William Calvin Chase, Esq., Editor Washington Bee.
"What is there in a name," one asks. Observing the matter closely, we are sometimes compelled to say there is something, after all, in a name. The Bee and its editor, in that respect, are fair illustrations. Nothing stings Washington City, and in fact, the Bourbons of the South, as The Bee.
William Calvin Chase, the alert, progressive editor of The Bee was born in the city of Washington, February 2, 1854. His father, William H. Chase, having died when he was quite young, the burden of his mother's support partly fell upon the son, who took, as means to aid her, the selling of newspapers. This he continued to do successfully, until he came to be a popular crier of the news. From this he seems to have got a journalistic inspiration; for it was not long after, before we find him upon the editorial stool. His educational privileges were furnished him by the private school of John F. Cook and by Howard University of Washington City.
During his youth he was a resident of Methuen, Mass., for a while, where he learned the printer's trade. Mr. Chase, at this early age, was strongly inclined to the use of the quill. He became very proficient in the printing business, and was accordingly appointed to a position in the government printing-office at Washington, just about the time he was to enter the college department of Howard University.
He has held other important positions in the public service, in office of recorder of deeds, under Hon. Fred Douglass, resigning the position to accept a better place in the War Department, at the instance of Ex-Senator B. K. Bruce. Mr. Chase is a prominent lawyer, having been admitted to the bar of Virginia to practice, July 23, 1889.
His life-work, which appears to be that of a literary character, begins with the position of reporter and society
