SOME EARLY MAINE JOURNALISTS 41 printed in John Sprague's Journal of Maine History Vol 3 #1 pages 41-43 May 1915 Some Early Maine Journalists By CHARLES A. PILSBURY. The first annual Newspaper Institute held at the University of Maine, Orono, April 23d and 94th-an outcome of the recent addi- tion to the curriculum of that practical institution of learning of a course in journalism, suggests mention, though necessarily brief, of some of the early Maine newspaper men who won distinction abroad. First, because he was the first newspaper man with whom the pres- ent writer became familiar as a reader of the New Mirror, and later the Home journal, Nathaniel Parker Willis is recalled. He was a bright star in the literary firmament of his (lay and his light still shines although he died nearly half a century ago. He was born in Portland and his father, Nathaniel Willis, was one of the publishers of the Eastern Argus (weekly) the first number of which was issued Sept. 8, I803. He later became prominent in Boston journalism and was the founder of The Youth's Companion. Four members of his family inherited great literary ability- Nathaniel P., the youngest son; Richard Storrs, editor, composer and poet; Sarah Payson, widely known by her pen name of "Fanny Fern," and Julia Bean, an able book reviewer, who all her life did anonymous literary work. Fanny Fern was a contributor to Bon- ner's New York Ledger, the most widely circulated weekly story paper of its day, but which, with its many imitators, long since ceased publication. Nathaniel Parker Willis is included in the American Men of Letters series published by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, and this firm also published a few years ago a collection of his writings. He was the author of several books, the best known; "Pencilings by the Way" and "Letters from Under a Bridge." The first named told of his travels abroad, where he was entertained by the nobility and the most distinguished people of that day. He died on his 61st birthday, Jan. 20, 1867, at his beautiful estate, Idle-wild- on-Hudson. George Stillman Hillard, lawyer, editor, poet and distinguished man of letters, was the grandson of George Stillman, one of the earliest and most distinguished citizens of Machias. He settled there as early as 1769 and assisted in building the first meetinghouse. Mr. Hillard was born in Machias in 18o8, graduated from Harvard in 1828, and was admitted to the bar in Boston in 1833. In that year he became one of the editors of the Christian Register (Unitarian) and later was one of the editors of the Boston Courier, the leading 42 SPRAGUE'S JOURNAL OF MAINE HISTORY Whig organ of that day. He was the author of the "Life of John Smith," "Six Months in Italy," etc., and died in 1879. Charles T. Congdon in his "Record of Fifty Years of journalism, said: "Mr. Hillard, who could write brilliant essays, construct clever books which the committees were only too glad to introduce into the schools, tell in elegant language of his travels in Italy, critically col- late the works of Walter Savage Landor and edit Chaucer, proved how little he understood the science of public affairs," etc. This refers to Mr. Hillard's pro-slavery attitude and his course during the agitation leading up to the Civil war, when the Boston Whigs "fell without a murmur, and out of sheer fright, into the arms of the Democratic party." Eastern Maine produced another journalist and author, no less distinguished, in James Shepherd Pike of Calais. He was engaged in trade, but began writing because he had something to say-first in the Boundary Gazette, published in Calais, then in the Portland Advertiser, the Boston Atlas, the leading Whig paper in New Eng- land, and the Boston Courier, when it was the leading daily news- paper this side of New York. His writings in the Courier attracted the attention of Horace Greeley, who wrote him this characteristic note: "Will you write me some letters? You are writing such abominably bad ones for the Boston Courier that I fancy you are putting all your unreason into them and can give me some of the pure juice." This led to Mr. Pike becoming a regular contributor to The Tribune, and he was always spoken of by Mr. Greeley as the best political writer in the country. During his connection with The Tribune, in which he became a stockholder, it was the most influential paper in this country and its utterance carried more weight with the American people than any newspaper of the present day. In the anti-slavery campaign, and during the Civil war, Mr. Pike was Mr. Greeley's right hand man and did valiant service. He was a candidate for office but once, when he ran for Congress in 1850 in the old 5th Maine district and was defeated by T. J. D. Fuller. In recognition of his distinguished services in the cause of the Union President Lincoln appointed Mr. Pike Minister to The Hague, but after holding the office for five years he became tired of it and resigned to resume writing for the press. During recon- struction in South Carolina he visited that State and his letters to The Tribune were later published in book form under the title of "The Prostrate State." On his death in 1882, Charles A. Dana, who was associated with Mr. Pike on The Tribune, paid him a marked tribute in the editorial columns of the New York Sun. SOME EARLY MAINE JOURNALISTS 43 Portland was the birthplace of James and Erastus Brooks, dis- tinguished journalists and prominent in politics. James studied law in Portland, wrote for newspapers and in 1832 went to Washington as a correspondent and was a pioneer in that line. Later he became the editor of the Portland Advertiser and travelled in Europe, send- ing home letters to the Advertiser. On his return he stopped in New York and arranged with parties there to establish an evening paper, the Express, but promised to return to Portland when he had placed his brother Erastus in charge and to keep up his editorial connection with both papers. He did not return to Portland, how- ever, and soon became prominent in politics in New York. He served two terms in Congress before the Civil War, was again elected to the House in 1865 and served continuously until 1873, and died in that year. His brother Erastus edited the Yankee at Wiscasset and later the Gazette at Haverhill, Mass., and about 1840 went to Washington as correspondent for several New York papers. He was nominated by the Democrats for Governor of New York, but was defeated. He served several terms in the legislature of the Empire State and was quite as prominent in public life as his brother James, with whom he was associated in the publication of the Even- ing Express. The paper was successful under their management and later was consolidated with the Mail, an evening paper. George Mellville Weston was born in Augusta in 1816, graduated from Bowdoin in 1834, and was admitted to the bar in I837. He practiced law in Augusta for five years and edited The Age, the leading Democratic organ in the State, until after the campaign of 1844, "in which he won distinction as a political writer of great intellectual ability." He then moved to Bangor, where he continued the practice of law and was engaged in editorial work. Later he went to Washington and was the editor of Free Soil papers that succeeded The National Era, and was the first editor of The National Republican. He was the author of books on money, silver and slavery which gave him a wide reputation as a writer of signal ability. He died in I887. This list might be extended indefinitely. Portland was the birth- place of many distinguished journalists in addition to those men- tioned, and there were many graduates from the Portland Advertiser who achieved success in other fields. It should also be said that in more recent years, and at the present time, Maine newspaper men have well maintained the prestige of the past, and the new school of journalism will no doubt add to their numbers. ************************************************* * * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. 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