The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-08-20
Horace Greeley.

"Well, we'll. here is a volume that is
| becoming quito rare these days." ex-
claimed book-worm in a secondhand
book store the other day as his eye fell
on a worn and musty tome. What 1
Know About Farming" 'Well every
body knows this is tho book written by
Horace Greeley way back in the '6O's.
Perhaps the rising generation may be
excepted, as the book is now out of
print and will be curiosity in a half
score years hence. At one time it was
pretty extensively read. 1t is difficult
to say, however, that much or any
benefit was derived from its perusal. :"
Yes" retorted the party addressed,
Horace was a great man in his time.
1t is not so very long since he has en-
tered eternity, yet his name is now
hardly over mentioned. 1t was ever
thus. Mans deeds, be they good or
bad, they do not remain long fresh aft
sr the author is gone. Occasionally a
flash of his wit Is repeated, line from
his sayings is borrowed, but it does
not induce posterity in the least in re-
membering. much less in reverencing
his memory. During the forty odd
years that Horace edited the Tribune
every editorial, every farm article.
every news item, every commercial
paragraph, and every advertisement
which appeared in the paper was cred
tied to him by many of his readers and
admirers. People forgot or did not
take the time to think, that it was a
physical impossibility for the prolific
and versatile Horace to write even
half of the editorials that appeared,
while his disquisitions on How to
Plant Squashes,' How to Raise Gu
cumbers,' or How to Destroy the
Festive Beetle were not so very num-
erous. Greeley. when writing about
agriculture. always gave the How
part much prominence"
You seem to be well posted on
Horace" remarked the book-wsrm by
way of comment to the second gentle
man. "Why, yes; l must confess that
l know a great deal about the phloso-
pher. Before and during the best part
of the war labored at tho case at the
Tribune office. and on several ecca-
sions set up his copy. If you have
the time l can relate an incident about
old Horace that has never been print
ed. 1t was just previous to the war
and when Horace was an amateur
farmer that the event am about to re-
late occurred. One day u letter came
to the Office bearing tire following cab
alistic letters: H. G. n. Y. This u all
that was on tho envelope except the
postmark, which Showed that the Latter
come from Lawrence, Kan. call it o
letter, but it was net a letter, for en
opening the envelope not a scrap of
paper was found inside, only q erum-
pied 81 note from some Ohio bank. In
those days letters were sometimes not
prepaid, and this was not; consequent
ly due-bill was attached to the mis-
sive showing that the sum of cents
promptly paid the 3 cents. Who could
be the sender. 1t puzzled tho philoso-
phsr just a little only. Such doings
can only be placed to the credit OF Bin
Reynolds unused Mr. Greeley. Bill
always had idiosyncracies. and when
he had a truck farm out in Orange
county would call, and net finding me
in tho sanctum would place a dollar
bill for his subscription under paper
weight on my desk and leave. Bill
told me he was going cut west to try
his luck
1.-The paper was mailed to William
Reynolds, Lawrence, Kan, according
10 Mr.. G. 3 direction. and upon investi-
cation it was found that Greeley's sur
mise was correct Bill Reynolds was
the right party. In those good o!d
times we did not have SO many rail
roads nor fast-mail trains and the like,
but man coald mail lOtter without
stamp and put only four letters ON
the envelope and it would reach its
destination. Try this experiment now
and your letter will go direct to the
dead-letter office. Too much red tape"
sighed the typo as he reached for a
volume on the high shelf bearing the
title: "Is Life Worth Living ForP'-
ST. Louis Republican.