And you ought to have seen the sixteen feet JOHN BENJAMIN'S PICTURE. I SEE him to-day all equipped for the snow And a plump-visored cap that once was a seal's A shawl round his neck like a turban slipped down; A touch of North-easters had frosted his tones,- Ah, hero of boyhood! Asleep in thy grave, Good night to John Benjamin, King of the Road!- WHITELAW REID. terest the progress of the famous newspaper over which he has control. THE story of the career of the present editor of "The Tribune" is that of distinguished effort leading to success in life. Rarely have great power and influence been wielded by a writer, journalist, and man of affairs, at so early an age as that of Whitelaw Reid. He has attained the high est honors of a profession which no longer is the fourth estate, and is so earnest in advancing its scope and dignity that his fellow-journalists watch with visible in-over, from that good fortune which secures Almost every instance of genuine success in life, premising that a man starts with talent and integrity, will be found to result not only from industry maintained by his ambition and strength of will, but also from a clear perception of his own gifts and a wise choice of the direction in which they shall be exercised; especially, morehim the right training and conditions favoring his chosen pursuit. Mr. Lincoln declared his chief vexation to be that the round pegs were always getting into the square holes. Half the wrecks of life are due, not so much to the lack of proper faculties, as to want of the training and circumstance for their development and successful application. So far as education is concerned, we believe that in the United States, where our brightest men practically have to train themselves, a better average result is attained than in countries where people of rank select professions for their children in order of seniority. An American boy, with his own instincts for a guide, rarely goes wrong, except through some defect of character. He may seem unstable for a time, while groping for his place in the ranks; but really is essaying one pursuit after another, until he finds the work for which he is adapted and the chance to do his share of it. This may be early or late, but meanwhile his growth is progressing in the schools of thought and experience. When the calling is found, and in this country where the occasion so surely presents itself, -every lesson of the past is turned to use and profit. Reid's abilities and strength of moral character came to him by legitimate descent. They are inherent in his pure Scotch blood, which flows so vigorously and kindly in a stock transplanted to American soil. His education has consisted of that self-dependent experience which belongs to the freedom of Western life, refined by the solid culture of the schools. Either is worth much, but each is somewhat incomplete without the other; and in the training of our most successful Western writers the two are frequently combined. Whitelaw Reid was born in Xenia, Ohio, October, 1837. His father, Robert Charlton Reid, had married Marian Whitelaw Ronalds, who came in a direct line from the small and ancient "Clan Ronalds" of the highlands. His paternal grandfather emigrated to this country from the south of Scotland, and settled in Kentucky, one of the earliest pioneers; but crossed the Ohio river in the year 1800, and bought several hundred acres of land upon the present site of Cincinnati. He was a stern old Covenanter, and found his conscience uneasy, owing to a condition of the deed which required him to run a ferry across the river every day of the week. Sooner than violate the Sabbath, he parted with his new property, and, removing to Greene county, became one of the founders of the town of Xenia. It seems likely that, but for the pioneer's scruples, the wealth of the family might have precluded the necessity for the grandson's early struggles and the experience that has brought him to his present reputation. Reid was early fitted for college by an uncle, the Rev. Hugh McMillan, also a Scotch Covenanter, and endowed with the vigor and conscientiousness of his race. Mr. McMillan was a trustee of Miami University, and principal of the academy at Xenia-at that time the foremost high school in Ohio. He bore a fine reputation as a teacher of the classics, and was the best instructor in the State. Under his discipline, young Reid was so well drilled in Latin that at the age of 15 he entered Miami as a sophomore, with a rank as a Latinist equal to that of scholars in the upper classes. This was in 1853, and in 1856 he was graduated with the "Scien❘tific honors," the "Classical honors," first tendered to him, having been yielded to a classmate at Reid's own request. Just after his graduation he was made the principal of the Graded Schools in South Charleston, O., his immediate pupils generally being young men older than himself. Here he taught French, Latin, and the higher mathematics, confirming his own mastery of those branches, and acquiring a ripe culture which has been of such service to him in later years. Out of his salary he saved enough to repay to his father