Show HORACE GREELEY I II L Instance Where He DidNot Advise to Go West WORDS FROM THE GREATEDXTOR Prophesying J the Day Editorials Atld Literary Journalism Would Be Divorced II Di-vorced friimthe Commercial A number ol years ago I found myself in NPW York with a few dollars in my poketover which I was debating atthe cross roadsof indecision as to whether I should invest it in anattempt to got a foothold in journalism on some of the metropolitan papers or go west whither the star of intellectual as well as material empire seemed to point the way I had brought with me from my New England home a letter of introduction to Horace Greeley given me by a distinguished dis-tinguished American poetess to whom he had long been attached by the closest spiritual ties But so much had 1 heard of the savage humors with which ono was liable to be confronted should his presence happen to be illtimed that I felt like one who carried free pass to enter a lions cage and the certainty that the pass would carry me up when once delivered made it all the more uncomfortable un-comfortable in my pocket On the afternoon when I had determined deter-mined to hazard the die I passed and repassed the old Tribune building several times on the opposite side to get my first journalistic wind for I was scarcely more than a blushing shrinking shrink-ing New England boy who felt constrained con-strained 1n the presence of great men to assume the attitude of toad looking up at St Peters But I finally gathered myself up and sighting the door of the Tribune office crossed the street with firm and steady tread and soon had my card in the hnndsof hcndsOf the office boy who disappeared with it up stairs and soon reached a doorwhich looked as though it might bean be-an entrance to the top loft of a gristmill grist-mill I entered and as the door closed behind me seated myself cautiously upon a dilapidated chair for the abiding spirit into whose presence I had entered turned not round nor made any sign of recognition I shall mever forget the picture of that editorial denif that can be called a picture which is thrown together by the demons oi disorder and chaos Papers pamphlets books unused copy old hats and editorial bricabrac of all descriptions were scattered about promiscuously pro-miscuously Mr Greeleys traditional gray coat was flung into the corner with his slouched hat resting tranquilly upon it A generous profusion of cob web and dust forced upon the visitors attention the conspicuous absence of broom soap and toilet furniture Verily here was the fitting abode of intellectual Rattlebones the disputed realm of Rhadamanthus and the Sun god The figure whose brawny back was turned toward me was elevated on an antique chair he limbs which seemed to be holding rivalry with those of its occupant Beforehim was a desk nearly as high as his shoulders the side of which was a pot of ink set in a pile of quills The paper on which he wrote was held at a vertical angle With his great hand grasped firmly around the quill as though it were the lever that moved the world he would thrust it into the ink pot and then with motion projected from a level with the eye he would swing it across and back on the paper as though it were a jackplane till the sheet was full Whoever saw Horace Greeley swing his quill in that weird sanctum witnessed a technique the like of which was never seen before in this world and will probably never be seen again When he had finished the editorial upon which he was at work he scrambled scram-bled the sheets together scribbled out the headline and calling a boy sent the copy up to the compositors Fortunately Fortun-ately for me it happened to be his last office work for that day and now my time had come After reading over the ladys note which recommended me to his kindest consideration as a youth of more promise than experience in the literary world he turned to me and setting his specs upon his spacious temples said Well young man Heavens thought I now the rest is coming But that which came did not point westward but pointed rather as subsequent experience has since taught to the best sense within me I am in a mood he continued uin deference to my dear friend Mrs W to give yoa my very best advice as to the advisability of entering upon journalism as a profession If you nave brains conscience and independent indepen-dent creative literary ability my advice to you is to keep away from newspapers and work your level best in patience till you can make a point as a magazine writer You have then laid the cornerstone corner-stone of your record and if you sustain it the way is certain for you to be rated for all you are worth in literature A newspaper is primarily a commercial enterprise whose proprietors are engaged in buying and selling news and of furnishing the various members of society with the means of making known to each other their wants and trade facilities Outside of this it is incidentally literary reformatory and educational enterprise but theselatter phases are bound to be largely subservient sub-servient to the commercial purposes upon which the enterprise financially flpats It is for this reason that young men are not usually taken into a newspaper news-paper office except they are willing to begin as news gatherersand thus make a thorough understanding of the commercial com-mercial Bide of journalism the groundwork ground-work of their efficiency It will not probably be inmy time young man but the day is coming when the editorial editor-ial and literary side of a newspaper will be divorced from the commercial That day is not yetarrived and the wan who advertises candles pills and od junk in a great journal feels that the editor is morally responsible to him for his views on potatoes economies and education You are young and will probably live to see theday when distinctively literary liter-ary bureaus outside of the newspaper office will furnish the editorial and literary miscellany of the coning great journal over responsible signatures signa-tures This will extricate editorial integrity from commercial pressure an 1 make the newspaper a power for good which if finds it hard to be at present The fading twilight was struggling to I reach the great blue eyes of tte Tribunt 1 philosopher through the dirtbegrimed window as these confidential words Iwereibeing spoke in a spirit of sonic iwhartouShinp kindness A I felt tbaelE IhadJcaugntSiorace Greeley in happy momentsfwhen his great beautiful self Was ready to comedo the surface As he rose to look after his coat and hathe concluded Now young m n I 1iavc given you my bet advice and you must do as you think best If you want to try journal l i P1go down and tellMr Reid iiom me to take care of you but woatever you do try to make it pay to be a maul I fJooiiby lHenry Appleton in New York Star |