New-York tribune., 1918-05-15
Anecdotes Reveal
Benefits Strength
And His Weaknesses


James Gordon Bennett. One, more
than any other, reveals one of his
weaknesses-a disinclinaton to ac
knowledge an error.
Before taking up his residence
abroad he. frequently breakfastcd at
Delmonico's, then downtown. One
Christmas morning he gave the wait
er who always served him a small roll
OF 1 bills. Is AS soon as opportunity Of
fered the waiter looked at the roll, and
when he recovered his equilibrium took
1t to Mr.. Delmonico. There were six
$1,000 bills in the roll. The proprie-
tor, sensing that a mistake had been
made. put them in the safe.
When the publisher next visited the
cafe. Mr. Delmonico told him the wait
er had turned the money in He added
he would return it as Mr.. Bennett de-
parted.
"Why return it? Didn't I give it to
him."
Eyes: But, of course, it was mis-
take. You gave him $4,000"
Mr.. Delmonico," replied Bennett,
rising to his full height, "you should
know by this time that James Gordon
Bennett never makes a mistake"
A pressman had just returned to
work after protracted spree. His
tace was battered an eye was black
ened and an ear showed a tendency to
mushroom. The night of his return
was one on which Mr.. Bennett Visited Gte d
the pressroom. He saw Mr.. Bennett
before Mr.. Bennett saw him, and, daub-
ing handful of ink on his face, he
became so busy that Bennett noticed
him.
"Who is that man?" he asked the
foreman. "What do You pay him? ?"
The foreman gave him the informa-
ton.
= Double his salary" replied Mr..
benhett Hes the only man in the
place who seems to be doing any work" !"
Sorletimes men were dismissed from
"The Herald" service for unusual rea-
sons. once young man, who for q
year or more had been dramatic critic.
obtained an introduction to Mr.. Ben
nett: When lie left the audience his
discharge was ordered
Get q man." ordered Bennett. Get
a man; he's or'y boy."
Another dra attic critic, still a we'll
known writer, lost his place because
he would not get his hair cut. Ben
nett, in Paris asked him why he wore
his hair so long and was told because
he liked it that way. An order send
ing him to Copenhagen followed.
When his return was announced by
secretary, Bennett asked if ne had had
his hair cut, and being informed that
ne had not, ordered him ro St. Peters,
burg. On his return from Russia, still
unshorn, he was sent to the Far East.
HAS he had his hair cut ?" asked
Bennett when his return was once
more announced.
No, sir" replied the secretary, cts
Then fire him." replied Bennett
He's too slow to take a aint to suit
me-"
Billy Edwards. the pugilist. was long
a warm friend Of Mr.. Bennett. becom.
ing, such after he had given the editor
a thrashing.
Bennett entered we'll known resort
and called for bottle of wine. 1t was
not served promptly and he entered a
vigorous protest.
Huh" commented an athletic an
pearlng chap, "you cheap skate, YOU or
DER bottle of wine and make as much
basket"
Benefits reply was swing at the
stranger, and in a moment the place
was full OF action. Benefits compan-
ION escaped through window. The
next day Bennett was in bed nursing a
blackened eye, split lip and badly
battered nose.
"Who was that l had a fight with
last night?" he asked.
BILLY Edwards, the middleweight
Champion"
"Do yod know him."
He did, and was told to bring him to
the Bennett house.
II want to meet that fellow" said
Bennett, giving his instructions. ~
was pretty sore over being beaten. but
after all 1t took champion to do it,"
~ am told" Mr.. Bennett once said
to member of his New. York staff
visiting in Paris, "that Blank drinks
quart of whiskey a day."
That's not true" replied the Wis
ltor, a friend of the man accused.
HE does nothing of the sort"
"Of course, he DOESN'T" answered
Bennett, "it can't be done. know.
have tried it myself"
Mr.. Bennett would tolerate drinking
to excess, but he had no patience with
gambling. On one occasion he fonnd
that guests on his yacht were playing
for immense stakes at bacarrat. Too
tactful to interfere directly, he chose
to put stop to the game in an in
direct way. When the players sought
to resume play the second day, they
found some one had removed the aces
from every pack of cards on the boat.