The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-02-07
SMALL BEGINNINGS AND LARGE
RESULTS.

The Albany Statesman, in leading article, tells
the following story:
"Twenty- three years ago we Stuck type in the
same galley, in the printing Office of The New
Yorker, edited and published by Horace Greeley.
Gen. Wilkins Kendall, (the protector of the New
Orleans Picayune,) Morgan Bates, Eve think since
partner in the publication of the Detroit Adver-
tiser) o. A. Bowie, (who was apprentice
with Greeley, and afterwards published paper at
Little Falls) stood at the case in the same office.
Bowie and Bates are now dead. Kendall is still
living, but has abandoned the editorial chair for
sheep raising on the plains of Texas. lie left the
New Yorker Office to commence the Picayune, hav-
ing acquired the capital for that enterprise in u
WY that would hardly be considered orthodox in
moral community. Before leaving New York,
Kendall had 'tramped' the South jour printer;
travelled for information, he said, through every
principal village and city in the Southern States,
sometimes on steamboats,, sometimes on stage
coaches, (there was but one railroad in the South
then, from Charleston to Augusta,) and not un-
frequently on foot, with his baggage his back,
pendant in his handkerchief from his walking
stick Sometimes he was flush and well dressed
sometimes strapped and seedy-but always
witty, genial and gentlemanly. In his ventures
he has trcquantly been boon companion with many
Of the most eminent men of the country.
The Astor House then was but just opened and
was extensively visited by Southerners. 1t was
fashion with Kendall to patronize that establish
ment after working hours. Strolling over there
one evening, he agreeably surprised to meet
several gentlemen whom he had known as merch-
ants, and lawyers, and doctors, at Natchez, Miss
After julps all round, and sherry cobbler apiece,
some one proposed to close the night with little
game of poker. Kendall had but about five dollars
in his watch fob, there was no watch there but
he assented, among the rest, to the proposition.
Excusing himself for a few moments he made u
rush down Ann street to the office, where he hoped
to find some of his fellow printers with money to
lend. Bates, foreman of the Office, had been
detained, making up the forms. He had eight
dollars, and we (we were helping Bates) had two
hundred and seven cents. Kendall took the dol
lars (leaving us the cents and thus made purse
of SIS. With this fund he sat down to play The
play went until daylight. At o'clock Ken
dali came into the office, paid up the $40 he had
borrowed, told Greeley he would give up his situa-
ton, and asked all hands to partake of 'pious
gorge that afternoon. 'All hands were but too
happy to do that same, and still more happy when
their fellow craftsman announced that he was the
fortunate possessor of 500, won at the little
game of poker aforesaid, and that with the 800
he proposed to establish paper in New Orleans.
In due time the Picayune appeared-was success
winning reputation for Kendall as polished
writer and brilliant wit, and what was better,
giving MIN prncely income lie has made
many hair-breadth escape since that; was among
the Santa Fe prisoners, and given up as dead, but
afterwards released; he went through the Mexican
war; has passed years in foreign travel until satia
ted with enjoyment and the excitement Of city
life, he retired to Texas, and is now master of
thousand Of acres of land, and reckons more than
hundred sheep, cattle and mules, as his individ-
ual property.
But while the SIS made Mr. Kendalls fortune,
)99 other young men would, at a similar little
game of poker, have lost their SIS and went to
heir business next day with "busting headache"