The New York herald., 1921-12-23
Henry Watterson.


nalists of the United States-in so
far as that phrase describes those edi-
tors whose names were as familiar to
their readers as the titles Of their
newspapers-passes from the stage.
And HENRY WATTERsoN was more
than the last of them; he was one Of
the greatest. The deaths of GREELEY,
RAYMOND and BENNETT left DANA su-
preme IN that particular field. When
DANA died WArrERsoN became the
outstanding editorial personality.
For nearly half century Colonel
WArrERsoN was big figure in Jour
nalism: for twenty years be was the
biggest. Even his retirement from
the editorship of the Louisville Cou-
yicr-JonrnaI did not dethrone him.
He could no more leave his profes-
sion than he could stop the beating
of his heart. After he went away
from his old desk and had to his credit
more than eighty years scarcely a
week passed that he did not turn his
restless pen to some topic Of the day.
There was no retiring that great
spirit until it fed witt life itself.
HEHRY WATrEnsoN, AZ some one
wrote of him only three years ago,
"blithely eluded the past tenEe." 1t
was hard to realize when reading
his articles during the great war
articles full Of youthful vigor-that
the writer Of them received advice
from the sixth President of the United
States and gave advice to the twenty
eighth President. WACTERsoN's life
and that Of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
whom he served as page In the
House of Representatives, cover the
whole span OF the Republic from the
Revolution onward. WATTERsoN OBJ
served intimately more Of our ma
tional life and progress and politics
than any other American. He saw
history as a child and lived 1t as a
man. Whether as soldier, traveller,
editor, partisan or plain patriot, he
entered into all the common fields of
life with the zest and courage Of
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Colonel WArTERsoN valued the past
for it's lessons, but he never let it
weight him down. He was essentially
an editor OF the day. There was as
much fire in the attack he directed
at the Hohenzollerns when he was
II as therc had been in the literary
duels of his youth. Even In the last
years Of his editorship there was
none who could see more quickly the
salients Of an issue, none who could
pound them more terrifically with
the guns Of denunciation and irony.
OF all the great American editors he
was the most picturesque in style.
He invented more phrases than per-
haps any of his contemporaries.
The versatility of the man was re-
markable. In two continents he had
met and known and studied every
tody worth meeting. He was well
come alike in the political, social and
business worlds. Scarcely topic
could rise but he had discussed it
with its most eminent advocates or
opponents. Yet none Of these con-
facts ever disturbed his own balance
of judgment. Greatness interested
but never awed him. He had known
more Presidents and Princes than
sny man alive, but to him they were
little more than interesting human
teings. Wherever hc went he left
his own mark--of kindness, of ear.
nestness, of cleverness: but the con-
tact left himself unmarked. He re-
,nained the same HENRY WArTERsoN,
journalist and gentleman.
Colonel WATTERsoN will be remem-
bered by tie people Of his own pro-
fession as an ideal of independence
and strength, trainer and encour-
ager Of young men, an illustrious ex-
ample OF complete devotion to his
work. He will be remembered by
readers as an editor whose columns
were illuminating torches for the
New South and, indeed, for the whole
country; as a writer whose capacity
for inspiring in attack or defense
was infinite. Party men will think
OF Colonel WATTERsoN as q Democrat
who stood by his party whenever his
self-respect permitted, but who did
not hesitate, even at the risk of for
tune or friendship. to chastise his
party or its leaders whenever he be-
lievcd that they were straying from
the principles he reverenced.
The men and women who knew
HENRY wArrEnsoN will think of him
always as the stanch friend, the
charming companion, the eternal op-
timist, the sincere believer. A happy
warrior leaves the arena. his lance
unbrcken. his shield spotless
Skating at Holiday Time.
December's weather has brought
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