Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07
HORACE GRE ELEY.
Some Fresh Anecdotes About the
Great Editor.
New York Letter to Chicago Tribune

Some Fresh Anecdotes About the
Great Editor.
New York Letter to Chicago Tribune
IL must have been year ago that sent the
Tribune several stories OF Horace Greeley, which
] personally knew were authentic. Since then
have heard good many others. which in turn
have recalled several had forgotten. one or
two cut Of the lot, in addition to being FIRE 81
are worth While telling at this time. The eccen-
trio old gentleman and myself rarely came in
contact TO any great extent, because whenever
chancedtO b near enough to notice his pecl-
iaritieS he was usually so utterly engrosSed in
whatever he CHANGED to be doing that he was
Der one incident, which, although rather en-
barraSsing at the time has furnished food for
many hearty laugh since then.
| was Just going through the door which led
into the big back room of the Tribune Office one
day. when slap-bang. cOllded with somebody.
And that wasn't the worst of it. The somebody
alUded TO had stepped upon my foot and almost
ground INTO SauSage-meat part of that men,
Der. which contained upon its surface partic-
ularly violent and aggressive corn. 1t was an
agonlzlng moment. and in the pain, which fairly
doubled me up for an instant, Yes, damned
roundly, In good set terms, as W. Shakespeare
would observe. When Strengthened up, you
may Imagine my horror TO see that the person
/ had been anathmetiZing was none other than
Mr. Greeley. l could have sunk through the
floor with modification, and stood there wait
ing in a sort of daZed way for the volley OF pro-
family which | felt sure would come. But it
didn't The old gentleman settled himself back,
adjusted his spectacleS upon his nose, and, with
broad grin upon his face, addressed me thus:
..That'S right. bub. If it hurts you, swear like
h-ll; IwOuld.' Then he paused moment and
continued: Human nature is human nature,
bub; and If IL does you any good; just On me
again.! There's nothing like it! Balm of Gilead
is nowhere" And he patted me kindly on the
shoulder and passed on.
Mr.. Greeley was particularly severe on his
relatives. ! don't suppose there is one of them
who has not felt the weight OF his tongue at
one time or another in an unpleasant way.
When he was savage, he was savage all over,
and anybody who ran against him at such
times was likely to get hurt. Man or woman,
1t made no difference to him. / remember one
of his nearest female relations, of whom he
used to speak generally as 50 good woman, but
the Oldest fool that ever lived And yet /
suppose he really loved her in his own fashion,
as well as the generality OF men love equally
near relatives.
Well, once upon a time this "good woman
had photograph taken, and from that photo
graph she had large crayOn portrait made. II
was not happy effort on the part Of the artist
In fact. ii made her look like a cross between a
cofiln-plate and berry-crate, But, bless her
soul, she didn't know it. She thought it was
work OF art. and felt proud of it. SO she gave a
party for the purpose OF showing ii to her
fliendS. They came in SWarmS and without
blushng. praised the picture to the skies. After
awhile Mr.. Greeley arrived, and was escorted
up to the easel where the portrait stood. He
examined il carefully. took off his glasses. rub
bed them. returned them TO his eyes again.
looked at the picture Il second time, and then.
turning toward his hostess, exclaimed in that
plplDS VOICE Oh SO nlgn tilau IL cOulu
have been heard a block off: Il always knew
you were id ugly; but this is even worse than
you are" Then he shambled out OF the room
under the impression that he had said good
thing.
But one OF the very best stories ever heard
OF him was tod the other day by Samuel Sim
clair. who during the latter part Of Mr.. Gree
leyS life. was the business manager OF the Tri-
bun6. one winter Mrs. Greeley went TO the
West Indies for her health. and the following
spring she sent for her husband to come after
her and bring her home TO New York. Now ii
there was one thing the old man hated, 1t was
the sea. The very smell of water made him
sick. But, nevertheless. he Obeyed his wife'S
call. as lie was accustomed to obey her every
whim. In due time they got back to Gotham,
ard that morning Mr.. Sinclair received word
that Greeley was not feeling well, owing to his
voyage, and had decided to stay at home for the
day. In The evening, Sinclair was going to Wash
lngton on business, and so, valiSe in hand,
he called at Greeley's house an hou or
two before the train was 10 start. He found the
old man in bed and actually very Ill, having
suffered terribly from Sea-SickneSS all the way
out and all the way back. He was alone. tie
other members of the family being either i'll or
away from home and so Sinclair determined to
pass the night with him. giving up. for that,
time, his trip to the capital. Presently Greeley
wanted his back rubbed, and the tmpromptu
nurse was somewhat surprised to find that his
patient hadn't stitch of clothing on his person
barring the sheets and quilts.
''Sinclair,' said he in that querulous whine
OF his, I'm as naked as the day was born
got id night-gOwn.'
But why not wear thiS?' pointing to tho
garment he had taken off before getting into
bed.
'Oh, expect to be out tomorrow, and want
that tOWear then. How the blaLeS would it
look after I'd slept in it?'
Well in due time his luggage arrived. and
Sinclair made bolt for the article he wanted
After some rummaging he found it. and helped
the Old man put 1t on. 1t was speedily fastened
at the nee k. and the nurse took up one of the
wrists and tried TO button it. There, however
he stuck fast. The ends wouldn't meet by fully
two inches. He tugged and twisted to his ut
most, but IL was no go. STILL as the patient
said nothing. he supposed Ii ought TO be fast
ened, and redoubled his efforts for that pur-
pose. For about 90 minutes he labOred without
success. Then he said: This is failure. Il
won't faSten.'
NO" replied Greeley, with exasperatiny
calmneSS; Il knew it wouldn't. The fact is /
never could button the Internal thing myself
But you seemed to enjoy it, so didn't disturb
YOU
lie lay back on the pillows for few moments,
as If thinking deeply, and then. sitting bolt up
right. he brought his fist down upon the quilt.
and exclaimed Sayagely:
If ever Mormonism works as far east as this.
II be id If don't have wife TO take care
OF my Shirts.'