The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-10-24
Horace Greesy's First Entrance
into New York.

In the last chapter of his autobiogra-
ply, Mr.. Greely describes his first entrance
into New York city. We quote:
''It was, if | recollect right, the 9Th of
August, 1881. [ was 20 years old the
preceding February tall, slender, pale,
and plain, with ten dollars in my pocket,
summer clothing worth perhaps as much
more, nearly all on my back, and decent
knowledge OF so much of the art of prin-
ting as a boy will usually learn in the
office of a country newspaper. But |
knew no human being within two hun
dred miles, and my unmistakably rustic
manner and address did not favor that
immediate command Of remunerating en-
ployment which was my most urgent need
However, the world was all before me :;
my personal estate, tied up in pocket
handk erchief, did not at all cucumber
me; and [ stepped lightly eff the boat
and away from the sound of the detected
hiss of escaping steam, walking into and
up Broad street III quest of a boarding
house. | found and entered one at or
near the corner of Wall but the price of
board given me was Sc per week 50 /
did not need the giver's candidly kind
suggestion that l would probably prefer
one where the charge was more moderate.
Wandering thence, [ cannot say how, TO
the North River side, halted next at
l6S West street, where the sign of "Boar-
ding" on an humber edifce fixed my
attention. l entered, and was offered
shelter and subsistence at 81. SO per week,
which seemed more rational, and l closed
the bargain.
"My host was Mr.. Edward McGolrick !;
his place was quite as much "grogshop as
boarding. house but it was quietly, de-
Gently kept while L stayed in 1t, and he
and his family were kind and frieudly-
l regret to add that liquor proved his
ruin not many years afterwards. My first
day in New York was 4 Friday, and, the
family being Roman Catholic, no meat
was eaten or provided, which [ under.
stood but when Sunday e7ening was
celebrated by unlimited card playing in
that same house, my traditions were deci-
dedly Jared. L do not imply that my
ohservances were better or worse than my
hosts, but that they were different
"Having breakfasted, [ began to ran
sack the city for work, and, in my total
ignorance, traversed many streets where
none could possibly be found In the
course of that day and the next, however,
| must have visited fully two-thirds Of the
printing offices on Manhattan Island,
without a gleam of success. 1t was mid
summer, when business In New York is
habitually dull and my youth and un-
questionable air Of country greenness mus:
have told against me. When ] called at
the Journal Of Commerce, its editor, Mr..
David Hale, bluntly told me [ was a run
away apprentice from some country office,
which was very natural, though mista-
ken, presumption. [ returned to my
lodging on Saturday evening, thoroughly
weary, disheartened and disgusted with
New York, and resolved to shake its dust
from my feet next morning, while could
still leave with money in my pocket,
and before its alms-house could foreclose
upon me.
s'But that was not to be- On Saturday
afternoon and evening, several young
Irishmer called at Mr. McGolrick's, in
their holiday sauntcrings about town and
being told that was a young printer in
quest of work, interested themselves in
my effort, with the spontaneous kindness
of their race. One among them happen
ed to know a place where printers were
wanted, and gave the requisite direction,
so that, on visiting the designated spot
next morning [ readily found employment,
and thus, when barely three days a resi-
dent. [ had found anchorage in New
York"