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Show , . H - Jji A FIRST-CLASS EDITOR. I ! ' ll i'B In tlle -antic Monthly Arthur Reed Kimball, H ij I 1 ' ffl discussing "The Profession of Publicist," tells the 1 1 &' am HI ' n III following anecdote of the late John Swinton, for Ij1 j M many years managing editor of the New York Sun ' il ' ' Inl under the late great Dana: Bt iJ 1l m "Swinton," said Dana one day. "I need a first- H f Y ' P !B class editorial writer. Have you one to recom- ' l' i jB mend?" "How much are you willing to pay, Mr. . 1 ' I IB Dana?" asked Swinton. "For a first-class man 1 K $125 per week" was the reply. "But you cannot I'M get a first-class man for that," protested Swinton. 'j I l "Why not?" asked Mr. Dana. "That is what I pay ' , . 1)1 you, and don't you consider yourself a first-class , . Il man?" "No, Mr. Dana," rejoined Swinton. "If ' I I I were a first-class man I should be paying you jH : j fl $125 Per week." . ' i ' jB There is a great deal in the foregoing. Mr. M j, ' !( m Swinton was a first-class man In the direction of 1 i IB a daIly paper, but he was not a first-class edl- Hi t ivm torial writer every day. Mr. Dafla was a first class Hj; '( H editorial writer every day in New York; he starved Hji S in Chicago. He went there to do the finest kind of B 1 'IB cabinet newspaper work when the town only Bf tifB wanted first-class carpenter work, but lots of it. it I 'itt When back in New York, with unlimited means K ' I J to draw to him the best talent that could be Hl :M procured, Mr. Dana gave an example of newspa- Hi ' iB per wrInS that lias never been equalled when B; 'ijpB examined from every point of view. His habit B , ' MB was to write an article in the morning, send it up B , , j ,M to the composing room and when the proof was H i , j " H returned to correct it. That was before the days B I ! of typewriters. His corrections were many, then j ! S the article was sent back for revision and then B' 'MB again returned to him. Then, not infrequently, Hbjf i,,B he wrote an entirely new article, discarding the K ' ( !'r'IB flrst' which in turn nad to De corrected and re- !' s : i iwTi vised. As a rule he wrote only about a column or ! i : M IB a column atld a tuIrd daIly but when it appeared ! ''I'iiB Jt required a strong man to improve either its Bl ' '! f'HB strength, its logic or its style. The only flaw on B ' ' 1 I PB the pases of nis editorial work came of his preju- Bj j 'lB dices. He could not be fair to an honorable en- H I nj emy. His vindictlveness was as vengeful as a ser- B j TO pent, as tireless as a wolf. He followed the public WM ' i men whom he hated through life and even into B , i km their graves. And it did not require a great deal B . 'iB awaken his enmity. Any one who crossed a B' f Ilfl selfish purpose of his own, ho ever after held as Br! I 1IB an enemy. But he was a power in journalism and B j hU "when not blinded by his prejudices he was dne of V TIIB thS mSt fat" s!ghted of tlaily editorial writers. Bf I ' IIB He Was a great scnolar and when he called up all BV'' ' Iv his intellectual resources to treat a theme, his J'i 'I words had an organ tone and there was not one Bj B discord in the mighty dispason. His ridicule was M il 1B killing and still was exquisite. If he flayed a man, B ' 4 IB ifc WaS Clear that he flrst dIsInfecx;eI nis knife and K , ; ill then put on Sloves that no risks might be taken, H jlfl and that all brother surgeons would have to pro- H j J fl nounce his work perfect. B I ' II In the South or West he would have been B i (c t ( B beaten half to death a hundred times or possibly B ' j " H ! j B killed, and the verdict would have been that he B j Il was rlglltly served, but when in accord with some B j . I B hiSh theme, when his brain and heart were both BBjj' ' ' B enlisted, then it was a joy to read when he wrote. l1 iljj'jB HIs words had the rhythm of lofty music, and to Bf lil Ifl -rdad brought the same b1111 that one feels under B' ' I Hfl thG 8pe11 f a'great oratr. In the new school of B ' I 1 llB Journalism there should be one text book made Bi I Ilfl f Dana's best editorials and should be studied H H IH for their style, their logic and their power. ! IB j |
