The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-15
EXAMINING MIR. TILDEN.

the grand old man-old in years only-taking
his customary morning exercise, three bright
ly-polshed eight-inch steel eannon-bals flash
ing in the air like so many bubbles. The an
nouncement of their arrival caused him to de-
sist, and he deity caught the last ball to de-
scend in the hollow of his back between his
shoulder blades.
Mr. Cassidy, who is an accomplished physi-
ologist, expressed great surprise at what he
saw, and asked Mr. Tilden if he realized the
danger he incurred by performing the feat he
had just completed.
80, yes suppose there is some little dan
ger, he replied, 'but this has come to be
second nature with ME, and it is hard to
teach an old dog new tricks you know" say
ing which be winked broadly at the others.
Shaking hands all around he babe them be
seated, which they all did after carefully re-
arranging fingers half-crushed in Mr. Tilden's
over-cordial grip.
Among those present were Congressman
Cassidy, Holman Lamb, Blackburn, Springer
and Townshend, and Mr.. Watterson, of
Louisville.
eve have COME said Mr.. Cassidy, speak
ing for the others, to set at
rest the rumors that you were falling in
health, but from what we have just witnessed
I feel that speak the sentiment of the entire
delegation when I say that we have made our
selves ridiculous in so doing. doubt very
much if either of us could perform with these
balls as you have done"
Mr.. Tilden beamed kindly on all, his gener-
Gus health visible in every feature, while his
strong pulse sent the rich glow into his rudy
cheeks.
AT that moment Mr.. Townshend's large
Newfoundland dog attracted the attention of
Mr. Tilden. Summoning servant he or
dered the animal removed, and then, changing
his mind, he arose, and with hop peculiar to
football players, he kicked the huge creature
through the plate-glass window the
body landing across the street.
Mr. Townshend was visibly angered, but pru-
IDENTIFY refrained from saying anything, much
to the relief of his friends.
The incident, trivial as it was, cast cloud
over the little party, when Mr.. Watterson
came to the rescue.
Suppose you do your cocoanut trick, Mr.
Tilden; none of these gentlemen have seen it."
With characteristic diffdence he begged to
be excused but they all insisted so strenu-
ously that there was no way of refusing them
Two servants thereupon brought in tub
full of the huge nuts and set them in the mid
die of the floor. You may judge of the aston
ishlnent of the party when they saw him take
one after another of Them and crack them
with his teeth apparently with as much ease
as an ordinary man would crack ilbert. He
concluded by taking the last half dozen and
crushing them in his right hand as though
they were eggs.
Mr.. Watterson then approached him and
invited the rest of the delegation to come for
ward and examine Mr.. Tilden to satisfy
themselves that there were no springs con-
cealed, and that the man was exactly what
he appeared to be- The investigation on
this point was not very critical, few of the
visitors having the temerity to examine his
biceps.
Mr.. Blackburn then timidly remarked that
he had heard it rlmored that Mr.. Tilden
could strike out from the shoulder. Without
waiting for further urging Mr. Tilden
at once struck out, not from one shout
der, but from EACH and then
from both simultaneously. Then, notwith-
standing the strain Of striking out
from both shoulders, the great leader of De-
mocracy easily walked the entire length of his
spacious library, making no stops, and to cap
it all turned quickly and walked the entire
distance back without assistance of any kind
These two feats are not new to Mr.. Tilden
But the fact that he is able to repeat them at
will, and at such frequent intervals, goes to
prove that his physique is one of the finest
and best-disciplined in this country. Ger
tainly anybody after looking at his stalwart
FORM his broad shoulders and deep chest
showing wonderful powers of endurance, must
come to the conclusion that he is a man of no
ordinary physical strength.
Mr.. Lamb then moved that they had
witnessed enough to warrant a resolu-
ton to the effect that Mr.. Tilden
was not only possessed of all his youthful
vigor, etc. but Mr.. Holman objected, for some
reason or other and another test was sug-
gested and at once put into execution, the
object being to determine the strength of Mr.
Tildens voice. Mr. Springer made known to