Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-24
THE AMERICAN HOMANCER.
illustration OF the Noted Texans Truth
fitness.

can best display Mr.. Ochiltree's sin
gular truthfulness by repeating story
heard HIM tell last night. As far as my
memory viii permit. will use the same
Language that be employed. In his event
rul career, besides being a statesman, a
truth teller ana a diplomat, he was also
for "a brief period a newspaper man, being
TIE editor and proprietor OF the Houston
ButLytTeIe0raph After a wears exist
enee this wild Texan sheet had amassed
for is owner an embryo fortune OF few
thOMsand dollars, which made him feel so
wealthy that he determined TO visit the
Paris exposition, Accordingly the Hous-
ton D8ttg Telegraph contained one day
the following announcement in double
leaded BREWER type:
'srAe Dailg Teiearapb, with its custom
arv enterprise, has determined to send
special representative to The Paris expo
sIfiOn IN order that our readers may be
fully informed as To the wonders OF that
great exhibition. The senior OF this pa
per has himself assumed this task, and
will at once depart for the scene OF his
labors.v
And then Ochiltree started for Paris.
The Distinguishing trait Of the typical
Partisan apart from his love for a pretty
girl, glass Of absinthe, and his eXag-
gerated courtesy, is his profound geogra-
phical ignorance. He even surpasses the
Englishman in this respect. To him Paris
is the world. He looks upon San Fran
cisco as a few minutes walk from New
\ ork and Houston, Tex, Of just as much
importance as the sO-called metropolis o.
America. Arrived in the French capital
Ochiltree met on the boulevard James
Gordon Bennett, proprietor Of the New
York Herald. and he greeted his brother
editor with a nOnchaant wave OF the
hand, and the salutatiOn, "Helln, JIM
Bennett was walking arm in arm with
two Observation-Disclosures men, who were
introduced as dukes. These noble per-
sonages, noticing red hair and
the brusque 6OnbOmDlfe OF the
jolly Texan looked upon him with proud
cOndescensiOn until Bennett added 10 the
mention Of his name the title. "editor Of
the Houston Ieledrdph." Knowing that
Bennett as the editor Of the Herald was a
mighty big man with mighty big for
tune, the dukes Immediately classed Ochii-
tree in the same category and bowed to
him most deferentially.
From that time he found himself first
class lion with very long tail, and the
eminent men Of Paris FASTENED TO paw no.
mage to the great American editor, whose
newspaper at that time was enjoying
circulation OF 742 copies. But it cost him
dear. After he had enjoyed this enviable
distinction for ten days, one day when
walking along the boulevard with Ben
neett, a couple Of dukes and two or three
marquises, a New York Heraid correspOn-
dent rushed up to the editor of the news
paper he represented and extending a
large lot of manuscript, said:
"Mr Bennett, here is the full descrip-
ton Of the exposition you asked me to
write. 1t will make about four col
umns."
The New York editor-who looks like
an idiot but is not one-did not stop in his
walk or even glance at the copy as he
carelessly said:
THAT is all right. Send it all by
wire"
Now, you must bear in mind that in
those days the Mackay-Bennett CONNER
cial Cable Company was not in existence
and the cable rate was $40 a word. Nat
urally the enterprise and lavish expendi-
ture that prompted such instructions
to a correspondent filled the dukes and
marquises with admirng amazemeut, and
turning to Ochiltree they muttered
wonderful" "marvelous," ''incredible"
and so on. Poor Ochiltree felt Inundated.
The Houston Daily Telegraph was thrown
in the shade. But he was equal TO the
emergency. AS the correspondent was
walking away Ochiltree stopped him with
a gesture, and, addressing Bennett. said
''Jim, if you'll allow me, would like to
duplicate that to the Telegraph. Pll give
the HerdldprOper credit"
Certainly" replied Bennett, and, TAX
ing the manuscript in his hands, he wrote
at the top:
Duplicate to Daily Telegraph, Hous-
ton, Tex. j. G. b."
The Frenchmen threwup their hands in
establishment. Next day the Houston
LII sf