basement eating place where oysters were taken from the shell. The proprietor opened Mr. Bowles's bivalves under the eyes of his customer, and afterward said, "I was afraid. He looked through my soul down to my boots!" In a letter to the New York Tribune Charles K. Webb ("John Paul") pictured him at Saratoga as, "That tall gentleman who would be taller if he did not stoop a little, his incisive if not aggressive head and face thrust slightly forward as though to meet you in argument or repartee at least half way, his bright keen eye taking in everything that passed, yet betraying kindness in its depths that surprises those who know him only by his newspaper writings, a man whom you would at once set down as decidedly out of the common, editor and proprietor of the foremost and best-known newspaper of New England." By great good fortune, not long before his last illness, Mr. Bowles happened on Colonel Henry Watterson in New York and went with him to Sarony's. After Watterson's sittings, the photographer forced Mr. Bowles into the chair. From these photographs the three paintings of Mr. Bowles by Thomas W. Wood were made for the family, for the Springfield Public Library and for the editorial department of the paper. The editors paid for that painting I have that now ancient subscription paper which was to hang forever in the editorial department. No other photographs are in anywise adequate, but these preserve the free and striking outward semblance of the man and reveal some thing of his spirit. I am using for the first time the one most characteristic of our great chief. He had two bearings, one for working hours, and the other for his home. In the one he was tense and self-centered, and in the other the interested head of the family, and the gracious, delightful host. In many ways the hospitality of Richard Olney reminded me of that of Mr. Bowles, who at his own table could be as appealing and bewitching as a brilliant woman. Out of office hours in his home Mr. Bowles was full of kindly interest in the young men who served him. He could illuminate a bewildering political situation with a sentence that shot light into it. In the office he was intent upon the manifold tasks in hand. He was suggestive to his editorial men, but expected them to supply inspiration if he failed to give it. His one fault, to my mind, was in failing to commend work well done. He seemed to expect an intuitive knowledge of his approval, while quick with sharp comment if a writer failed to achieve what had been expected. Because of this we many times groped, when a word of commendation would have cleared the way. He was a continual inspiration, and from his presence and writings we were constantly absorbing much. He had a large and intimate acquaintance with public men, and by contact and correspondence kept hold upon all vital happenings in politics. He had wide acquaintance with the editors of the country, and the estimate which they placed upon him has been set forth. The power of personality was recognized by every person brought in contact with Mr. Bowles. Editors in the vicinage experienced it. Each talk with him aroused the impulse for betterment, and gave larger sense of the possibilities and responsibilities of work that had been up to that time scarcely regarded as a profession. It was give and take between the editor of the Republican and the men at the head of the great papers; but they, too, got inspiration. Joseph Pulitzer told me long afterward that his full sense of the mission of journalism was begotten of talks with Mr. Bowles in Saratoga, whither he had come from St. Louis, and where the two tired men rested. Then were planted, or deepened, purposes that were to end in the purchase by Mr. Pulitzer of the New York World, and its dedication to the protection of public interests. He retained his St. Louis paper as he moved east to obtain a larger field of influence. Mr. Pulitzer's advent brought many departures from hitherto accepted newspaper practices. He boldly threw over many old ways. When he declared the column rule no longer sacred, it seemed like trifling with the holy of holies. The use of illustrations was soon to become general as the processes of reproduction were perfected. This help to newspaper making had long been sought. Many of the Pulitzer innovations possessing obvious advantages came into general use. Others he abandoned as large success came to the World, to see them afterwards picked up by William R. Hearst and carried to extremes. Thereby came an influence yet more seriously affecting the appearance and quality of newspapers. Too few escaped the contagion of detriment. Happily, the New York Times, whose editor was a Bowles product, steadily kept the old faith in the desire of a great section of the American people for sensible, unsensational and honest service. That the Times has achieved large success along high lines offers healthful suggestion to all newspapers. Other important papers belong to that sensible and self-respecting school wherein values are weighed. The Republican was prominent in the seventies for painstaking intelligence in illuminating the rather meager telegraphic news service of that time. Date lines used were few. The Associated Press was not permitted to edit this journal, and matter which came over the wires and cost money did not thereby acquire preference. The paper interpreted and individualized the general news as well as local happenings. Processes of standardization in newspaper making were yet afar off. No syndicated matter was available, and "features" were produced at home. Originality was encouraged, and led to results that distinguished the paper. The Republican evolved its own ideas and executed them. Its product was "tailor-made" and not "ready-made", as a wise old printer expressed it when discussing modern fashions in journalism in contrast with the individuality of that period. No part of the paper escaped thorough editing, and the result was quite as satisfying to readers as to the editors. Modern frenzies in the way of |