Memoirs of Sir Wemyss Reid 1842-1885 | Page 9

II
. PROBATION. Aspirations After a Journalistic Life--A Clerk's Stool
in the W.B. Lead Office--Literary Ambitions--An Accepted
Contribution--The Northern Daily Express and its Editor--Founding a
Literary Institute--Letters from Charles Kingsley and Archbishop
Longley--Joseph Cowen and his Revolutionary
Friends--Orsini--Thackeray's Lectures and Dickens's Readings.

CHAPTER III
. MY LIFE-WORK BEGUN. On the Staff of the _Newcastle
Journal_--In a Dilemma--Lord John Russell and Mr. Gladstone at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne--Mr. Gladstone's Triumphal Progress--A
Memorable Colliery Disaster: A Pit-Sinker's Heroism--Adventure at a
Dickens Reading.

CHAPTER IV
. FROM REPORTER TO EDITOR. First Visit to London--The Capital
in 1862--Acquaintance with Sothern--Bursting of the Bradfield

Reservoir--Attendance at Public Executions and at
Floggings--Assuming the Editorship of the _Preston
Guardian_--Political and Literary Influences--Great Speeches by
Gladstone and Bright--Bright's Contempt for Palmerston--Robertson
Gladstone Defends his Brother--Death of Abraham Lincoln--Meeting
with his Granddaughter.

CHAPTER V
. WORK ON THE LEEDS MERCURY My New
Duties--Betrothal--The Writing of Leading Articles--The Founder of
the _Leeds Mercury_--Edward Baines the Second--Thomas Blackburn
Baines--Patriotic Nonconformists--Another Colliery Disaster: A Story
of Heroism--An Abortive Fenian Raid at Chester--Reminiscences of
the Prince of Wales's Visits to Yorkshire--Mr. Bright and the Reform
Demonstrations of 1866--The Closing Speech at St. James's Hall--The
Tribune of the People Vindicates the Queen.

CHAPTER VI
. LIFE IN LONDON. Appointed London Correspondent of the _Leeds
Mercury_--My Marriage--Securing Admission to the Reporters'
Gallery--Relations between Reporters and Members--Inadequate
Accommodation for the Press--Reminiscences of the Clerkenwell
Explosion--The Last Public Execution--The Arundel Club--James
Macdonell--Robert Donald--James Payn--Mrs. Riddell and the _St.
James's Magazine_--My First Novel--How Sala Cut Short an
Anecdote--Disraeli as Leader of the House in 1868--A Personal
Encounter with him at Aylesbury--Mr. Gladstone's First
Ministry--Bright and Forster--W.E. Baxter--Irish Church
Disestablishment Debate in the House of Lords--Mr.
Mudford--Bereavement.

CHAPTER VII
. EDITOR OF THE LEEDS MERCURY. Forming Good
Resolutions--Provincial Journalism in the 'Seventies-- Recollections of
the Franco-German War--The Loss of the Captain and its
Consequences to me--Settling Down at Leeds--Acquaintance with
Monckton Milnes--Visits to Fryston--Lord Houghton's Chivalry--His
Talk--His Skill in Judging Men--Stories about George Venables--Lord
Houghton's Regard for Religious Observances.

CHAPTER VIII
. MY FIRST CONTINENTAL TOUR. A Generous Scot--Paris after
the Commune--An Uncomfortable Journey Home--Illness of the Prince
of Wales--Revived Popularity of the Throne--Death and Funeral of
Napoleon III.--Burial of the Prince Imperial--Forster's Educational
Policy--Bruce's Licensing Bill--My Second Marriage.

CHAPTER IX
. A NEW ERA IN PROVINCIAL JOURNALISM. Bringing the Leeds
Mercury into Line with the London Dailies--Friendship with William
Black--The Dissolution of 1874--The Election at Leeds--Mr.
Chamberlain's Candidature for Sheffield--Mr. Gladstone's
Resignation--Election of his Successor--Birth of the Caucus--The
System Described--Its Adoption at Leeds--Its Effect upon the Fortunes
of the Liberal Party--The Bulgarian Atrocities Agitation.

CHAPTER X
. CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRONTË LITERATURE. Visit to
Haworth--Feeling Against the Brontës in Yorkshire--Miss Nussey and
her Discontent with Mrs. Gaskell's "Life"--Publication of "Charlotte
Brontë: a Monograph"--Mr. Swinburne's Appreciation--An Abortive
Visit to the Poet--Lecture on Emily Brontë and "Wuthering
Heights"--Miss Nussey's Visit to Haworth after Charlotte's Marriage.

CHAPTER XI
. VISITS TO THE CONTINENT. Politics in Paris in 1877--An Oration
by Gambetta--the Balloting--The Republic Saved--Gambetta's
Funeral--A Member of the Reform Club--The Century Club--A
Draught of Turpentine and Soda--The "Press Gang" at the
Reform--James Payn and William Black--George Augustus Sala and
Sir John Robinson--Disraeli's Triumph in 1878--A European Tour.

CHAPTER XII
. A
CHAPTER OF
MISFORTUNES. Death of my Sister's Husband and of my Brother
James--An Accident on Marston Moor--Sir George Wombwell's Story
of the Charge of the Light Brigade--His Adventure on the
Ouse--Editing a Daily Newspaper from a Sick Bed--Reflections on
Death--Death of my Mother--Serious Illness of my Only Daughter.

CHAPTER XIII
. THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1880. Mr. Gladstone's Position in
1879--His Decision to Contest Midlothian--How he came to be
Adopted by the Leeds Liberals--The Conversation Club--A Visit from
John Morley--The Dissolution of 1880--Lecture on Mr. Gladstone--His
Triumphant Return for Leeds--His Election for Midlothian--Mr.
Herbert Gladstone Adopted as his Successor at Leeds--Mr. Gladstone's
Visit to Leeds in 1881--A Fiasco Narrowly Avoided--A Wonderful
Mass Meeting--Mr. Gladstone's Collapse and Recovery--My
Introduction to Him--An Excursion to Tunis--"The Land of the
Bey"--Mr. A.M. Broadley's Prophecies--Howard Payne's Grave--A
Series of Coincidences.

CHAPTER XIV
. CONCERNING W.E. FORSTER AND OTHERS. The Beginning of
Mr. Stead's Journalistic Career--His Methods--Birth of the New
Journalism--Madame Novikoff and Mr. Stead--Mr. Stead's Attacks
upon Joseph Cowen--How he dealt with a Remonstrance--W. E.
Forster--Mr. Chamberlain's Antagonism--The _Leeds Mercury_'s
Defence of Forster--How he was Jockeyed out of the Cabinet--Forster's
Resignation--News of the Phoenix Park Murders--Forster's
Reflections--Mr. Gladstone's Pity for Social Outcasts--Mr.
Chamberlain's Brothers Blackballed at the Reform--Failure of an
Attempt to Crush the _Leeds Mercury_--Forster's Gratitude.

CHAPTER XV
. THE FIRST LIBERAL IMPERIALIST. Forster a Pioneer of Liberal
Imperialism--His Political Courage--His Unfortunate Manner--His
Home Life--Intrigues in the Cabinet--The Plots against Forster's
Life--Reaction in his Favour--Forster and Lord Hartington--The
Former's Grief for Gordon--Forster and Lord Rosebery--Mr. Stead and
the _Pall Mall Gazette_--His Responsibility for the Gordon Imbroglio.

CHAPTER XVI
. NOVELS AND NOVELISTS. "The Lumley Entail"--"Gladys
Fane"--My Experience in Novel-Writing--About Sad
Endings--Imaginary