Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-12-20
Anecdotes Of Mr.. Greeley.
From the New York World. Sth inst.

From the New York World, Sth inst.
On taking his seat in the Thirtieth
Congress, Mr.. Greeley vigorously
attacked the old mileage abuse, and
was bitterly opposed by many OF
his fellow-members, and at length
it was gravely proposed to expel
him. "Thc movement" says Mr..
Greeley, twas crushed by terse
interrogatory remonstrance from
Long John Wentworth, then lead
ing Democrat. why, you blessed
fools, do you want to make him
President?'"
Several years ago dinner was
given in the Astor House, at which
the speeches touched upon some of
the important interests of the day.
The unsophisticated Horace noticed
the banquet editorially, winding up
with a sharp allusion to the conviv-
ial character of the party, naming
Heidsick and champagne as among
the liquors disposed of. When he
entered the editorial room next
morning several editors were at
work who had noticed their chiefs
amusing blundcr. Mr.. Charles A.
Dana, then managing editor of the
Tribune, rallied him upon his inno-
cence in making Heidsick and
champagne two wines. Looking
blandly upon his co-workers, Mr..
retorted: 'Did l do that? Well,
guess l am the only man in this
office who could have made that
mistake
Years ago Donald c. Henderson,
now editor of the Allegan mich.
Journal, but then Horace's walking
encyclopedia of politics, had many
Of the philosophers strongest
points; he was an imitator of Mr..
Greeley's toilet; he wrote even a
worse hand; he walked as badly;
but what allied them was the fact
that Don had a penchant for politi-
cal statistics. Mr.. Greeley often
detected errors in his tables, and
two or three times discharged him;
he clung to his place, however, for,
said his fellow-workmen,his "cheek'
was as boundless as the Western
prairics whence he came. One day
Mr.. Greeley saw him at the ex-
change newspapers, and said: "Don
what are you doing there? thought
l discharged you long ago." 81
know you did, Mr.. Greeley; but I've
got good place and ain't agoin'."
That joke was even too much for
Mr.. Greeley, and Don's official life
died natural death. He only went
when he got ready. One of Don's
requirements was his ability to read
Mr.. Greeley's writing at sight as
easily as print, but his remarks to
compositors who bothered him were
rude to the last degree. 70 q COM
positor who asked him to read a
word Greeley had written in re-
ligious article, Don, with a con-
temptuous sneer, snarlcd out: ecu
charist, you darned fool; did you
never play cuchre?"
When he went to the Worlds
Fair, in London, Mr.. Greeley was
to be on board the Baltic, at the
foot of Canal street, at ~ o'clock,
sharp. He sat at his desk writing
for the Tribune until very nearly a
quarter to u. Suddenly he sprang
up, clapped on that famous hat,
seized small carpet-bag, and
pushed toward the door, saying:-
"Boys, Pm off for Europe, some
body read my proof" A carriage
was ready, and he was just in time.
When he returned he made for the
Office with equal economy of time,
rushed up stairs, and, without wait
ing to speak to anybody, or even
take off his hat, was instantly at
work at an account of the rcmarka-
bly, quick passage of the steamer
Baltic. A friend entering, greeted
him with: "Why, Horace, have you
got to work SO soon?" "Well," re-
piled Horace, "you see how it is
yourself" This is supposed to have
been the origin of the wcll-known
phrase, which has been attributed
to VIM. M. Tweed.
Scientists say they can tell what
a man is by the style of his salu-
tation. If this is true, it is easy to
measure the frank democracy of the
great farmer-editor The meaning
less "good mornings and all the
preliminary rights of recognition
were little to him. Instead of
"Good morning, Mr.. or Judge" his
tavoritc manner 10 know friends
was to give your hand hearty
shake, saying. "Waal, sinner, how
air you?"
When Mr.. Greeley first bought
land in Westchester county, every
body laughed at his notion of run
ming farm, and one friend said to
him: "Horace, you'll be sick Of liv-
ing in the country within two years
and your place will be advertised
for SALE" "Then," responded Hor-
ace, "thc Sheriff's name will be at
the foot of the advcrtiscment."-
Other friends demonstrated with
Mr.. Greeley on the cxpensiveness
Of his farming operations. "Do
you not perceive" said one, "that
your hired man does not more than
half work?" "Ccrtainly," replied
Horace, 81 am quite aware of it,
were he disposed to be efficient he
would work his own land and not
mine."
The Fremont campaign profound.