DELANE OF THE "TIMES."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7156, 22 July 1901, Page 2

DELANE OF THE "TIMES."

SOME INTERESTING "KECOL- ■•■ ' LECTIONS. An anonymous writer in the current " Blackwood " gossips pleasantly on "Some Editors — and Others." His most interesting recollections relate to Delano. The famous journalist was always the intimate friend of John Blackwood. "They were living together in lodgings between St oaanies's Square and Pall Mall, when one afternoon -Delano burst in on his' companion with the announcement, 'By G — d ! John, what do you think? lam editor of the "Times."' Asked afterwards whether he did- oiot tremble at the sudden responsibility, he said, 'Not a bit of it. Wihat I complain of in. you young fellows is that you always shrink from responsibility.' The most ready of note-writers, Delane seemed to be always scribbling. Half a dozen lines smeared across a page of notepaper with a broad-pointed quill indicated the lime of an important leader, and, gave assurance of direction. I happen ./to know that' there is a single document extant in which Delane virtu-ally embodied a leader in. a succession of blue-paper slips. It shows how strongly he was excited over the formation of Disraeli's Ministry in 1874." . Who would nob be an editor in times like tho^e when Del«ne ruled' in Print-, ing House Square? "It was an interesting experience to walk with' him up Piccadilly in the- season, or to ride with him down Rotten Row, when mounted on his black cob. At each, step he was exebmnging bows or stopping lor 'handshakes with the men who were; making ferit-ish history. And whatever their feelings may have been when digesting his last stinging leader, all the faces were wreathed in smiles." Yet even a Delane must in. the end " linger superfluous on the stage." " This last time the writer saw him alive was at the Acaenseum. He used to say that he knew not what a man wanted with more than a single club, when it was aclub where he caane across everybody he cared to know. He wa9 seated on a sofa, half-dosing v over the evening papers, and it was pathetic to see the dethroned monarch of English journalism almost grateful for the greeting of one of his grateful proteges."