The Republican journal., 1915-04-29
Some Old.Time Journalists.

I'D and gath an outcome OF the recent
addition to the curriculum of that prac-
tical institution of learning of course
in journalism - suggests mention. though
necessarily brief, of some of the early Maine
newspaper men who won distinction abroad
First, because he was the first newspaper man
with whom the present writer became familiar
as a reader of the New Mirror, and later the
Home Journal, Nathaniel Parker Willis is re-
called. He was q bright star in the literary
armament of his day and his light still shines
although he died nearly half a century ago.
He was born in Portland and his father, Ma
thaniel Willis, was one of the publishers of
the Eastern Argus weekly the first number
of which was issued Sept. 8, 1903. He later be-
came prominent in Boston journalism and was
the founder of The Youths Companion. Four
members of his family inherited great literary
ability Nathaniel p. the youngest sou; Rich
ard Storrs, editor. comp oser and poet; Sarah
Payson, widely known by her pen name of
s'Fanny Fern and Julia Dean, an able book re-
viewer, who all her life did anonymous literary
work. Fanny Fern contributor to Bon
ner's New York Ledger. the most widely cir
culated weekly story paper of its day, but
which, with its many imitators, long since
ceased publication. Nathaniel Parker Willis
is included in the American Men of Letters
series published by Houghtons, Mffiin & Co.,
Boston, and this firm also published few
years ago collection of his writings. He
was the author of several books, the best
known, "Penciling, by the Way" and Letters
from Under Bridge" The first named told
of his travels abroad where he was entertain
ed by the nobility and the most distinguished
people of that day He died on his 61st birth
day, Jan. TO- 1867, at his beautiful estate, Idle
wild on H udson.
George Stillman Hilard, lawyer, editor, poet
and distinguished man of letters, was the
grandson of George Stilllnan, one of the earli-
est and most distinguished citizens of Machias.
He settled there early as 1863 and assisted
in building the first westinghouse. Mr.. Hill
Hard was born in Machias in 1908, graduated
from Harvard in 1925 and was admitted to the
bar in Boston in 1888 In that year he became
one of the editors of the Christian Register
tUnitarian) and later was one of the editors of
the Boston Courier, the leading Wing organ of
that day. He was the author of the "Life of
John Smith, "Six Months in Italy," etc., and
died in 1879 Charles T. Congdop in his Rec
ord of Fifty Years of Journalism" said "Mr.
41illard, who could write brilliant essays, con-
@suruct clever books which the committees
we're only too glad to introduce into the
schools, tell in elegant language of his travels
in Italy, critically collate the works of Walter
Savage Lander and edit Chaucer, proved how
little he understood the science of public af-
fairs etc. This refers to Mr.. Hillard's pro-
slavery attitude and his course during the agi-
cation leading up to the Civil war, when the
Boston Wings .'fell without murmur, and out
of sheer fright, into the arms of the Demo-
cratic party"
Eastern Maine produced another journalist
and author, no less distinguished, in James
Shepherd Pike of Calais. He was engaged in
trade but began writing because he had some
thing to say-frst in the Boundary Gazette,
published in Calais, then in the Portland Ad-
vertiser, the Boston Atlas, the leading Wing
paper in New England, and the Boston Cour-
Ter, wnen it was the leading daily newspaper
this side of New York. His writings in the
Courier attracted the attention of Horace
Greeley, who wrote him this characteristic
note: "Will you write some let
tiers? You are writing such abominably bad
ones for the Boston Courier that l fancy you
are putting all your unreason into them and
can give me some of the pure juice" This led
to Mr.. Pike becoming regular contributor to
The Tribune, land he was always spoken of by
Mr.. Greeley as the best political writer in the
country. During his connection with The
Tribune, in which he became stockholder, it
was the most influential paper in this country
and its utterances carried more weight with the
American people than any newspaper of the
present day. In the anti-slavery campaign,
and during the Civil war, Mr.. Pike was Mr..
Greeley's right hand man and did valiant ser
vice. He was d candidate for office but once,
when be ran for Congress in 1850 in the old 5th
Maine district and was defeated byT.J. D. Full
ler. in recognition of his distinguished SER
wees in the cause of the Union President Lin
coin appointed Mr.. Pike Minister to The
Hague, but after holding the office for five
years he became tired of it and resigned to
sumo writing for the press. During recon-
st-uction in South Carolina he visited that
State and his letters to The Tribune were later
published in book form under the title of "The
Prostate State" n his death in 1882 Chas.
A. Dana. who was associated with Mr.. Pike on
The Tribune, paid him marked tribute in the
editorial columns of the New York Sun.
Portland was the birthplace of James and
Erastus Brooks, distinguished journalists and
prominent in politics. James studied law in
Portland, wrote for newspapers and in 1872 went
to Washington correspondent and was
pioneer in that line. Later he became the
editor of the Portland Advertiser and travelled
in Europe, sending home letters to the Adver-
tiser. On his return he stopped in New York
and arranged with parties there to establish an
evening paper, the Express, but promised to
zs-gsurn to Portland when he had placed his
hJroTner Erastus in charge and to keep up his
& sdrtoz1al connection with both papers, He did
not return to Portland, however, and soon be-
came prominent in politics in New York. He
served two terms in Congress before the Civil
War; was again elected to the House in 1865
and served continuously until 1873, and died in
that year. His brother Erastus edited the
Yankee at Wiscasset and later the Gazette at
Haverhill, Mass, and about 1910 went to Wash