Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-22
Henry WdttersOn
Dies in Florida

For two years following his return
home Wattcrson edited n paper called
the New Era. which he started ION
his own hook and which. after his
withdrawal continued prosperous
| career az weekly. Then the young
editor-.hc was only cighteen--wcnt to
| New York. where he wrote for Har-
pcr's Weekly. the Times and other
/ papers. and in 1859 he became asso :
ciated with the States. published at
Washington as the organ Of Stephen A.
! Douglas. for whom he had great ad-
miration. In later years he was fond
Of recalling his friendship with that
distinguished Democrat and with Cen
cral Lewis Cass. who had been his
party's candidate for President and a
cabinet member. Among his associates
on the states was the nugnacious Roger
A. Pryor.
Becomes Confederate Colonel
Although his father was loyal
| Union man when secession plunged the
country into war Of preservation.
Young Wattcrson cspouscd tho cause Of
! the South, went back 70 Tennessee.
whore he Became an assistant editor Of
the Nashville Banner. subsequently, OBJ
tanning a bit Of military experience and
/ his military title on the STAFF of the
! Confederate General Forrest: but his
, POOR vision compelled his rcIinQush-
ment OF the sword for the pen. lie
started II paper called the Rebel. at
Chattanooga. this sheet having an tim
Grant existence. owing to the approach
OF the Union armies. and the editorial
and publication departments being re-
moved at times to various camps of Con
| fnIora IN N hal Irin
existence. suspcnding publication in De
cember. 1867.
Colonc. Watterson association with
the ''lost cause" did not lessen his de-
votion 20 the Union after peace had
ccme. and few southerncrs showed
greater yea! in the work Of bringing
the divided sections of the country into
harmony. This was especially cmpha
sized in his successful efforts to have
the Grand Army Of the Republic to
Louisville for its annual cncampment in
the late 9OS. when in n notable speech
at Pittsburgh he told the veterans that
while the southern people were not
anxious to sec them u generation earlier
! they were rining to make up for their
lack of hospitality at that time. Largely
a. result of Colonel Wattcrson' s cf-
forts, the Cntertainmcnt of the Grand
Army at Louisville was one of the most
cordial i'll the history of that organi.
cation.
Made" the Courier. journal
| Henry Watterson real newspaper
the merger of the Louisville Journal,
| then controlled by Prentice. and the
Courier, owned by W. \. Haldeman,
the Democrat another daily being in
cidentally absorbed. This was in 1858.
Mr.. Wattcrson having removed from
Nashville to Louisville and assumed the
post Of assistant to the picturesque
Prentice. From the very first the Cou.
rior- Journal. under the auspices of
Prentice, lIaldeman and Watterson. took
foremost place in southern journalism.
paper gained even greater prestige az
the exponent of the best newspaper
ethics and of modern enterprise.
Watterson S personality dominated
the scintillating columns of the Courier
Journal. His impetuous style gained
from him such sobriquets as Henry
of Navarro" Light Horse Harry"
etc. but the name most frequently ap-
piled by his Kentucky and southern
friends and swiftly extended throughout
the country, "Marse Henry was the
have preferred to all others.
"Marse Henry" Edition
That n prophet IS not without honor
save in his own country has sCriptural
and traditional authority. but that this
does not apply TO an editor-at least
in Colonel Watterson's case and among
his own associates-was proved in
March. 1910. On the second Of that
month appeared a "Marse Henry cdi-
tiOn Of the Courier journal.
This unique publication, comprising
thirty two pages, profusely and appro-
priateIy Illustrated, was n miniature
edition Of the newspaper made famous
by WutterSon 1t Signaiized three COL
lateral events the entry of "Marse
Henry" upon his eightieth year. the
beginning of the sixth decade OF his
editorial guidance OF the paper and the
appearance Of the inaugural installment
of Looking Backward" his memoirs
and "reminiscences of men, women and
events during eight decades OF American
history. which appeared in the Saturday
Evening Post:
The special issue was kept secret
from the man whom it honored. A
two page leaf disclosing the secret was
in every copy of the Courier Journal
except those copies going into Florida
where In Miami Mr.. Watterson was
summing under gentle winter skies.
"A Basket OF Flowers"
Here is the secret in the words Of
the Courier Journal:
This edition is intended as a basket
of flowers'--the kind that time does not
wlther, those that find deep root in the
soil Of admiration, that bloom to per-
fcction in the sunlight Of high regard.
"A large number of the leading
American editors and publishers, states
men and public officials, authors and
clcrgymcu, artists and actors, who have
attained prominence during tho half
century Mr.. Watterson has reviewed
world happenings, are contributors 10
this wonderful tribute 10 Grand Old
Man. In addition, there have come from
abroad expressions from leading Amcri.
cans in Europe, together with hearty
greetings from leading French and
British statesmen.
The contributors included Premier
Lloyd George, Arthur James Balfour,
Andre Tradieu, American Peace Com
missioners White. Bliss, Lansing and
Housa General pershing. Admiral