Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-09-10
A Repnrter's Joke.

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Morgan O'Suilvan, an Irishman, and
a celebrated Parliamentary reporter, attach
ed to the London Morning Chronicle,
some fifty years ago, was as remarkable
for his humOr as his professional ability.
Whenever any one offended Morgan, ,orgot
out OF favor with him, he invariably retail
lated in the way OF some practical joke
that generally placed his antagonist IN
very ridiculous position, and afforded the
Ihumoris! satisfaction. In this way he
once "got even" with two individuals al
the same time who had excited his lie
namely, the celebrated Wilberlorce, then
leading member Of the opposition in
Parliament, and one Jack Finnerly,a Par
Elementary reporter of me Morning Her
aid. Finnerty was fresh from Iipperary,
and quite unaCqualnted with the charac-
terisiics Of the different members Of Par
lament bat he received a good deal Of gen.
erOus professional assistance at the outset
Of his career from Morgan O'SulIiyan.
On the occasion now referred TO FIunerty
came into the reporters gallery al a peri
cd of the night when the debates seemed
to have Stacked; he concluded 10 take a
doze on one of the benches, and request
ed his friend to wake him up if anv Thing
lively came before the House, and there
upon went OFF TO sleep. Presently Mr.
WllberloIce got upon his legs and ad-
dressed very thrilling speech before the
House. As lie progressed mischeVous
idea seized Morgan O'Sullivan, which, as
as soon as Wloeriorce sat down, he pro-
ceeded to put in practice thus
Rousing Finnerty from his slumber on
the benches 0 Sullivan, exclaimed, ,"Jack,
Wherefore has Just made an eXtraoTdi-
nary speech" "Wha, about ~ returned
Finnerw, rubbing his eyes. ABOUT The
potato; the effect Of it on national vivaCitY,
the great virtues of il as an article of pop
ular diet; proved that the finest kind Of
men were reared on it, far superior tU the
English "WIlbcrlorce said that, did
he % exclaimed Finnerty; "come, let me
take his remarks in full from your notes. y
With pleasure, my dear fellow" re-
piled O'Sulivan, who commenced as If
reading from a note book, whilst Finnerty
eagerly wrole after him in the following
vein MIR WibeIfoEce then emphailcal-
ly remarked thatit always appeared 10
him beyond question that the great cause
why the Irish laborers, as body were so
much stronger and capable Of enduring
so much more fatigue that the English
arose from the surprising virtue OF their
potato" That's what call eloquence,
interrupted Jack Finnerty. Morgan re-
sumed And have no doubt Continued
MIR. WiIberlorce) that had il been my lot
to have been born and reared in Ireland,
where my food would have principally
consisted of lha, inestimable root, Instead
of being the poor. ln6rm. shnvelled and
stunned creature you, sir, and honorable
gentlemen behold me, would have been
stout, athletic, handsome man, able 10
carry an enormous weight" "Nell done,
Wilberlorce, exclaimed Jack, in high
glee; ''go on, Morgan" OSulilvan then
proceeded in the same vein OF Paihos and
absurdity, but adroilly keeping within
the bounds that FInnerty' cEedullty would
swallow until he had placed most wblm-
s;cal speech in the mouth of the grave and
earnest WiIberiorce. Flnnerty, with ma
ny expressions of thanks to his brother
reporter, started for the Herald office, On
his way turning into tavern close oy me
House ef Commons, where number OF
reporters of the different morning papers
were regaling themselves, Jack turnlsheat
them all with copies of "W loerioreees s.
Speech" and the hoax found lis way the
next morning into every paper In London
with the exception OF the Morning Chron-
icle, to which, as matter of course, the
correct report was furnished by O'Sulli-
van.
The public we've astUunded at the ex-
traordinary speech which, according to
all the papers, Mr.. Wilbertorce had made.
and the general opinion was expressed
that he was a candidate for Bedlam. The
following evening, on the speaker taking
the chair, Wilberlorce rose and claimed
the. Indulgence of the House. Every
honorable member" he observed, has