Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-02-12
HoRAcE GREELEY ar WORK.


A writer in Rackdrd's Monthly gives the
following pen and ink potrait of the most
distinguished editor in the world, as seen
in his private room, preparing articles for
the press
Mr. Greeley back is towards US. He is
seated at his de,k. His head is bent over
his writing, and bis round shoulders are
qulte prominent. He is scribbling rapidly.
4 quire Of foolscap, occupying the only
clear place on his desk, is melting beneath
his pen A glance at the manuscript re-
yeals two dozen knotty figures. You may
be sure Of leader on the national debt TO-
morrow morning. The desk itself is heap
ofconfusion Here is Mr. Greeley's straw
hat there is his handkerchief In front of
him 10 peck Of newspaper clippings, not
neatly rolled up but loosely sprawled over
the desk At his left a rickety pair Of
scissors catches hurried nap, and at his
right paste pot aud half broken box of
waters, appear TO have had rough and
tumble fight An odd looking paper holder
isjust ready to tumble on the floor. An
oid-iashloned sand box, looking like a
dilapidated hour glass, is half hidden un-
der slashed cory of the New York World
Mr. Greeley still sticks to waters and sand
instead Of using lnucilage and blotting paper.
a small drawer, flled with postage stamps
and bright steel pens, has crawled out on
the desk. Packages Of folded missives arr
tucked in pigeon holes, winking at US from
the back Of the desk, and scores of half
opened letters mixed with seedy brown en-
velopes, flop azily about the table. Od
papers lie gashed and mangled about his
chair, the debris of literary battle field.
A clean towel hangs on a rack to his right.
A bound copy of the Tribune Almanac
from 1888 TO 1858, swings from a small
chain fastened to steeple screwed in thr
side Of his desk, two other bound volume,
stand on their feet in front Of bis nose, and
two more OF the same kind are fast asleep Oh
the book-rack in the corner. Stray numbers
of the Almanac peep from every nook.
The room ia kept scrupulously neat and
clean y waste paper basket squats between
Mr.. Greeley legs, but one-half the torn
envelopes and boshy communications futter
TO the floor instead of being tossed into the
basket.
Pen, ibk, paper, scissors, and envelopes are
in uufailing demand The cry, Mr.. Gree
ley wants writing paper !" creates com-
motion in the counting room, and Mr.. Gree
ley gets paper quicker than hungry fisher
man could skin an eel
Mr.. Greeley can lay Virginia worm fences
in ink faster than any other editor in New
York city He thinks great deal on it,
but during an experience of three years has
failed to learn the simple principle of sue
tiou without getting bis mouth full Of ink.
aud he generally uses it as an empty re-
ceiyer He makes dash at the ink bottle
every twenty seconds, places the third fin
ger OF his left hand on the paper, and
scratches away at his worm fence ike one
possessed He writes marveilousls fast.
Frequently the point Of his pen pricks
through his sheet, for he writes a heavy
hand, and a snap follows, spreading inky
spots over the paper, resembling a wood
cut portraying the sparks from a black
smiths hammer Bots ike mashed spider,
or crushed huckleberries occasionally in
tervene, but the old veteran dashes them
with sand, leaving swearing eompositor TO
Z, . g,,I or1 H.
underneath.