Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-03-13
Horace Greeley--The Cake Basket.

ted page as vsibly as it exists in the memories of
those who witnessed it, would show, better than
declaratory words, how absorbed Mr.. Greeley was
in politics during this famous Campaign 1910.
1t is funny story, and literally true.
Time evening. Scene-the parlor of
a friends house. Company Numerous and poll
tical-except the ladies-who are gracious and
hospitable. Tea over he arrives, and plunges
headlong into conversation on the currency
The lady Of the house thinks he sshad better take
some tea, >" but can not get hearing on the SUBJ
ject; is distressed, puts the question at length,
cd aside, in fact, with a wave Of the hand. r
take cruller, any way" said she, handing
him cake-basket containing dozen or SO Of
those unspeakable Dutch indigestibles.
The expounderi of the currency, dimly conscious
that large object was approaching him, puts
forth his hands, still vehemently talking, and
takes, not cruller, but the cake-basket, and de-
posits it in his lap. The company are inwardly
convulscd, and some of the weaker members retire
to the adjoining apartment, the expounder contin-
| uing his harahguc, unconscious of their emotions
or its cause. Minutes elapse. His hands, in their
wandering through the air, come in contact with
| the topmost cake, which they take and brake
He begins to cat !; and eats and talks. talks and
cats, till he has finished cruler. Then he feels
for another, and eats that, and goes on, slowly
consuming the contents Of the basket, till the last
crumb was gone. The company look on amazed,
and the kind lady Of the house fears for the con-
sequences. She had heard that cheese in an an
tidote to indigestion. Taking the empty cake
basket from his lap, she silently puts plate of
cheese in its place, hoping that instinct will guide
his hand Alright. The experiment Succeeds
Gradually, the blocks of white new cheese disap-
pear. She removes the plate. No i'll consequent
ces follow. Those who saw this sight are fixed
in the belief, that Mr.. Greeley was not then, nor
has since become aware, that on that evening he
partook of sustenancc. j
With one further extract we close. Those who
wish to know more of Horace Greeley must read
the book. Here is q glimpse of
$40 HORACE GREELEY AT HOME.
ssI waited an hour. There came a double and
decided ring at the bell. No one answered the
summons. Another and most tremendous ring
brought the servant to the door, and in moment,
the face of the master of the house bcamcd into
the room. lie apologized thus: 81 ought to have
been here sooner, but couldn't He flung off his
ovcrcoat, hung it up in the hail. and looking into
the parlor, said: Just let me run up and see my
babies, one minute; haven't seen 'cm all day,
you know;' and he sprung up the stairs two stops
at time. heard him talk in high glec to the
children in the room above, for just sone minute,'
and then he rejoined me. He began to talk some
thing in this style.
"sSit down. l have had rough day of it
eaten nothing since breakfast-just got in from my
farm-been up the country lecturing- started from
Goshen this morning at fve-broke down-crossed
the river on the ice--had hard time of it-ice
good deal broken and qnite dangcrous-lost the
cars on this side-went dOggis,g around to hire a
convcyance--got to Sing Sing-went over to my
farm and transacted my business there as we'll rs
could in the time-started for the city, and luck
would have it, they had taken of the four O'Clock
train--didn't know that should get down at all
harncsscd up my own team, and pushed over to
Sing Sing again-hadn't gone far before snap went
the whippletree-sosa another though-and reach
ed Sing Sing just two minutes before the cars
came along-I've just got in-my feet are cold
let's go to the fire. la5 So. II duyg q5,j.h -noa
6 With these words he rose quickly and went
into the back room, not to the fire. place but to
corner near the folding door. where hot air gush
ed up from chccrless round hole in the floor.
His dress, as Inow observed, amply corroborated
his account of the days adventures--shirt all
crumpled, cravat all awry, coat all wrinkles,
stockings about his heels, and general dlapidaion.
81 said it was not usual at the West to 90 into
a corner and warm ones feet; by which he replied
by quoting verses from Holmes which did not
catch. l entreated him to go to tea, as he must
DC hungry, but he refusd 'pinc blank The con-
versation fell upon poetry. He said there was
one more bookihe would like to make before he
died, and that was Song-book for the People,
There was no collection of songs in existence
book ought to be. lie should like to compile one,
that satisfied his idea of what popular song
Or help do it. He said he had written verses him
self, but was no poet and bursting into peal of
laughter, he added, that when he and Park Ben
famine were editing the New Yorker, he wrote
some verses for insertion in that paper, and show
Q them to Park, and 'Park' roared out, Thunder
and Lightning, Greeley, do you call that poetry p
S eakng of II well known versifcr, he said, sHe's
good fellow enough, but he can't write poetry,
and if--had remained in Boston he would
have killed him, he takes criticism so hard. As
e. I Y
un ierstand the feeling of those thin skinned pco
ga little child, four years old, with long fax
en- hair and ruddy cheeks, came in and said,
Mother wants you up stairs He caught it up
in his arms with every manifestation of fondness,
saying: 'No you little rogue, it's you that want
him;' and the child wriggled Out Of his arms and
ran away. .t''ti 'f ''h Hi a"t
GAS was going, some ladies came in, and
remained a moment longer, at his request. He
made languid and quite indescribablc attempt
at introduction, merely mentioning the names Of
the ladies with faint bob at each. One of them
asked question about Spirtualism. lie said ::
& have paid no attention to that subject for two
years. 1 became satisfied that it would lead to
no good. In fact am so taken up with the things
of this world, that have too little time to spend
the affairs of the othcr.' She said, "a distinc-
tion ought to be made between those who inves-
tigate the phenomena as phenomena, and those
who embrace them fanatically.' sYes, said he,
81 have no objection to their being investigated
bv those who have more time than haye.'--
sHave you heard,' asked the lady, sof the young
man who pcrsonates Shakspcare?' no. he re-
p'ied,' sbut am satisfied there is no folly it will
not run into.' Then he rose, and said, sTakc of
your things and 60 up stairs. must get some
supper, for l have to go to that meeting at
the Tabernacle Tonight '( (anti-Nebraska.)
F.. Gas passed the hat-stand in the hall 1 said
sHerc is that immortal white coatr He smiled,
and said, People suppose it's the same old coat,
but it isn't I looked questioningly, and he con-
tinned, sThe original white coat came from Ire
land. An emigraut brought it out; he wanted
money and wanted coat so Ibought it Of him
for twenty dollars. and it was the best coat ever
had. They do work ueu in the old countries !;
not in such hurry as we do.'"
ssThe door closed and I was alone with the
lamp post. In another hour, Horace Greeley, after
such day of hunger and fatigue, was speaking
to an audience of three thousand people in the
Tabernacle"
CO A very candid young lady says: "When
go to the theatre. am very careless of my dress,
rs the audience are too attentive to the play to
observe my wardrobe: but when 90 to church,
l am very particular in my outward appearance,
as most people go there to sec how their neigh
bors dress and deport themselves"
EARTHLY BLIss.-The pleasures of this world
are so transitory and feeting, that it seems q
crime for a man to pass his days in frivolous