Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-14

Va Aoi5N AAo"A- AAC oshSCACAy DciicNeO tu8b ~
way to make men better was to expose them
w hen Senator NJ. H. Carpenter was the
subject Of much newspaper condemnation be
telegrapbed Mr.. Storey that if he did moi
cease his attacks on his private character be
would institute suit for libel in the sum Of
$4,000 Don't make d. fool Of your.
SELF was the prompt reply. sent by wire with
Storey's signature
He had an inveterate fondness for
patented contrivances. Ii a man could con-
vince him that his machine would be desirar
bile in the office he would buy it instantly.
One day member of the staff was to, ling
another that he had had some trouble with
his throat and that the doctor had ed q
laryngoscope or him. A third party sand
ing near said: "Sh-h. don't mention that
word again. The old man will hear YOU and
make us all use them.
A mechanic who had been summoned to
Mr. Storey's room to make few changes in
speaking tubes undertook TO be agreeable.
why" said he, ''you are lame, Mr. Storey;
never knew yon were lame" d your
soul, I'm not lame" WINS the reply.
Quick as he was with his passionate re-
marks, he was, as one Of his Oldest employees
says, 'slow to wrath" particularly If any.
thing had ever happened to make him look
favorably upon an offender He has beer
known TO try men who had proved derelict
over and over again. Il will try him once
more, he said Of an employee who had been
dismissed for drunkenness, "for the sake ol
aud lang syne."
When a man who had been In his employ
In a mechanical capacity for many years at
last fell a victim to consumption and was
unable 10 work, a member of the staff pre-
sented the case 10 Mr. Storey and suggested
that lie might pension him off.
Never" said the editor. with his wonted
6rmness He has been in my employ for
twenty years, and during all that time he
has had good snlary. 1t is not As il he bad
been working on a pittance He has been
we'll paid. To pension him now would imply
that this office Is indebted Ia him. | viii
help him while he needs it. but let it be
understood that II Is charity and not pen
SION"
When a man voluntarily left his employ
he never took him back. He could not
understand how anybody would want to
leave his Office for any other. He held all
bis contemporaries in great contempt. and
was never influenced by their course. unless
II was to take one antagonistic.
The general who suppressed his newspaper
during the war, the burlesque actress who,
assisted by some Of her retainers, assau,,::<d
him on the street, the judge who committed
him to jail for contempt. the gambler with
whom he had a shooting affair on Randolph
street, the physician who attended his second
wife in hei fatal illness, and score Of Others
who at one time or another crossed his path
laet frl,t 80 No. 4
them numerically and at last, having pur-
sued them to his hearts content, he gave
orders that their names should never again
be mentioned in his Taper unless they died or
did something disreputable. His few friend.
ships were warm and lasting.
In 1873 Mr.. Storey's personal tastes seemed
to undergo change. He began to long for
social recognition, and with this is view, it
is thought he became snowy and expensive
in his personal and household expenditures.
He had plans prepared for the costliest house
IN America, and began work upon It. For a
time he devoted many hours daily to this
project, and seemed to enjoy the change.
The castle, still incomplete, though work
has been In progress for five years, stands en-
the Grand boulevard, below Fortieth street
1t is OF marble and contains eighty rooms
A. I. stands T. is said TO have coAt $3.50, oo0
and it will probably take that amount to
G:ssb and furnish It Just what viii become
Of il now no one can iinag inc.
When Mr.. Storey went to Europe In 1879
his health was none too good, but il was not
thought that lie was in immediate danger of
breakdown. The stroke of paralysis which
he received while absent effected an aston
ishing change in him. lie returned differ
eni man. There were then no signs Of his
pr. sent dreadful malady, but he was feeble.
sulslued, dependent. He seemed disposed to
build up mory friendly relations with bis
staff. lie enjoyed II cheerful salutation and
was not above that sort OF thing himself.
His old-tme acerbity Of temper would show
itself occasionally, lut he became less and
less observant and more and more inclined
to lean on and trust in others. He even
found worcs Of commentator occasionally
for duties well done, and men whose health
was none too good discovered in him q sym
pathetic friend and adviser.
II consider that any man who ties himself
down in my service and denies himself
needed rest and recreation to the detriment
of his health does not only himself but me an
injustice he said one occasion. Il ask no
such sacrifice Of any enc. Take care Of your
health, and you will serve yourself and me as
we'll" 80
Then began tine last struggles of a once peer
less mind to resume its former activity. At
first grand schemes which in outline and con-
ception were worthy of his best days. Then
sudden-c. anges of plans Then return to
the original purpose. Then vague visions Of
grandeur never 10 be realized Next long
r.aripJs nf a,I Thai.
aspirations to be only partially fulfilled.
Then a shifting Of thought from this enter
prise TO that. First the mansion and then
the newspaper. One day this change in the
Office. The next day an entire alteration Of
the plans of the palace, necessitating perhaps
the expenditure of thousands. Then caprice
in the arrangement of his paper. Next weird
dreams Of communion with inhabitants Of
the spirit world. Then apparently period
of oId-time brilliancy and activity followed
by a relapse. Queer days were those to tho
staff which he had trained with such match
less zeal and patience. Buffeted hither and
hither, listening to the poor old mans queer
chatter and accepting with meaning looks
and in silence his surprising orders, and yet
warming toward him by reason of his help
lessness and his kindly ways, it was a marvel
Gus contrast which they daily made between
Storey the man and Storey tine ruin. II any
injustice was ever done an employe in his
Office it was during this period.
Mr.. Storey continued TO give his attention
to business until his daily visits to his office
became painful in more senses than one. and
they were at last, about one year ago, dis
continued altogether The man whose life
for twenty-five years has been an almost
ceaseless warfare had fallen victim to hui
manity's most terrible foe, imbecility-a fate
that he would have dreaded thousand
times more than torture or death.