The Press: Death of a Weekly

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Right Hon. Thomas Power ("Tay Pay") O'Connor is 81. He has seen, written, talked and done much. "Father of the House of Commons," he has been a Member of Parliament uninterruptedly since 1880, cinema censor of Great Britain, reporter, editor, publisher, author. Last week he announced the end of one of his many ventures. Said he, writing in T. P.'s & Cassell's Weekly. "This is the last number which will appear. I have struggled for a long time against ill-health and fatigue, but I find my health unequal to the demands."

Journalism and politics merged into one profession for "Tay Pay." Politics gave him his material, journalism his reputation. Leaving Ireland in 1870, he became subeditor of the London Daily Telegraph, was London correspondent for the New York Herald, Sun, Tribune. Ten years after his arrival in England he was in Parliament, and there he stayed. Founding political newspapers was his lifelong habit. Among them were the Star (still shining), the Sun (set), the Weekly Sun, M. A. P. (Mostly About People).

Last year, racked with rheumatism, he said: "I think journalism is the worst of all professions. It is precarious, remuneration is very low, one's position is, as a rule, reduced by old age, and of all the brilliant things a journalist may write none will be remembered permanently. Although I have had some success in journalism. I agree with the verdict my friend, John Morley,* rendered when he spoke of me as having had a squandered life." Twinkling, he added: "Any man is a damned fool who can work in bed and doesn't."