Chapter 23

JAMES GORDON BENNETT.

Birth--Intended for the Romish priesthood--How he was induced to come to America--Arrival in Halifax--Comes to the United States--What came of a shilling--Employment in Boston--Reaches New York--Attempts to establish a school--Becomes connected with the press--Success of his Washington letters--Services on the "Courier and Inquirer"--Leaves that journal--Removes to Philadelphia--Establishes "The Pennsylvanian"--Ingratitude of his political associates--Returns to New York--Establishment of "The New York Herald"--Early difficulties of that paper, and how Bennett surmounted them--The first "Herald" office--A determined effort to succeed--First numbers of "The Herald"--How one man carried on a newspaper--A lucky hit--The first "money article"--The office burned down--The great fire--Bennett's reports of the disaster--Success of "The Herald"--His first advertising contract--Increasing prosperity--The journal of to-day--How it is conducted--The new "Herald" office--Bennett's pride in his paper--Personal characteristics--His independence.