New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-03


vov Iis ,udoness was so fragrant and personal
that simply rose and told him in few worus' US
colr, ~ 7 conld command my intention oil lhslS''"s
upon an apology ,.nt.vas
| defeat scenes; I abhor publicity Bnt ths was
n case in which common scfrespoct Scenic" "
pcratiycly demand q single determine" oo", 40,
waited for my apology two days, an" n'.,,,,,h
arrive. Meanwhile I had maze IL P''''' ,,,,s,
spokcn message that an Gmende oi So"'U 'oi. a,,I
ne oivc,. Dnellng in thiscorn'ry Is luu'oi'"'
in all countries IL IL barharous All" ,-t
,onlJ I doT Jones Jones had sent me Nv ii'o',",
.,',,ao had repeated his offensive words. In polnt
of physical power he was 80 Thoroughly NV "'', ',
u hcI;cvo the fellow was dying then oil the con,
.,,,nn,ion which drink had brought HIM to ana
which ended his life less than year later that any
hostile assault on my part wouiu h''o "''" JUG
~ rank cowaidicc.
II was A very difficult and awkward POSITION MY
INDIGNATION had meanwhile trnnspired. ana GOSSIP
ho,lcd and dubbed at The Metropolitan. hau pu'
one course to take. and took it, appealed To 'he
government of the club in M discreet ana "n'"'
FASHIONED a letter ~ could write.
But Jones Jones had two cousins ami brother
in law on the governing committee MY complain.
rnuscd hot dispute and strong partisan irel'hR.
,vos distressed aud mortified hy certain rumors that
anon reached my cnrs | was summoned before
conclnye of governors. aud asked questions Which
hnrt my dignity rs man aud my sense oi rlsh' rs
wholly blamrless plaintiff Twenty dllereh'
councillors urged me TO defend myself IN tW'hN
different WAYS. merely wanted ordinary luS'''e-
that enpremc boon which man has for centuries ~
often craved and az often miascd-and II sh'nlu
fail ~ secure " my resolve was iiNeh iegNuhR
resignation from the club
Tho Wholr affair disrcsscd and annoyed me
I FOL nv
wontrdly initnhlrI cloud Of gloom hung over my
sphital waa that unpleasant mrnher Of soririN q
man with grievance knew mNsrlf tho victim ol
namjpoua inrntt and WAS ronnuoha that many IN
heard tanenos we've drhng idli and tnrhleaslN WIN
INV name The dooiaion oI tho committee f"hNh'u
ohscure Jones Jones treauentod ia" elan WIN al
Ina old sNama, aud hronso. II was AT lthsih
Charley fremont Who said to me, one hl'rlhooh
"Mark. yon'rc a new member here hut you have
one good, stanch friend. And your friend IL q man
of prcot influence. | need hardly tell yon that |
mean Prescott Soutngato Why don't YOU 90 to
him You should have Como To him fore
"rrue" | said. | gIasped Charoy'S handi MS
advice had seemed like the timely plank flung to
the man who sinks. And was really sinking, in n
certain way. The delay of the commuters decision
had engcndercd sort of drclry despair
I wMtcd. that afternoon. for the arrival of Mr.
secured hun. so to speak. held hs.hand while
looked into his genial fatherly face. that wakend
such tender and indeed holy "reminiscences. ieIt
that should have Como TO him before now IN my
troublc We passed toward a lounge together, and
sat there for long time. told HIM everything.
He listened with the most irreproachable attention.
There IL not the vcStigc of doubt that Mr.
Prescott Southgate listened with the most IT,
reproachablc attention.
And presently ended my statement my plea,
INV defence | fancy that was rather eloquent.
| am sure that had spoken without hayward ire
or foolish dlscompoSurc And after speaking l
waited MIR Southgate's answer.
Il dare say the committee will make you all
right" he said.
That was all. He had nothing moro to say. lie
somehow left me no doubt that he sided with my
cause His superb smile, and his almost magnetic
coriiality Of dcmcanor thus assured me. But he
had nothing moro to say. He had listened; hc had
hstonod / may add, unexccptiOnably. | do not
think il would be possible for any mortal To listen
So we'll He had revealed lust enough gravity Just
enough suavity Just enough Pcntlc gayety Just
cnonrh serious appreciation. Bnt it had all tccn
revealed through silence, / am totally unable To
explain how this sympathetic condition was sug-
gested 10 me. am not aware that II is possible Tor
silonco to convey Git And yet nothing except
silence did convey 1t on the occasion to which
refer
The club rightcd me q few days later was eI-
onerated from all blame. and Jones Jones received
the punishment of year of suspension for his nm
provoked insocnce. The poor fellow died, ~
have snid during the next ycar His death bit into
my conscience somehow though Tor no cause. II ]
had caned him in the public streets, rs certain
friends had urged me to do, might have had real
food for remorse.
Meanwhile Mr.. Prescott Sputhgate's treatment
bad set me diligently thinking. | ascribed many
canses TO hls odd retcence finally concluding that
he had had some copcnt reason for remaining non
committal concerning the whole affair.
said this, one evening to Herbert NlnSlow.
Herbert is n sallOw placid, sei.contancd man, oi
nhnnt orty-hyo ycnrs old. lie Ia not popular IN
the club, he ~ considered somewhat arrogant and
exclusive The Wall street clique and how many
clqucs there are in The Metropolitan particularly
dislike him But he in turn particularly disliles
tho Wall Street clique. He has comfortable in
hcritod fortune; ho IL not at all snob, yet picks
and chooses his associatcs he IL bachelor of the
most mcthodic and unaltonblc habits; he read, -
good deal aud especially enjoys the reading of the
best French books; he ia scrupulOusly neat about
his dress; he has the most admirable manners; and
when he cares To talk. in Ina easy. mellow dclibe
rate yoicc he can talk with good effect and notable
shiewducsA
"My dear Manhattan" he now said To me, laying
ono hand for an instant on my arm, You should
not DRIFT into the general error about Prescott
Southgalc You are quito too clever man for that
You ate quite too keen an observer too
| looked At Wmslow eurprscdly. The general
error r. / SAID "What do you moan =
Wn,loN smiled, His hard, lean, impressive face
seemed 10 soften FOR moment with much iultlyc
amusement
why, Southga,c," he nurmuIcd to me, " X su-
p,omo TOOL | don't at all mean an ordinary fool
An ordinary fco could never have had his amazing
social success You went 60 him with your little
story lie listened To- IT, of course lie ~ the prince
of listeners. Nou had approached hun M q point of
special strength lie IL. pdr trccli'nce the man who
listens He has acquired truly immense rcputa-
tinn for lust that quality some men are brilliant