So many of them were so dull.

They were rather like animals, patient, inartistic, hopeless.

He thought of their shabby homes, their long hours, their poor pay, and then concluded that if anything at all could be done for them it would be pay them decent living wages, which he proposed to do--nothing more.
They could not be expected to understand his dreams or his visions, or to share in the magnificence and social dominance which he craved.

He finally decided that it would be as well for him to personally visit the various newspaper publishers and talk the situation over with them.
Addison, when consulted as to this project, was somewhat dubious.

He had small faith in the newspapers.
He had seen them play petty politics, follow up enmities and personal grudges, and even sell out, in certain cases, for pathetically small rewards.
"I tell you how it is, Frank," remarked Addison, on one occasion.