Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1900 — IN THE PUBLICEYE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN THE PUBLICEYE

The recent death of Daniel Sharp Ford, owner and editor of the Youth’s Companion, removes from the world of periodical

journalism one of its strongest characters. Mr. Ford was born at Cam* bridge. April 5 1822, and had, therefore, reached the ripe age of 78. When a boy he learned the printer’s trade, but too ambitious to confine his life to this, he decided to enter the publishing field.

and While still a young man became interested in the publication of a Baptist weekly. In this enterprise he had the co-operation of Rev. John W. Olmstead, the firm name being Olmstead & Ford. Then, desiring a still wider sphere, the partners purchased the Youth’s Companion in 1857, and Mr. Ford assumed the dutles < ’of publisher of the religious papei ahd editor of the Companion. Later, differences as to policy arose, anil the partners concluded to make h division of interests and separate. The Companion fell to the share of Mr. Ford and he. continued its publication, doing business undeF the fictitious firm name of Perry Mason & Co. When he took charge the circulation of the paper was seven thousand; now it is seven hundred thousand.

Senator George Frisbie Hoar of Massachusetts, who has been much in the eye of late, is, in many respects.

a rema.rkable man. Although nearly 75 years of age, he is still one at the most vigorous speakers in the He was born in Concord, Mass., in 1826, and studied during his early years at Concord Academy. He inherited his forensic talents from his

father, Samuel Hoar, who was one of Massachusetts’ greatest lawyers, and after graduating in the study of law at Harvard University, he went to Worcester, where he practiced. He rose very -apidly, and in 1857 was elected to the Forty-first Congress. He also represented his - State in the Forty-second, Fortythird and Forty-fourth Congresses, but declined nomination for the Fortyfifth. March 5, 1877, he was elected to the United States Senate to succeed George S. Boutwell, and was re-elected in 1883, 1889 and 1895. His term of service will expire March 3. 1901.

Isham Randolph, who for six years has been the “brains” of the big Chicago canal, is one of those men whose signal

success seems -incredible. Educated only by his mother and a few months’ attendance in the common schools, Mr. Randolph began his scientific career as'a farmer boy of 20 and in the capacity of ax man in the survey of the Baltimore and Ohio road. Within four years,

by the closest application to his studies, Mr. Randolph had risen from the stakedriving stage to that of engineer in the same service. In 1880 he was called to Chicago as chief engineer of the Chicago and Western Indiana road, and in 1891 he was appointed consulting engineer of the big road, in whose employ he began his noted career. Mr. Randolph has been president of the Western Society of Engineers, and is an international authority on excavations and bridges.

Former Senator AVilliam M. Evarts, the venerable and much-respected citizen of the Empire State, now nearly 82 years

of age, continues to take a lively interest in the affairs of the nation. His health is such that he cannot leave his home, but there he is visited by many of his old friends, who say that the giant intellect is not clouded. He manifests a keen interest in all ptib-

lie questions, -and has closely followed the course of the nation through the. Cuban and Philippine campaigns. Mr. Evans was born Feb. 0, 1818, in Boston. He was admitted to the bar in 1841, was chairman of the New York delegation to the national Republican convention in 1800, and proposed the name of William H. Seward.

Upon Lady Roberts falls heavily the burden of the Boer war. Her only son, the heir to the haadsome title, Roberts

of Kandahar, lies in a Doldier’s grave at Colenso, in Natal, where his fel low officers with Gen. Boiler laid him after the battle on the Tugela river. Her nephew. Col. Shorston, ’ was killed at Glencoe, the first battle. Recently she bade farewell to her husband as he sailed on tbe

Dunottar Castle from Southampton to take supreme command in South Africa ( “Billy” West, as he is known to every actor and actress in the country, is very

ill in New York of acute Bright’s disease: West is one of the best known minstrels in the country, and It is doubtful if a better interlocutor lived, lie has made close to a million dollars in his day. but most

of it hiu'dwiudled away.

DANIEL S. FORD.

SENATOR HOAR.

ISHAM RANDOLPH.

WM. M. EVARTS.

LADY ROBKRTS.

WM. H. WEST.