, 1873-09-07
HORACE'S SPECIMENS,
What tho Philosopher Had to Show
fur Eais 810.UOO.

1
| Tothor day, while scrambling out of tho great
holo in tho ground noar tho Sun oflice which tho
Tribune people aro filing up with costly brick
| and granite, AZ q monument to tho founder Of
that paper, wo picked up pioco of copper ore.
The blt Of grcon rock recalled to mind m anus
Ing Incident III tho life Of tho late Mr. Groeley.
1t occurred manv yoarH ago, long before tho great
war began, and before oven tho Philosopher Of
| Spruce street had dreamed Of being tho Domo-
cratic candidate for President.
Tho interior third-atory editorial room on Mas
SUI street, 80 long occupied BY Nir. Qree!cy, Ind
hecomo exceedingly dingy. It's furniture was in
tho last stages Of dilapiJation. Various propo-
sitionB to improve 1t had boen vetoed by tho oc-
cupant, who feared that my attempt at change
would dcrange the ordor Of his papers and hooks
Of roferonco. But ono Saturday, while the aago
Was chopping wood at Chnpraqua. the burly on
gfneer, Patrick O'Rourke, camo up with a. host
OF helpers, anl pretty soon had everything top
sy-turyoy. Tho carpet WAC torn up by tho roots
and the stibaoil Bhoveled out from undor it,
Tho furniture was hustled aside. tho walls wero
serapod and papercd tho woodwork painted, n
new carpet laid, and by nighttall Iatsick aB ho
surveyed tho wholesome change congratulated
himself OIL tho wontlrouH achievement
Noxt day Mr. Greeley, coming in fresh from
tho Herehe Influence Of DR.. Clapin'H sermon,
was struck with dumb wo1ldcr at the motamor-
phoas. Without a word, no slumped down into
his easy cilair and thrust his foet under tho
desk, apparently in fine mood to TO Justice to
bleeding Kansas or caatlgate tho rascally FREQ
trade1H: nardly had he touched his seat, how
ever, when 10 sprang up as though stuiIg, and,
pointing undcr hs doak, ahrioked in hia Hquonk-
ieHt tones:
What thief has stolen my specimens
w-h-o-r-e-'s my specimens 2"
IAo people from the outer-ofIlco r,lahed In at
~.
prisod that Patrick O'nourko WAS thu loader Of
tho yanda1s who Ind deBpoilcd his Aanctulu.
Send Tim up here" yollod Horace; ''sond
So Patrick was summoned from tho vaults Of
tho establishment, where ho was engaged, like
tho so I'd Doacon Smiths wickod p.rtnors, in
getting up steam Oh Sunday for Mondays paper.
for his thorough work. Slowly wiping tic per-
spiratiou from Lis forehoad on hiH baro, bratsny
arm, be drow up to tho editor. his taco wrenthod
in smiling anticipation. But tho sight Of Hor-
aces angry countonance warned poor Patrick
that storm was imminent.
What il 1t, Mr.. Greeloy9" he mildly queriod,
Pat, where's my Bpecimons2" screamed
Horace, pointing to the vacant spot under his
desk.
''specimonsl Mr.. Greeley7 spocimens!'
meekly responded Patrick:
Yes; the specimens kept under thoro,''
"Well, Mr.. Greeley" blurtod ont Patrick, II
If 20 maue that ould type-bo1 full of rocks 20
kop there, why they only Uttered up tho place,
and throw 'em into the street."
"Yon damned fooll" screamed Horace.
" Didn't you know TINT box OF specimens was
all had to BLow for twenty Thousand doliars'
worth Of copper stocks ?" aud tic good man
aans hystorically back in his sent to poudcr on
bin misfortune, while poor Pat. thoroughly
humblcd, hurried out to rocovcr what lie could
Of tho lost treasures. lie B,,cceeded in finding
somo Of thom, aud put tho,n in tho collar for
aafe-keeping.
This was long, long ago, and hero now ia
solitary fragment Of that time turning up under
tho lsboror's mattock, md teatitying to tho gem
orous nature Of ono who might have boen
Crnsus Ind he been less credu!ous who might,
had ho been more worldly-lnnded, have built ID
hla own life-timo, out of lis own hard-carned
wealth, tue stately structure it was the dream of
his life to found but whoso erection ho WAS
mover designed to wituesa Tho dreamer s now
daat tho busy iifo but Il recollection. or that
great fortune which ha won there remains to hia
children but crnlnhling fragment. con,para-
lively all inoonsideratlo az this bit OF copper orc