The New York Clipper (February 1903)

mm RgWggTCT ITtHE MEW YORK CLIpMr lihE/AORIAL NUMBER..Jgflpi gBE&B&!3?l3 T ./ •7 ■ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FRANCIS QUEEN. i I.- ^•*? Tliv Clipper's Tribute to it* Founder. BY J. 0. Tli* buy—to Bach duty, both faithful (.nil tru«. The mao—In life 1 * itruoideft which all must pa»h through. Kept alwayn to purposes lionet and pure, 111. watchword, "good deedm" which intuit ever mum e With honor untarnlnhed, and record unxulneil. The faith ol the people he worthily Rained; And thin was Ida principle, lofty and I rue. "Serre other* en you would hare other* serve yon.'* * " £ / fBANCiB Quebn, the founder and proprietor of Tub New Youk Clipper, was bora In Phil- adelphia, on tbe 12th day of May, 1821. nil parent* were William and Elizabeth Queen Young Francis (his name wa» subsequently shortened to Prank, which It remained ever afterwards) earlj assumed the responsibilities of life, aiding, so far as be was able. In the support of bis widowed mother and ber three other children. This need of big financial help shortened his school career, and the future great publisher began with a limited education, to which, however, be added through bis keen power of observation and lore of reading. There Is a vast difference between tbe posi- tion of apprentice In a printing establishment, and that of owner and publisher of tbe greatest and.-most Influential of theatrical Journals. Frank Queen rose from tbe one to tbe other In comparatively fewyears. He accomplished this en- viable position through bis resolute courage, bis natural endowments, bis rare judgment, and his Indomitable energy. His first situation was with tbe firm of Harding Drothers, Philadelphia, where be learned tbe trade of a compositor. He was obliged, however, to give up tbla poaitlon be- cause of his nearsightedness, wblcb became ag- gravated with this work. Later, be opened a small book store and cir- culating library on Second Street, above Queen, In tbe city of Philadelphia, and In. connection with this be conducted a penny post. Boon after selling this little busi- ness to big brother, James F. Queen, he erected a pretentious news stand on the pavement ad- jacent to the Commissioners' Hall of tbe Dis- trict of Soutbwark, Philadelphia. Unfor- tunately, tbe removal of the stand was or- dered before be had finished paying for It, and tbe young uewsdealer was forced to sell the material of which It was built for Ices than It had cost. Not disheartened by this disappoint- ment, whlcb bad been caused through the In- fluence of a wealthy member of tbe Board of Commissioners who subsequently lost bis wealth, young Queen bravely faced tbe neces- sity of starting anew, with nothing In bis pocket, though with high hope In bis heart. for a time fate seemed to be against bltn, and big faith had several severe tests, finally he decided to seek his fortune In New York, and. In order to bave some small capital with which to make a start there, be planned a coo- 'cert, which be held at tbe Philadelphia Chi- nese Museum. His first managerial efforts met with a re- ward large enough to establish him In a very small way, In his new field. New York, the Mecca of all aspiring youth. He arrived there one day with all bla possessions contained In oue little trunk, the counterpart of which tbe thcatregolng public bas seen In Denmnn Thomp- son's play, "The Old Homestead." Ills first humble beginning In tbe metropolis was as newsdealer at the southwest corner of Leonard and Centre Streets. His first estab- lishment was on the sidewalk, and consisted of a small pine table, two by three feet, while his stock in trade was the New York dally news- papers. Years afterwards, when established Id ■><« own Clipper Building on the opposite cor- '«v.fl8 and 00 Centre Street, be frequently i friends to tbe window and pointed \em the corner across the street, wbere Is bis metropolitan start. At such ver neglected to Impress upon them t bis great success was due to a Aa truu. ^eneed at the little uews stand young Queen M soon able to Invest In a more pretentious place of business. This was an en- closed spnee under an outside stairway located ,4 od the Bowery, near Grand Street. His news ' : counter In this establishment couslstcd of tbe door of the place let down on supports. Ills ncit advance In the newspaper business was tbe purchase of "Tbe News Hut." also located on tbe Bowery, at No. 177, from Uenry Asbford (who was for many'years tyler In the Masonic Temple In Philadelphia.) It has been told of Mr. Queen that many times during hie 'rly occupancy of "The Hut" he bad been seen tosa up a quarter of a dollar (the profits of a ) wltb as much satisfaction as Inter, when .ild see by bis books that bis weekly pronto ,ve thousand times that smalt amount, .er, when the young man's business at •Tho Hut" had grown to large proportions, he yielded to the solicitation of Harrison Trent, who wns about to atnrt Tun Ci.irrKR In a small way, to become Its editor nt the munificent salary of {12 per week. Fur a time tbe paper was fairly prosperous, but later the business fell off to a depressing degree, owing to tbe carrying out of some of Trent's plans with which tbe clear sighted young editor did not coincide. It was at this time that Trent offered to sell tbe business to Queen, who purchased It wltb money borrowed from his father In law. (At the age of twenty-five be bad married, on Jan. 12, 1846. Itebecca, the daughter of Alderman Charles llortz, of the District of Soutbwark. Philadelphia.) As proprietor and editor Mr. Queen rapidly increased the business of The