the expenses of his senior year at college. At the age of 20, returning home, he bought the Xenia "News," and for two years led the life of a country editor. Directly after leaving college he had identified himself with the Republican movement, then just beginning, and, boy as he was, had gone upon the stump for Fremont. His opinions undoubtedly were influenced by the "Weekly Tribune," which he took at college-becoming thoroughly versed in the views and aspirations of the great humanitarian journalist whom he was destined to succeed. The "News" was edited by Reid with vigor and success, its subscription list being doubled during his administration. In 1860, with wise premonition, and in spite of his attachment to Mr. Chase, he advocated the nomination of Lincoln, his journal being the first West that course. ern newspaper, outside of Illinois, to take Its influence caused the election of a Lincoln delegate to the Chicago Convention. After Mr. Lincoln's famous speech at the Cooper Institute, Reid went to Columbus to meet him, formed one of his escort to Xenia, and introduced him at the railroad station to the citizens of the place. After a brief first visit to Washington, the young Ohioan now took an earnest interest in the campaign, stumping effectively in his own region, and acting as secretary of the Greene County Republican Committee. His exertions were too much for his health, and he was suddenly compelled to withdraw from the conflict. He found needful vacation in a rapid but ex cipline, however, which rendered him equal to anything, and made his later journalistic labor seem light and attractive by contrast. At the close of the session his special career may be said to have taken form. The "Gazette " offered him the post of city editor. He accepted its duties, so full of varied training, and held it until Capt. McClellan was sent to West Virginia at the outset of the civil war. Reid immediately left Cincinnati and started for the front as the war correspondent of the "Gazette." Gen. Morris was in charge of the advance, and Reid, as the representative of what was then the foremost Ohio journal, was assigned to duty as volunteer-aid, tensive trip through the great North-west, ❘ with the rank of captain. He thus began in which (by way of St. Paul, St. Cloud, and Crow Wing-the celebrated Chippewa trading-station), he finally, as one of an exploring party, visited the extreme headwaters of the Mississippi and St. Louis rivers, returning across the site of the now famous Duluth. Again at home, he plunged once more into the campaign, speaking, writing, and in other ways assisting to push the canvass to its successful close. his famous series of army-letters, over the signature of "Agate;" was in the advance against Garnett, and after the latter's death was commissioned to escort the remains to Gov. Letcher of Virginia. After various romantic adventures, in one of which he narrowly escaped from the fire of our own troops, he succeeded in his mission. The first Virginia campaign thus having given him a taste of active service, he went back to the "Gazette," and wrote leading articles for a time, but soon was again in the field, this time upon the staff of Rosecrans, and bearing his old rank. He served throughout the second campaign, which culminated at Carnifex Ferry and Gauley Bridge; wrote up those battles; then resumed his editorial post, and helped to organize at leisure the staff of correspondents which the "Gazette" soon found it requisite to employ. Mr. Reid now rested upon his homestead farm until the winter of 1860-'61, when he went to Columbus, resolved to try his for tunes as a legislative correspondent for the press. Upon his north-western journey he had written to the Cincinnati "Gazette a series of letters which were favorably received. After various efforts, he effected an engagement with the Cincinnati "Times" to furnish a daily letter for just enough to pay his board, -a pittance of five dollars per week, and was glad to get even this foothold by which to prove his quality. Schenck was running against Chase for the Senate; three other candidates, -Dennison, Horton and Delano,- were in the field. There is nothing like active service to bring one's talents into recognition and demand. In a few weeks came a request from the Cleveland "Herald" for a daily letter, at a weekly salary of $15, which offer was promptly accepted. Lastly, the Cincin nati "Gazette" made a like request, with a proffer of $18. Reid undertook these three engagements, and was then in receipt of a good income for those days, but at the expense of professional drudgery which required all the pluck and strength of youth to undergo: the task of writing three daily letters, distinct in tone, upon the same dreary legislative themes. It was a dis-plimented by an advance in his already Reid was now fairly established as a writer and journalist from whom unusual achievements might be looked for. Only brief allusion may be made to important features of the brilliant service which marked his subsequent connection with the Western press. In 1861-'62 he went to Cairo and Fort Donelson, and recorded the