Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-10-15
A naIf Hour win Kossuth.

a letter from Ue0O2 10 tne tribune
contains the following account of q visit
to Kossuth atTuHin;
On entering the library, which was
fianked on three sides BY cases of books
and neurological specimens, and a
small achromatic telescope that rested
upon one of the projecting shelves.
Kossuth, who had hitherto observed a
tone Of formal politeness, relaxed into "a
genial good humor. Please disembar-
rass yourself" he said, indicating by a
significant gesture that | should lay
aside my bat, which still held in my
hand. Il know not, he continued,
that | have any claims upon America,
and yet am constantly receiving touch
ing marks OF respect and esteem from
Americans even in my retirement.
you have claim, | iRterposed,
upon the respect and admiration of
every true lover OF freedom as an apostle
of liberty, and Americans will not soon
forget your visit 10 America and your
stirring appeals in behalf OF Hungarian
independence
That was % years ago" he solilo-
Quized rather than said as his eye
causallY fell upon fine marble bust of
himself in generals uniform in one angle
of the library, that had evidently been
taken when he was at the hight OF his
popularity. Recovering himself, he con-
tinued; Some of my American friends
seem to think that ! ought to remember
them; but it is not strange that do not,
since there was Misunderstanding BY the
million. Besides, it is one of my weak
nesses that ! do not remember names.
After some further conversation he re-
ferred TO the story that had been going
the round Of the papers with regard to
his poverty and restitution 1t mas
annoyed me somewhat" he said, on ac-
count Of my sons, who occupy honorable
and lucrative positions aud who regard
it as q reprosch TO them that it should
ever be reported that their poor old
father was compelled to teach the Ian
gusges for living at franc lesson.
So far as | myself am concerned / care
not. Il is no discredit to a man who
has held the supreme power of king
dom, and had the absolute control Of its
millions of resources, that he should
retire to private life with his hands
empty but clean. This was said with
evident emotion. As to the origin of
the report" he continued. thereby
hangs tale. 1t was said to have
originated with Frankfort journal;
but when the supposed author was
questioned, he denied all knowledge OF
the matter. Ny friend NJ Gilpin, a
member Of the British Parliament who
had visited me but short time before,
called upon the editor of The London
Times, pronounced the story canard,
and wanted to know his authority for its
publication. He replied that be copied
1t from Boston paper. The editor Of
the latter was telegrapsed to, and replied
by telegraph that he had taken It from a
San Francisco paper. San Francisco
was telegraphed to (you see i: was an ex
pensive hoax, and the reply came that
it had been copied from frankfort,
KY, journal. SO it went the rounds.
first of the American, and then Of the
English and Continental press. have
even heard Of its being published in
some Of the Calcutta papers. So you
see it has circumnavigated the globe.
have received, in consequence, more than
FIVE hundred letters Of sympathy, many
Of them asking me for my autograph
They have fallen as thick as leaves in
Valombrosa