Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-27

bits Familiarity-Mr. GouId's Pithy
Sentenees-Gen. Grant not a Silent
Man.
Ven York Nail and EEDress.
Roscoe Conkling, when in the Senate,
was communicative with the press. Since
his residence in New York "a change has
come O'er the spirit Of his dreams.'' and
be displays decided reticence. The re-
porter who sends i'm bis card to Mr..
COnkIing through the doOrkeeper who
sacredly guards the sanctum Of the ex-
Senator is generally answered 10y Mr..
COnkling himself. If the writer re-
presents the Morning Glory he is
treated, as rule, to an address
in the following strain: ''GOOd day.
glad to see you'll Ahem. Really very
busy just now. very busy, very busy
nothing would please me more than to
give my views to the U0rninG GIOrg:
would do anything for the Morning GLORY,
have great respect for the Morning
Gl0rv. Call some other day and | shall
be pleased to see YOU While uttering
these words the reporter discovers Mr..
COnkling's fingers reducing The reporters
card into a shapeless mass, and the tall
form Of the great lawyer rapidly Yanishes
with profound bow.
Col. Robert G. IngersOn appears to de-
rive sOlace from the presence of inter-
FAEhtI5 anu ldAlEI tIlIUlS LUtAI EEOsS-
examinations. He receives them in a
bluff, hearty way that at once puts them
at ease. 1t takes but little 10 excite his
enthusiasm, and, when aroused, he viii
lift the high silk hat which is TANNED
half way over his head, and rub his broad
bald head vigorously. Then he will wax
warmer and warmer, and address the re-
pOrters like old familiar acquaintance. At
the conclusion OF his peroratiOn he Will
up with "Now, boys, get me down
straight. Will you?''
Mr.. VIM. II. Vanderbilt is more access
siDle To reporters than is generally
imagined. Many of them have pressed
In vain the little button at the entrance of
his Fifth avenue mansion over which is
inscribed, ''Press the button and open the
door" The reporter, however, who is to
be admitted to the presence Of the railway
king is met by a shOrt-jacketed and white
necktied individual. who escorts him
within the building proper. thence into
Mr.. Vanderbilts reception room in the
north east corner of the mansion. Here
the millionaire receives him. A low
seated easy chair is Mr.. Vanderbilt's
usual resting place. When the reporter
makes known his mission Mr. Vanderbilt
answers abruptly. He waits in vain for
an invitation to seat, and finally settles
down into $1,000 satin-covered rocker Of
his own accord. Then he touches gent
ly upon the subject of Lake Shore,
New York Central, Michigan Central,
Canada Southern or Nickel-plate stock,
and Mr.. Vanderbilt IS seen to prick up
his ears. Finally MIR. Vanderbilt grows
interested and sits upright in his chair.
Presently he rises and BEGINS to pace the
door. first slowly and then with more
capiditY. The rennrrt.er soon follows suit.
lie, too. rises. The interrogatories and
replies are exchanged with increased
rapidity, and the millionaire and reporter
are soon treading side by side along the
richly carpeted apartment. Occasionally
Mr.. Vanderbilt stops abruptly, pulls the
lapel of the reporters coat familiarity,
and then pats the interviewer on the
shoulder in a kind, fraternal style. The
note-taker j. now and then cautioned to
ssput il down correctly" and, having eX-
hausted his victim, picks up his hat from
a 5000 center table and proceeds to take
leave. The frigidity observable in Mr.
Vanderbilt's mansion has disappeared.
The reporter extends his hand, which is
tightly grasped, and he regrets that the
familiar, chum-like interview has ended.
A mutually good understanding exists
between the repOrtOTial profession and
Mr. John Roach, the veteran shipbuilder.
Mr.. Roach IS extremely deaf, and there
fore occasions considerable trouble in be-
ing trotted out. When once started upon
an interesting topic he rattles off his
views at a jO0-wOrds-a-minute gait. Mr..
Roach is ALWAYS ready to talk on the sub
ject of protection, free trade or shipbuld-
ing. Undoubtedly, he would promptly
respond, on a midnight call at his Fifth
avenue residence, to any reporters in
quiries on these topics. about which be IS
very well informed. Sometimes, when
the veteran is about entering his carriage
after lunching at Cables, on Broadway,
he unbOsoms himselfto such interviewers
as choose to talk with him, much to the
disgust of his impatient cOachman.
The reporter who has met with any
great success in interviewing Mr.. Gould
is yet to be discovered. Mr.. Gould, how
ever is accessible to reporters. Even the
pulsatiOns of the stock ticker lose all at
traction for Mr.. Gould in the presence Of
the fraternity. He Immediately responds
to their call and evidently considers II
good policy to undergo the ordeal without
unnecessary delay. To all inquirers he
responds in mOnOsyllables. Occasionally
he Will express himself in fiye-wOrd sen
tences-he has never been known to spread
himself in over seven. He is extremely
cordial in his manner, and uses better
grammar in his pithy sentences than is
the case with most men. 81 don't know
81 haven't heard it." and ~ can't say,
are the stereOtyped replies given to mos
questions.
When the reporter is sent 10 interview
BILLY" Florence, the popular actor, ht
starts on his mission with no misgivings
In fact there is a rivalry among the repor
tOrial fraternity as to which shall capture
the prize. Billy's laundering "COme in
is the response that awaits all corners a
his rooms in the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mr.
Florence always declares there is not
bit of news, and bidding the interviewe
be seated, draws up his own chair anC
proceeds to spin ont enough to fill news
paper. Occasionally he refers to Mari
Twain scrap-bOOk and reads some clip
pings upon the topic under discussion
When the reporter looks at his watch h,
fnds the hours have sped on like minute.
under the interesting conversation of thu
great actor. Mr.. FlOTence's hearty greet
ing Of newspaper men is generally &C
counted for by the fact that he at on,
time was also a quill driver.
Gen. Grant, since his residence in New
York, has found himself daily the recipi
ent of attentions from newspaper men
The eX-President has come to be regarded
as a sort of encyclopedia on all matters o
public interest. When a reporter wants
10 'write up" the subjects of the silver
dollar, national bankruptcy, the star
route trials, the resources of Mexico, OF
Gen. Grants opinions are sought and
communicated with a freedom and detail
that reflect credit upon the old soldier
Gen. Grant, when in good health, has
never been known to turn q deaf ear Il
the interviewer. Seated at his desk. he
pulls vigorously at his cigar, and rolls out
his sentences with surprising rapidity
and intelligence. The interviewer feels
at ease in the presence OF the distin.
gulshed eX-President, and leaves him
with the conviction that if not "a bigger
man than old Grant," the successor oil
Washington is at any rate as accessible
as the humblest man in the land.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher probably re.
ceives more visits from newspaper men
than any other man In the United States
Mr.. Beecber is usually found at his home
before o'clock in the morning. and AZ
soon as he enters his study he generally
finds an interviewer awaiting him. II
the subject pleases him he talks, if not he
is silent. His custom is to run of on a
side track, crack some little joke, and en-
terrain the interviewer with some anec-
dOte, in order to divert attention from the
object in view. Mrs. Beecher happens to
be always present during the visits OF
newspaper men, and Mr.. Beecher never
fails to use her as a lever while indulging
in his playful remarks. Finally, when
Mr.. Beecher is cOrnered, the interviewer
may succeed in extracting some consola-
ton from him, but his favorite method is
an invitation to call some other day when
he is in good humOr