New York Clip- per, tbls being due to his far-sightedness, his fine business, acumen, and bis honorable way of conducting tbe business and policy of his jour- nal. This ssme method be employed In bis busi- ness up to the successful point It bad reached at the time of bis death. In 1872 Mr. Queen Invested In another large business Interest by becoming the silent part- ner and capitalist of the Philadelphia firm of Taylor A Thornton, wholesale drygooda dealers, st 021 Market Street. He remained tbe backer of tbls concern until his death, ten years later. \ All who knew Mr. Queen, either in tbe way of business or friendship, agree that bis per- sonal characteristics were of a sterling quality. As a boy be had been unusually bright, good natured, sympathetic, generous and manly. These traits strengthened as be grew to man- hood, all uniting In making him greatly beloved as a friend, respected and admired by those who sought bis advice in business or trouble, and revered by the many who bad received ma- terial belp at bis hands. The name of these last was legion, for Mr. Queen was often beard to say that be considered himself but e steward of all bis-earthly possessions, that he might be of service to his fellow men. Though at his death he left a large estate, It was a matter of great surprise when It was found to be very much smaller than his friends bad supposed It would be. This was accounted for _by bis numberless gifts bestowed according to tbe principle of not letting his right band know what wag done by big left. Not even bis wife, who survived him until Oct. 5, 1000. and whom It was bis custom to consult on many of these matters, knew tbe extent of tbe aid be bad' given to worthy persons and purposes. Generosity and sympathy were Mr. Queen's most marked attributes. Even bis first $200. saved through the strictest economy, he loaned to a friend who wag In trouble, although there was no certainty of Its return. Throughout his whole career be was never known to refuse aid according to bis ableness to give It, to any truly worthy person or cause. Mr. Queen was always the friend and helper of tbe poor and deserving among tbe theatrical profession. To this fact many stranded com- panies have testified to bis timely aid in reaching their homes. Though not a member of any sect. Mr. Queen was alwtys found to be a liberal almoner to all churches preaching the Christian faith. Par- adoxical os It seemed, tbe publisher of a journal devoted to the interests of tbe theatrical and srortlng community was himself devoted to tbt advance of religion by materially aiding Its churches. It was through Mr. Queen's liberality that tbe Methodist Episcopal Mariners Bethel Church, In Philadelphia, was built. He loaned tbe money with which the ground was pur- chased, and furnished nearly all the funds wltb which to construct tbe church and par- sonage. Tbls amount was $86,000, without In- terest or any paper to show Indebtedness. When tbe building was completed he took the old ch'urcb property at a valuation of $20,000. whlcb was double Its value. He afterwards sold It for $10,000 and presented tbe church with tbe amount. When tbe news of tbla gift became known the generous donor was deluged with letters of appeal from churches of all denominations, Although an exceedingly busy man Mr. Queen took time to personally answer each application, so that his gifts should be known only to tbe recipients and himself. Not having enough ready money to give the aid be wished he parted wltb valuable securities In order to be able to send something to each whom, according to bis Judgment, deserved It. Among other generous acts for the good and happiness of humanity this benevolent gentle- man furnished for years a Christmas treat to a mission school In the neighborhood of bis Philadelphia borne. The Volunteer Firemen of his city, who got no pay for tbe aid they gave, received from time to time monetary evidences of his appre- ciation of their work. A notable instance of his generosity to his fellow man occurred after the destruction of a lumber mill and adjacent 'buildings, not far from his home. Twenty families were left homeless and destitute. When Mr. Queen heard of this he telegraphed from New York to his agent In Philadelphia to start a subscription with $1,000 for the relief of tbe sufferers. Others followed the generous ex- ample, and soon nil losses were made good. This was a purely disinterested act, for at no time was his own property In danger. Another Instance may be mentioned, which shows that, though Mr. Queen was no church member, he was a truer Christian than many a professed one. One day a clergyman, as many before blm had done, called upon Mr. Queen at his business office. After receiving tbe large amount of money which he bad requested of the liberal publisher, the preacher, In a half hesi- tating voice, aald : "Mr. Queen, I know you are no church mem- ber, and that yon are publishing a paper In certain Interests far removed from the church. but will you not kneel wltb me In prayer to ask God's blessing on your gift?" At this request the publisher humbly knelt by the side of tbe preacher while tbe latter In- voked tbe blessing of a Higher Power upon tbe gift and the giver. One of Mr. Queen's greatest pleasures con slsted In his beautiful flower garden wblcb ad- Joined bis residence. It also opened Into tbe adjacent churchyard, which was also cared for by his own gardener. Though often solicited for the blossoms that grew so abundantly In bis garden he gently refused all appeals of this kind. He could not bear to have a aingle (lower cut until It bad