing altogether his news
papers commentary department as il
seemed to him useless.
In his earlier day Mr.. Bennett was
notable amateur sportsman, but IL is
fact now almost forgotten that he
destrian of America. He excelled at
polo and was an adept with the rifle
and whip OF late years his love for
sport has found vent almost exclusive.
w in yachting. He is a top-notch navi-
gator, and has circumnavigated the
globe several times. OF good size and
athletic figure he could hold his owI
with the best of them in a fistic en-
counter in the days of his youth. II
has been said that something of this
sort figured in the episode that led Ia
his determination to foresake America
and live abroad. But this was many
years ago and the parties who were
said to have ben concerned In the af
fair have long since passed away As
related in the olden days along Park
Row il was an interesting story, but
as already stated it happened so many
years ago that the facts of the case
have almost been blotted from tn
memories OF even the old-timers.
Mr. Bennett was educated for the
pursuit of journalism, being carefully
trained by his father in all the details
OF the profession. To build up a great
newspaper had been the leading pur
pose Of the elder Benefits life. It was
in 1885 that James Gordon Bennett
Sr.. bad founded the New York Her
aid. His first office was In base
ment on Wall street He was editor
wrote all the editorials, was bookkeep
er. clerk and sold the papers himself
ia nf A.
desk, and he had plank set on two
empty barrels to serve as a counter foi
the papers. The printing was done or
shares of profit and loss by two strug
Cling printers Mr., Bennett made his
SaPer sensational attacked Individual,
and made enemies, but his paper sold
He had strong financial articles anG
Kept In touch with world news. lie
believed that news had u marketable
value and worked on that basis. If,
Ia said to have been the first to hir,
newsboys TO 80 out among the peopl,
and sell papers He worked with an
energy that can hardly be conceived
He never tried in any way TO reform
3 Ahe world, but accepted It as he foun,
II and gave news that all classes woult
atnd of interest.
When the elder Bennett died In 1877,
his last injunction to his son was /,
isnstain the great newspaper which h,
had created. This Injunction Tn,
James Gordon Bennett OF today ha
faithfully followed, and IN doing so h
has displayed all the energy, sagacity
varied ability, and personal probit
that distinguished his father. His OF
hces in Paris have been the headqual
-ders of two great newspapers, one 1.
sued in Paris, the other in this cit
and there he has not only dIrecte
their general policy; but attended PEI
GOnally to the minutest details cor
nected with their management. I
his periodical visits 10 New York ha
made a habit of going CAREFUL
through the composing and pres
rooms, observing the condition OF tb