Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-24
A HUMORIsT'S CAREER.
story OF the Eventni Life of "M. Quad.

story OF the Eventfui Life OF VI. Quad"
Charles B. Lewis, better known as IN
Quad of the Detroit Free Press, has
written II comedy, and Mr.. and Mrs. A If
Weyman. the celebrated actor and nc
tress, will soon put it on the stage in that
city.
Lewis is truly n remarkable man. lie
began life a poor printer-so poor, III iact,
that his proofs. after being read by the
editor. looked like map OF Upper Cana7
da When the war broke out hc enlisted
in the Sixth Michigan cavalry, and
served gallantly until its close-and for
nearly n wear afterward. IS the regiment,
after the surrender of Lee, was sent to
Fort Bridger. Utah. and was not mus
tered out until February, 1866. On the
Yellowstone, in May, 1865, the command
fought one of the bloodiest Indian bat
ties in history, in which the gallant Col.
Kid. while riding Mt the head of his
command in the same heroic Uanner as
Custer, fell pierced with twcnty-seven
arrows. After the war Lewis returned
to Michigan almost pcnniless. and again
took UP the stick and rule. Through the
assistance of George Peck (who was once
n congressman from Michigan), editor of
the .Sdte Journal. to which paper he had
occasionally contributed, he secured u
situation rs local editor on the Maysville
(kv.O Bulletin. While ca route 10 Mays
willie, to enter upon the duties of the only
lucrative offer he had ever received, the
steamer upon which he took passage on
the Mississippi river, blew up, killing
and wounding some forty persons and
more or less iniuring all the others.
Lewis, horribly scaldcd and disiigurcd,
was blown some fifteen yards, landing
on the bank of the river. When picked
up. life appeared to he extinct, and his
appearance was such that he was mis-
taken for negro, loaded into n cart and
was driven to the dead house. On cN-
hibiting signs of life hc was removed to
n hospital, and, after weeks of intense
suffering, began to mend. When Mt last
ablf to leave that institution, he found
his Maysville position had long been
filled, and he returned blcmished and
bankrupt, to Michigan. While in search
of employment he happened into the of
flee of the Pontiac JnckSOHidH, and, witlT-
out copy. set from the ease an article
headed. How it Feels to be Blown Up
The article was humorous and graphic
to remarkable degree, and there are
few publications in America in which it
has not appeared. 1t may be said of
Lewis that "he went To bed one night.
and awoke in the morning and found
boat company, and recovered $4,000.
This sum he inv cstcd in Free Press stock,
and has ever since been an attache OF
that paper, though for years he has con-
tributed to the columns of Eastern lite
rary periodicals. In l-1i he published a
book of selections. entitled "Quad's
Odds" which ran through several ed;-
tions. and half interest in which he
sold for Sl2.OOO. In n recent letter to
the writer, Mr.. Lewis states that his
weekly income is now S2lO. making .
munihccnt annuity of some $4,000
Quad has but one ccccntriCitv. or
" weakness rs it is called. and that is
peanuts, of which he j. very fond. II is
doubtful if there has been q moment
during the past ten years when his coat
tail pockets did not contain peanuts. He
never passes a huckster's stand on the
street without pausing TO reach around
to see if his stock of this peculiar vcgc-
table needs rcplenishing. If he meets n
child crying on the street, lac never in
quires the cause, but stops. reaches into
his Coattail pocket. loads the fearful
youngster up with doublc-handful of
peanuts, and hurries ON his way. Sight
ing ncwsboy or bootblack ahead, whose
countcnancc indicates cold weather or
depressed business. hc gets ready hand
fui of peanuts, calls Here, boy" and
the transfer il made without once break
ing his pace. Lewis claims that two
cents worth of peanuts, judiciously be-
slowed, will carry more satisfaction to a
human heart-whilc the action cncour-
ages ii to brace up against the world
than 500 gift to pay off a church
debt.-Pcck's HdTdukce $H.