Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-16
TRrrH srRANaER THAN /

TRUTH STRANGER THAN FIcTIoN.-We
CHANGED to light a few days ago, on an
occurrence in our city's history as
poet says: " just thirty years agoT
In 1888, some newly arrived gents VINO
had chosen our city as a new locality 70 re-
new the battle of life in, thought that the
term gentlemen, clever fellows, &eg was
appropriated too generally, and included
many unworthy of the name. To
.o-rsc. this evil. they formed them
servss into a society known as the " Va
Grants Society of Cleveland, for admission
to which, applicants had to be formally ini-
tiated. The corporation of Washington, IN
its watchfulness of its sidewalk privileges;
las in the case OF Lincoln and Grant, were
not more vigilant than the Prosecuting At
torney (the late noble-hearted ]. L. Wealth
erly) of this society in its watch over Its
members. Happy was tbs new conner to
this village, if upon entering its precincts
he was provided with q letter of intro
duction to the society by some of its mem
bers.
Hewas at once initiated into its mysteries,
far above those of ancient Greece, that
Alexander the Great so coveted, intro
duced into the society, and the hand OF
bospitality extended to him during his So
iourn, so that he felt he was at home for the
nonce in the happy city. Indeed, as q I'D
eral Englishman once remarked to the So
eiety in a farewell speech, The freedom OF
the city of London was a fool to 1t" Its
fame extended to foreign countries, as let
tiers of introduction to the association, by
the savans of the Old to the New world
were early and anxiOusly sought for.
A gentleman in Brazil, oil starting for the
| United States, {" just thirty years ago" pro
cured one, but soon after reaching this
country, fell into a " Rip Yanwinkle" sleep
| from which he woke last week, and as may
| be imagined, was no little sstonished. As
certaining from his attendants that he was
in Cleveland, Ohio, his first thought was tc
get his letter Of introduction TO the Va
grant Society and present it. But alas the
kind, noble and generous hearted writer
was gone to his long home, with many Others
| of the noble band others had removed u
/ distant parts, and only one of the Society
still remained in the city. To hin
in due time, he presented himself
with many apologies and regrets (thes'
regrets will remain with him all his life.
for not presenting himself sooner.
Judge of his disappointment, if you can
on being informed that the noble institu'
ton, whose hospitalities he expected tt
receive, had gone the way of most thing
on earth.
By sleeping thirty years he had last on'
of the greatest boons ever allotted Il a NOR
tai who should visit Cleveland. We will no
attempt 10 portray the direful agony OF hi
soul the reproackes of his conscience oil
his deplOrable folly OF delay. In justice
however, to the applicant, and in proof o
his high standing and character among nj
fellow men, and one every way worthy o
the association to which he SO nobly, 81
fondly aspired, we publish the letter of in
PRODUCTION which he presented this week
The device or seal of this society, the rea
der will perceive, is now about being real
lied, by the passage of the Civil Rights bill
in Congress.
Those having doubts of the foregoing
can have them removed by calling at Yate
L Co.'S. Wood and Coal yard, Michigan st
RIO DE J~ANEIRO, February 5, 1886.
To Messrs. George B. Ogden, Charles L. Og
den, Henry B. IKitchie, John Barr, /
H. Bacchus, Elisha T. Sterling, Sheldon
Pease, John E. Lyon, and all othe
members of the Vagrant Society c
Cleveland, this comes greeting:
WHEREAS, my Trustworthy and well be
loved friend, Robert Clinton Yates, Esq.
now Of this place, leaves it in a day or tw
to reside in New York, from whence 1t
probable he may make a slant to your city
/ do feel it my duty as a Vagrant to com
mend him to you, to be received with tn
right hand of fellowship and welcomed l
such a manner as COMFORTS with the stand
ing OF your ancient and honorable frateI
nifty.
And do hereby enjoin it upon you joint
" and severally, collectively and individu
ally, that you shall lay aside all manner
business at such a time as may be agree
Upon among We, and at such time and plac
as shall be selected, ye shall then and thei
induct him into the mysteries of our Eel
lowship.