The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-27
HORACE oRERLEs.s.
[ Toe Howard, ia PhiladelpAia Press


 "Donf send nc away. Aivy." Please don't, Alyy." Please let ne stay, won't you, Alvyg
 These are not the baby prattie of child, but the piteous vail of one of the greatest intellects of the age-the best journalistic writer known to the world. He founded the New York 7ri6sse. He wrestled with giants. He was a presi- dential candidate of a great party, of which he was one of the onginafors. Healfh and strength, nerve and muscle failed him and he died in a mad-house. Horace Greeley was a man. with a big head, packed with large strengths of un- usual force and weaknesses of unusual dimensions He combined the cunning and craft of fox with the courage of a lion and the cowardice of sheep. On all occasions he planted himself upon truth, whose foundations were like pillars of granite, and again allowed himself to float along the waters of expediency, with shadows and bubbles for his com panions.
 Two pictures presented themselves to me this morning which brought the old time Horace Greeley before my eye, and unrolled panorama of the past, with all its regretful memories, like flash. One was Isaac England, publisher of the Sss newspaper, friend whom have known snd tied to for a quarter of a century, sterling, sturdy man of practical ability, good typo, an intelligent editor, far see ing publisher. The other was coffin in which reposed the dead body of Alvin ]. Johnson, formerly publisher in this city, best known, however, as Horace Gree ley's friend.
 England was brought up with Horace Greeley. He wzs ab right, ambitious, tow headed youth, and struggled with long and portentous sname-lsaac Wilberforce England. Precisely what he originally did 1 do not know, but think he was a boy in the composing room, whence he was graduated as reporter. In time he became city editor of the ZIibase, and paid more attention to his business than to his appearance, SO much so that the other boys made fun of him :; but while they were making fun he was making money, and parenthetieally may remark, some of them have been very glad of it in later years. England soon became one of the recognized forces of the Ty;bnne, and until he Jeff its services to share the fortunes of Mir. Dana, first in Chicago and subsequently here, he was a wheel horse whose judgment, tact and sagacity and honest endeayos were reg arded by his as- soeia,es as significant part of the Tribune plant. When England returned to this city. and the .San was put, by his tremendous endeavor and the sagacity of Amos Cumming, the two being Mir. Dana's chief assistants, upon its feet Horace Greeley on one occasion visited the office, and England took great pride and pleasure in ,howing his former em- ployer the entire establishment, from the press room, two stories underground, to the composing room in the mansard roof. Referring to this visit of Greeley to-day, Mfr. England said: Had known what
 lknow nov, how cheerfully l would have seen that the old gentleman was given chair in the San office, with an income equal to any he ever enjoyed, for the balance of his life even fine did not write more than line year." Some years preceding Mir. Greeley's dicker with the democratic party he had severe attack of brain fever. Mir. Johnson was then, as subsequently, one oi Horace's friends" but Tom Acton, then president of our metropolitan police, now chief of the assay office in this city, was closer. Acton took Greeley to his pleasant farm :. in Connecticut, where, by careful nursing, seduously avoiding politics and all excit- ing topics, with comfortable room, well kept, and plenty to eat and drink, he brought back to their original status the nerves and muscles which, when in healthful condition, combined to make one of the great men of the country.
 Meantime the intimacy with Johnson grew and grew, although keen-eyed ob. servers regarded the affiliation as one of a class, for there never was . man who had more hangers-on than Horace Greeley, and in later year when the Zyi5xse's course attracted the sorrowful notice of its best friends, Johnson stood close and firm by his side. You remem- Der, of course, Mir. Greeley's resignation Had he been elected president he wouldn't have resumed his position as editor-in-chief of the zIi1ss<. As it was, . different class succeeded him, headed by the present editor, Mir. White law Reid, who, while politically and pecuniarily ambitious, was and always has been an out and out partisan, with no taint of concealment or shadow of deceit, 50 far as his political course and writings are concerned Greeley's strug- gles and work in that campaign will never be forgotten. The task before him was tremendous. It was as though a tender child had endeayored to push an enormous load up hill He was sensitive to criticism, and took to heart every un- kind and ungenerous word said by his old time friends, and having at no time restful home, where real domesticity gave him vhat his used up nature demanded and needed, he sought such aid and help as outside association could furnish. l remember he passed some time during the campaign in the house of friend in Brooklyn. At times he went into the country, at others he went to Mir. John- sons. Now it makes no difference how