Tennessee campaign. He arrived at Pittsburg Landing six weeks before the battle of that name; afterwards left a sick bed to be present at the fight, and was the only correspondent who witnessed it throughout. His masterly description of the battle occupied over ten columns of the "Gazette," and stamped him as a great newspaper correspondent. It was widely copied, brought out in extras by the St. Louis and Chicago papers, and, in fact, was a decided "hit," for which he was comLearning this, the proprietors of the "Ga-perience as an observer of men and affairs. the martinet, Halleck, upon the occasion of the latter's difficulty with the "gentlemen of the press "-which ended in their dignified withdrawal from the military lines. Mr. Reid went to Washington in the spring of 1862. His reputation had extended, and he was now offered the management of a leading St. Louis newspaper. revenue-cutter was placed at the disposal of the tourists. They went along the coast, touching at all points of moment, to Key West and Havana, and thence, via Mobile and New Orleans, up the Mississippi to Cincinnati. A result of this journey was Reid's first sustained contribution to literature, a duodecimo volume entitled "After the War; A Southern Tour." The book is a fair reflection of its author's independent and healthful mind and practical ex zette," which had largely profited by his services, gave him an interest in their establish ment, selling him a handsome portion of the stock at a fair price, and allowing him to pay for it out of the profits. The latter for the first year amounted to two-thirds of the cost, and laid the basis of his fortune. He took a noteworthy position as correspondent from the national capital, receiving, also, an appointment as Librarian to the House of Representatives, which office he held until his resignation in 1866. From the first, he had the friendship and intimacy of Mr. Chase, who heartily commended him to Senator Wade, Winter Davis, and other eminent men. Among the latter was Horace Greeley, who was greatly impressed by Reid's literary and executive talents, and, failing at that time to induce him to come to New York, subsequently asked him to take charge of "The Tribune" branch office in Washington, and from that time forth was his appreciative and unswerving friend. One of the most admirable pieces of work performed by Mr. Reid during his experience in Washington was his graphic letter describing the battle of Gettysburg, and written from the field. To this day it remains the most accurate description, outside the official reports, of that momentous conflict, and certainly is the most clear and picturesque. Written in an unpretentious, yet delightful, style, it presents the scenes of the three-days' fight most vividly before the reader, and is not without traces of pathos, fervor and patriotism, that come from a true American heart. In 1865 Mr. Reid went South as the companion of his venerated friend Mr. Chase, upon the tour which the late ChiefJustice undertook at the request of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Chase, ostensibly traveling for his health, really was invested with a secret mission of observation with regard to the interests and condition of the white and black races in the Southern States. A Written with some haste, it is always clear and restrained, and is an invaluable record of the state and aspect of the South during the years of re-adjustment which followed the war. Passages relating to the condition and habits of the freedmen are numerous, and of lively interest; the negro dialect and manners are rendered in a style worthy of our realistic novelists, and set off with a kindly humor which is a conspicuous feature of the whole work. The author's attention was diverted, during his tour, to the chances afforded the cotton-planter by the high prices still ruling under a scant supply, and he resolved to make an experiment as a producer of the great Southern staple. With this end, in the spring of '66, he leased three plantations in Concordia Parish, opposite Natchez, in partnership with General Francis J. Herron. The bold novices planted the large number of 2,200 acres with cotton, hiring and working no less than 300 negroes. The speculation was admirably managed, cotton was still at a high premium, and all promised well. The crop had almost ripened, and an immediate fortune seemed secure as the result of this one season's labors, when,just as the picking was about to commence, the fields were invaded by the destructive army-worm. In a week the situation had sadly changed. Only one-fourth the promised crop was saved. Even this, however, sufficed to bring out the planters without loss, and encouraged Reid to try his fortune another year in Alabama. The conditions here were not so favorable, and at the end of two years he found himself not a loser, indeed, but a gainer only in business experience that strengthened his already pronounced and self-dependent executive abilities. Meanwhile his pen was not idle, and during the three years which ended with '68 he wrote and compiled an extensive historical record, which always will remain |