completely withered. He would, however, give money instead, to all who applied for flowers for the sick and for funerals, bis Invariable utterance at tbe time being: "Here Is tbe money to buy tbe Bowers you need; patronize the florists who make a living by selling them." On Memorial Day Mr. Queen always expended large sums In tbe purchase of (lowers for the g-avea of tbe martyred sol- diers. Another proof of Mr. Queen's unselfishness snd disinterestedness was shown at- the time John C. Heenan was about to enter, tbe prize ring against Tom Sayres, of England, for the / championship of the world—that famous Inter-; national event. Though Mr. Queen's paper would be the gainer by the sale of a quarter of a million copies be tried to persuade Heenan'to give up all thoughts of the battle, and to return to his employment at tbe CuBtom House. "Why do you give me that advice, Mr. Queen? asked Heenan at the time. "You'll make money by It, won't you?" "Certainly, I shall, and a great deal more than you will, but I fear that In tbe end you will be the loser by adopting the ring as a pro- fession." Mr. Queen, who was known to the whole pro- fession, numbered among bis theatrical friends the leading people of bis time. He was a close friend to many of them, helping tbe deserving ones, and forwarding the Interests of tbe truly gifted ones In tbe many ways In which a pub- lisher Is able. Several of these attained great prominence In tbelr profession. Among them was Adah Isaacs Menken, one of the greatest actresses of her time. She was the most famous Mazeppa of theatrical history, and was known to bave earned more money than any other actress of that day, her equipage at one time ranking second to that of tbe Queen of England. It was her frequent declaration that, had It not been for Mr. Queen's encouragement and help, she never would bave attained the eminence which he had at all times claimed for her. Mr. Queen, after her death, deputized Ned James, an employe of The Clipper, whej was In Europe at the time, to erect a tombstone in the - memory of the great actress, In Mont Parnasse Cemetery, Paris, France. One evidence tbat Mr. Queen held no an I moslty whatever towards anyone was shown when be at his own expense sent Ned ] James abroad to be treated by a specialist for bis fall- ing eyeslgbt. This gentleman bad previously left the staff of Tnu Clipper to start an oppo- sition sheet, which failed ahortly afterwards. A position was again given him on Tir'n Clip- fbb, and later, when overtaken by h(s afflic- tion, he met nothing but kindness and sympa- thetic belp at the hands of his employer. Later Mr. Queen assisted him In starting a 'sporting goods business, providing him wltb a room In The Clipper Building, which be occupied long after tbe death of his benefactor. Personally, Mr. Queen was of a quiet, genial disposition, always speaking In a calm, low voice that breathed of sympathy and good will. He was a fluent and well Informed conversation allst, versed on all subjects, and could talk to any and all concerning their different callings or professions. He had a wide knowledge ol men and things, and a warm love for Humanity; be was modest and retiring; he was (slow and sure In forming friendships. It was 4 habit of. his to think out and plan lmportan : projects while listening to the music In tbe church ad- joining bis borne. Among those who looked upon th: face of the dead publisher as be lay In his casket was an old colored woman, who voiced the senti- ments concerning him of everyone uho knew l his good man, who had saved her beloved church from tbe sheriff's hammer: j "Surely he was God's man," she said, In a voice of deep and reverent conviction] The death of Frank Queen occurred at his home In Philadelphia on tbe 18th day of Oc- tober, 1882, tbree months after an illdess whlcb bad been caused by a slight stroke of baraiysls His remains were Interred In Ebeneezer Church Cemetery, the gate of which opined Into his own garden. Ten years later they jwere re- moved to Egllngton Cemetery, Clarksborb, Glou- cester County, New Jersey. The simple, monu- ment which marks bis resting plnce behrs the Inscription: \ "Called away from a life of usefulness, Leaving us to mourn and wonder,—Why'?" BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. Tl The first number of The New Yobk Clippbi was Issued by Harrison Fulton Trent, on April 30, 1853. Two years later, during 1866, he sold tbe paper to bla young; editor, Frank. Queen. Up to tbat time The Clippeb had not achieved any great degree of success, but Mr. Queen, as solo proprietor and editor, quickly established It upon tbe firm foundation upon wblcb It now stands. From a small local paper The Clippeb bas grown to have a world wide circulation, and a reputation for reliability not enjoyed by anj other paper of Its class. The Nkw Yobk Clipper, In tbe early years of Its publication, was Intended to meet tbe need of reliable reports concerning all notable happenings In the world of sports, as It was not customary for the dally papers of tbat time to give detailed descriptions of sporting events. For many years The Clippeb remained the recognized authority on all matters pertaining to sporting affairs. Later the daily papers be gan to give more attention to tbls class of news, many of them employing special sporting ed Itors, and devoting large space to these matters When tbls 'field finally came to be covered by the daily papers, such news In a weekly neces- sarily became limited. Therefore The Clippeb gradually curtailed the reports of sporting •te$t*9 imna^ V^nTr^ ^Srr "% #^$ter^sS ^ ^ ^s m& tf'/A ii