The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-08-15
HIS MEMORY FOR POETRY.
Bob Burdstte's Pleasant Reminiscenee Of
Tom Hendricks.
Editor Breoklun Eagle [Den.l

Editor Brooklyn Eagle (Den.)
Do you know have a very pleasant recol.
lection of Mr.. Hendricks The only Mr..
Hendricks In the world, just now, Of course.
| never met him but once, and then had
the honor Of dining with him.
do not mention the fact In order TO cre-
ate the impression that am on easy, familiar
terms with all the candidates In this Presi-
Dental campaign. fear I am not. If l
wanted $500 0to-morrow-snd probably will,
at least want 1t to-day, and 1 am not the
man TO change my convictions on financial
matters In twenty -four hours-I do not know
q single candidate for President or Vice
President whom could, SO TO speak, strike
for that amount.
Well, Mr.. Hendricks had the honor Of din
ing with me-that is, we dined with each
other. / had been lecturing after the "count"
of 1916. out In the vast, free, glorious West,
| was fastened home TO Burlington, over the
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. That same
day Mr.. Hendricks was on his way to Cali
fornia. Both day trains on the Quincy road
dined at Wormley's, at Charlton, Iowa. MIR.
Wormley met me at the door Of the dining
room with even more than usual cordiality.
He said to me:
"Good. have company for you to-day.
Come right over to this table,"
followed him aud found a gentleman so
much better looking than his campaign por-
traits that did not recognize Mr.. Hendricks
until he was introduced. His face was very
attractive. His manner was no less charm
ing. was pleased that fate had cast me In
his way. That is, / was at first. He was SO
pleasant. l liked him. Early In the course
of a brilliant conversation about the weather
he said:
"You are the young gentleman who writes
the poetry Oh the Hdpkeye, believe" And
you never saw q more bewitching smile on .
mans face.
Now, that was the very thing didn't want
to talk about. / had been writing whole
pages Of campaign poetry, they call 1t in the
Ha,ukeye, but, you understand, that excel
lent family paper wasn't exactly Demo-
cratic paper. Not just what you'd call
Democratic paper. At least, 1t was no more
Democratic than the most rantankerous,
rally round the flag, boys, Hayes and the
whole ticket, Republican paper Of Republi-
can Iowa could be expected TO be. IL was
lust about as Democratic as the Edyte is he
publican. And knew what kind Of "poe'
try" had been writing. l fidgeted little,
poured spoonful Of sugar in my soup, and
owned up that was the man. Then asked
him how long he expected TO remain In CALI
fornia.
He told me, and then said: "There was
oae little poem"-now see how kind he was,
he called IL a poem. "There was one little
poem you wrote, beginning, There was an
old Housier as I've heard telr-now, how
did the rest Of that go?"
Cor II went for him, tooth, claw, and toe
nail, and knew 1t, and believe he knew It.
feebly said: ~ don't remember" emptied
the salt into my coffee and 'hoped he would
find rest and returning health In California
I also hoped that would die In few mo-
ments, but / didn't say so. He thanked me
in bis courteous manner for the wish ex
pressed, and then went on:
"There was anolher--a good one; car
recolleet only the second stanzs; how dc
the first one run?"
And Herewith be quoted few lines Of one
Of the meanest things ever wrote about any
man. While he quoted my prize poem, pre-
tending TO forget the stsnza that referred u
himself, was confused, but l seemed ab
stracied, as spread five very thick layers o.
mashed potato on my folded napkin undel
the impression that was spreading piece
of bread and butter. 1 said / wasn't very
well when | wrote that Que, aud had quite
forgotten II. Then attempted 10 wipe thu
cold, beaded perspiration from my brow will
that napkin, and added 10 my embarrass
ment. must have appeared embarrassed
or eccentric, am sure.
Well, the long and short Of IL Is, Mr.. Hen
dricks remembered every mean poem hat
written about Mr.. Tilden and himself during
that bitter campaign, and be could quot
lust enough Of the innocent, good naturet
lines of each one TO show me that he has
read It. never saw . man with such
memory. hope he enjoyed his dinner.
think be did. He ate heartily aud smiled
good naturedly all the time, and be bade M
good bye very pleasantly. ] am confident
showed off to good advantage. III did,
dissembled. 1 didn't feel that way n ell
But didn't run. sal there aud took m.
punishment like . man. When Mr.. Hen
dricks went TO his train, l arose and sough
Dir. Wormiey, to tell him about IT, He WA
lying on the floor behind the cigar counter
! wheeling and choking like man who ID try
ing TO laugh himself to death. began Il
get mad. said:
aSee here, Mr.. Wormley-"
He frebly motioned me away. .TrsiI
tlme," he Pasped. go to Burlington; g
away. Let me die In peace"
. turned away aud got on my train. di'
! wrong. ought 10 have licked Wormie'
. while he was helpless. IL was the onl.
chance eser had. Aud never dinsd asall
with Mr.. Hendricks.