The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-11
WIZARDS UPS AND DOWNS.
Dismissed from Paper and Unable to Pay
Loan of $15.

were both young men. "Twenty-hve years
ago" he continued, Il was superintendent
OF telegraph down at Springfield. One even
ing in November 1860, just after Lincoln
had been elected President, l was at work in
my office, when man about thirty years
old and very plainly dressed, came in, and
handing me q letter, said: My name is
Henry Willard. | came here to spend the
winter with Nir. Lincoln as the representa-
tive of the New York Herald The let
ter was addressed in the bold hand Of
Henry Hudson to John ]. S. Wilson.
superintendent of telegraph | had
known Mr.. Hunson for some time. He was
then in charge of the Herald, and knowing
that was intimately acquainted with Mr.
Lincoln he had sent his young man to me,
hoping that l would introduce him and be
otherwise a convenient friend. l gave the
young man a seat. and that evening took
him down to the house to supper. After
the meal l went to Mrs. Lamb, widow who
lived next door, and she agreed to board
Willard during his residence in the CITY,
Nichoaly, who was the President private
secretary, soon became intimate with Viii
lard and put him onto things so as to make
his work easy. There was consequently a
good deal of time left to the young man,
who however, worked diligently during
the day. In the evening he always came in
to see me and often told stories of his expert
ence on the plains, which at that time he
had already traversed on horseback The
winter passed pleasantly, and Willard ap-
peared to be getting along nicely until about
the LIST of February. 1861, when he came to
me and said he had received a letter from
the office calling him back East He re-
marked that the Office had acted very
strangely in failing to send him remittance
with the letter He claimed that one
months salary, $75, was due him, and ac-
tributing its failure to arrive to a clerical
error in the Office, he asked me if l would
q for no q
had always appeared to be honest and
manly, and / consented to help him. He
made out the draft and signed it, 1t was
on Henry Hudson, his employer. He de-
posted the draft and with my Endorsement
at once obtained the money. He took the
first train for Washington, and that was the
last time saw INN until yesterday, when
he was pointed out to me-"
We'll what is there in the draft bust
ness?'
II was about to tell you. The draft came
protested, and had it to pay. l was short
of money at the time, so l at once sat down
and wrote to Hudson and Willard, recount
ing what had happened and suggesting that
there had been some mistake. In the course
OF short time got an answer from Willard.
Here Is the original. which, by some hook or
crook, preserved with my papers:
WAsHIN GToN, ID. c., March z, lS6l.-Mr. ]. J.
s. Wilson, Etc.-Dear Sir: Yours of - received,
and in response can only say 1 don't under
stand this matter. 81 far the office is, con-
cerned. But Will send you the money at once
Very truly, HENRY WILLARD.
Soon after that letter came 1 received one
from Mr.. Hudson, saying that the Herald did
not owe Willard anything, and that it would
not pay the draft. In reply l said that he
had sent the man'to me with recommends
tons and requests that l do for him all
could. l suggested that was glad to know
the kind of men the Herald sent. because it
would be of value to me in the future, and
also refused to acknowledge his release from
liability for the claim, He never answered
the letter. and, after waiting for a long time,
sent the following letter to Willard:
SPRINGFIELD, March 81, 1861.
Henry Willard, Washington, D. c.:
Dear Sr-It has been more than six weeks
since your letter was received, saying you wOuld
remit the amount OF thar draft at once. AS vet
have failed to hear from you, and only ex-
cuse your silence from the belief that something
has happened to you. The draft calle TO me, as
such things usually do, when was cranped for
money, but L am all right now. L have received
a letter from Mr.. Hudson saying that the Herald
did not owe you anything. L feel in this case
pretty much like tine Freuchman who was the
hero in one of your after supper yarns. I al
ways believed You were an honest man, and my
confidence is not now entirely shaken, for
think y0nr desires are only too great for yOur
capabilities. |, Of course, shall never question
your ability in some resi- poets, but | desire to
suggest my apprehension that you VIII never
make. a successful manager of a hotel. Hoping
TO hear from you as soon rs God VIII spare yOu
little change, remain yours very truly,
il. 8. WILSON
The person to whom this bit of history
was given had become interested in the
letter.
What was the story about the French
manp' he inquired.
II have FORGOTTEN" replied Mr.. Wilson,
"but it was SOME trivial illustration he
must have used that captured my fancy
He was a very entertaining conversation
alist."
And what is the application of the bold
reference?''
Willard has spoken to me once or twice
about al inherent desire to run an old
fashioned hotel where he could sit about
in ease and listen to the yarns of his
lodgers."
did he ever send the money!"
Some time afterward he sent me $55 in
gold l paid the eX pressage of $1.50."
Did he never remit the other?'
II believe that the Herald subsequently
settled the balance"
But Willard did not send it?"
81 have forgotten"
''Has he given you card to his spike-driv-
ing?"
''No sir"
According to your remembrance Viii
lard did not accompany Lincoln to Washing
ton?''
mo, he did not He left Springfield about
two weeks before Lincoln did. The elder
Hascome came out aud went with the Presi-
dent TO the capital. being his close compan-
ion throughout the memorable trip. Viii
lard left Springfield some time before Has
come arrived, and the story that the railroad
king was member of the party is a mis-
take"
A Romance in Real Life.
Calhoun (Ga.) Times.
Louis Hillhouse tells rather singular
story about some geese he had which might
be doubted if it were not known that Louis