Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/252

244 University of Little Rock. This position he fills with great credit to himself, as well as to the institution employing him.

As expressed by the author, as well as by our most eminent men in their opinions in this work, there is little pecuniary benefit to be reaped from Afro-American journals, in the earlier stage of their existence. This Prof. Bailey knew, and so he accepted a professorship in a college, in addition to his labors as editor of The Little Rock Sun. Thus he is enabled to support himself comfortably, and have at his command increased means for the publication of his journal.

The Sun began publication in 1885, an independent paper, with Prof. Bailey as editor. This independent stand it has since maintained, and it is noted for its out-spoken sentiments in advocacy of the rights of the race. On January 1st, 1889, it entered upon its fifth volume.

Since September 1st, 1888, Prof. Bailey has published two other papers, The Hot Springs Sun and The Texarkana Sun, (Texas,) three separate and distinct papers, the combined weekly "bona fide" circulation of which is over six thousand. The Little Rock Sun has as large a circulation as any other Afro-American journal in the country, and it is doubtless safe to assert that it outranks all others in the number of its readers and the weight of its influence.

Prof. Bailey is a newspaper man, "to the manor born." His success in the work is due, first, to his ability, and, second, to his energy and great zeal. As a journalist, a writer sums him up thus: "He has shown from childhood an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an immeasurable ability for grasping and retaining the most profound truths. While at college he distinguished himself as a linguist and mathematician. As a literary man, many know him. His clear, logical, conclusive, unique, though graceful style, is well known to most publishers and readers of the leading