Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-15
Anecdotes of John Forster.


Anecdotes of John Forster.
Blanchard Jerrold gives some
anecdotes Of John Forster in the
last Gentleman's Magazine:
Dickens loved the high character
and thoroughly respected and trust
ed the opinion of his friend and
biographer; he also delighted to
contemplate his gorgeous manner
when dealing with the smallest
things, the imperial air with which
he asked his famous servant Henry
for his coat, the mighty look of
command with which he hailed a
cab.
\ Forster succeeded Dickens in the
editorship of the Daily News, and
many we're the stories of the new
editors grandeur Of address and
autocratic bearing toward subordi-
mates which speedily circulated
through Whitefriars. The printers
boys trembled as they approached
him; the sub.editors were under
the spell of his majesty, Poor
Knight Hunt, who afterward be-
came editor of the paper and died
in the harness, had scores of stories
of the high and mighty chief to
tell. But the story that held its
ground in every part of the estab-
Gshment was that of the cabman
who called for the editor at 2 in the
morning to convey him home to
Lincoln's Inn Fields. The cabman
found it difficult to make the office
porter understand whom he wanted
When described as the stout gen.
tleman, the porter replied that
there were several stout gentlemen
lin the editorial department.. Was
he tall or short?
"Neithor one thing nor t'other,'
the. .cabman answered, impatiently
"Xou know who | mean--I mean
that there harbitrary cove"
The porter went direct to Mr.
| Forster's room and told him hi
cab was waiting.
That Mr.. Forsters "tremendou
manner" was in no degree the con
sequence of harsh or hard nature
was shown in the devotion will
which his personal attendant
served him. The zeal and venera
tion with which his servant Henr,
waited upon him during many year
were noticed by all his friends, anC
wondered at iy some, for when MI
Forster had an attack Of gout (anC
he suffered cruelty in this way) hi
irrascibility vas indeed difficult t.
bear. But Henry never appearet
to notice the storms that raget
over his head, He kept quietly t.
his task; never answered the worC
of wrath, never showed by his man
ner that it had been uttered, AM
never permitted it to abate in th
least degree his Veneration for hi
master.
One day,at dinner, there was no
soup enough to 60 round the tabl
The host, in his Sternest manne
and deepest voice, said:
"Henry, you see there is nc
enough mulligatawny."
Henry said quietly in his master
. ear: "Please, sir, there is no MOI
: soup" Whereupon Forster turne
with a tragedy air upon his mai
and growled between his teeth:
mo more mulligatawny, Henr,
LET THERE BE more mulligi
tawnyp
Henry paid no attention 10 til
: outburst, but went quietly on wit
his service. The storm, he kneV
{, had spent itself. The blind dev,
ton with which Henry did his Sc
vice was illustrated on one occasic
when his master had a dinner-part
During the dinner Henry was ne
vous, and made two or three blm
derS. His master chafed and fnme'
| and cast angry glances at his Sc
I want; but the poor man could NJ
settle quietly to his duty. At la
. when the dessert and wine ha
+ been placed upon the table, he sto
% timidly behind Mr.. Forster's cha
= and said;
4 "Please, sir, can you spare n
: now? my house has been on fire +
s, the last hour and s half"
" The proup of literary men al