The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-30
OF Marse Henry.

To the Editor. The Washington Herald:
With the passing of the great
genius, Henry Watterson,- scores of
hitherto unrelated bits of history
connected with his life will be re-
vealed. and, incidentally, columns
upon columns Of encomiums, in
truth, should have been written
during his lifetime.
To those who knew him best
Watterson was not only a genius,
but a patriot and a right-thinking
citizen-an earnest, lovable char
acter. an indefatigable worker Of
unbounded enthusiasm.
To me the name Henry Watterson
has been since my early childhood
almost a family name, so intimately
connected was it with the early
journalistic career of my father,
whom Marse Henry "discoveres-
in the composing room of the
Courier-Journal early in his (Wat-
terson's) ministrations as editor-in-
chief of that now justly historic
newspaper. He made of the young
printer, Joseph Granville Brown, a
reporter lin one minute" as my
father relates, and years later !
was to have the extreme pleasure
of hearing from the lips of the
lovable old gentleman. w. N. Halde-
man. owner of the Courier-Journal,
these words: Daughter, your
father was the best reporter l ever
had"
After seven years close associa-
ton with Mr.. Watterson on the
Courier-Journsl my father removed
to Denver. Colo. Herman Beckurts
of Louisville, having purchased the
Denver Tribune. took with him TO
the Western city o. II. Rothacker
for his editor. and my father as
his associate, later to be Joined by
Eugene Field, and also by Bill Nye'
whom Beckurts discovered in
Wyoming.
For several years this interesting
group gave to Denver journalism
the distinction that decidedly put
that city on the map. and set 4
pace for journalism which few
newspapers in the country were
able to maintain.
Before a gathering of newspaper
men and others-many of national
repute-at a banquet several years
ago, my father told of his entry
into journalism under the great
Watterson.
my entry into the newspaper field
was a quick jump from the printers
case to the reporters table. 1t was
o'clock at night. I was working
at my case in the composing room
when the foreman informed me that
Mr.. Watterson wanted to see me
with my coat and hat on.
I'VE have no reporter tonight.
said Watterson, as l entered his
room. Ballard Smith. the chief re-
porter. afterward city editor success
sively of the New York World and
the New York Herald. was out Of
the city; the other reporter-for there
were but two-was gone for good.
The fact is.~there's nobody here
but a telegraph editor and myself
Scurry around the city. get all the
news you can and then come in and
write il up. We will get out the
paper, all right got in after
midnight with a goodly string of
news items. Watterson worked
like a beaver, writing editorials
making up the summary of State
and general news. attending to the
correspondence and looking after
the requirements of all departments.
The Courier-Journal appeared as
usual next morning. with apparent
satisfaction to its readers.
Once story went the rounds of
the press, with great variety OF
critical. not to say dubious com
ment, that Mr.. watterson frequent
~ economical time by debating
two editorials at the same time
Having no regular amanuensis.
though many have claimed that dis
tinctfon. his habit was to do his
own writing. But l have seen him
when, in a rush or under pressure
walk from room to room while die
Eating an article as it was taken
in long hand by one of the staff
He would speak sentence or more
correctly placing the comma, semi
colon and period: then take up q
different matter in another room
returning ana neatfow tht. - In