John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

[59] could to sustain the sinking hearts of his associates, but he could not conceal from himself, at least, that the end had come. Some two years before he had made an arrangement to write for the Boston Daily Chronotype for four dollars per week, and now that Brook Farm had failed him, this small weekly compensation was his main dependence. With the expense of a young wife added to his own it was pitifully inadequate. He doubtless contributed “pot — boilers” to other journals, but withal he was face to face with the necessity for a new departure, and made haste to abandon idealism and associationism for the more practical if less romantic struggle that was before him.

After the failure of Brook Farm had deprived Dana of steady occupation, he sought and obtained closer relations with the Chronotype, and was formally employed by its owner and editor, Elizur Wright, to read the exchanges, edit the news, and make himself generally useful. It was also understood that during Wright's absence Dana should act as editor, but all without additional compensation. The newspaper was an orthodox publication, and was therefore a great favorite with the Congregational ministers of Massachusetts. As an evidence of the young writer's independence of thought, and of his radical departure from the gloomy doctrines of Calvin, as well, perhaps, as an instance of his growing sense of humor, Wright used to relate the following anecdote with evident satisfaction. On the occasion of a temporary absence from the city his paper came out “mighty strong against hell,” t the astonishment of the subscribers as well as of the responsible editor. In referring to this incident years after Dana had come to be a great editor, Mr. Wright said it gave him a great deal of trouble at the time, as it obliged him to write a personal letter to every Congregational minister in Massachusetts, and to many of the deacons