The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-16
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY JULY 49, 1885,
can, and who was and is perfect stranger to

can, and who was and is perfect stranger to
me:
ALEXANDRIA, Va Oct T. 1884.
To THE EDITOR: Noticing the article in your
" Love and Laughter" write simply to say that
have in a scrap-book the poem in question, which
CLIPPED from one Of the daily papers about Sept
10, 1877. The authors name was not given, and it
would be impossible for me to give It.
Yours. respectfully, w. L. CLARK.
And here is another from the same gentle
man, in reply to an imputation from Judge
Braley:
ALEXANDRIA. VA, Oct Q. 1884.
To THE EDITOR: When wrote you on October 4
concerning Love and Laughter" it was not my
subject, for have earthly interest either in the
poem or its author; but would say in answer to
Judge Braley that when 1 stated that ] clipped
from paper the poem in question and put it in q
scrap-book in 1877, the statement was not mere
matter of words but a matter of fact which can be
1t is not my object or intention to injure Mrs
Wilcox but if she claims to have written the poem
only two years ago have this much to say in the
face of Judge Braley's statement that she did not
did
and unless Judge Braey or any one else can pro-
duee better proof than their mere statements they
had better keep quiet. for, sooner or later, they
will be stamped as being Ito use Judge Braiey's
words) audaeiously untrue
If the controversy continues I will be perfectly
, MnS to show to tae
I also submit the following letter as "proof"
from Hon. Charles A. Eldredge, who was IL
years a Congressman from Wisconsin, and
whose veracity is as good as that of Judge
Braley's.
WASHINGTON, D. O., July =, 1885,
DEAR SIR: My attention has been called to the
controversy over the authorship Of Love and
Laughter" pOeH of much truth and beauty. At
least five years ago heard you recite the lines of
that poem, and on several occasions since. do
not undertake to say who composed it. have no
interest in the matter outside the simple TRUTH and
make this statement for all concerned.
Yours. truly, CHAs A. ELDREDGE.
gentleman who argues upon any subject
with lady generally gets the worst of the
contest. Ninety per cent. of public sympathy
the man. This is very cOmmendable to our
sex, but not very encouraging to truth, which
is lasting and eternal.
/ should not reply at all to the harsh words
OF your correspondent, were it not in the in
terest of truth.
There is one charge, however, in the lady's
letter that nettles me. She says that remain
"sient"
Well, that statement is most remarkable for
elastic truth when applied to me.
Early on the morning of July A, 1912, when
the frecrackers of American freedom were
popping throughout this glorious land of lib
erty, and when the gray eagle of Columbia had
risen from her bric-a-brac couch on the
mountain crag to soar away into the illimitable
regions of blue omnipOtence, to bathe its plum
age in the thunder's home, my sainted mother
gave me as loud offering to the Goddess of
Liberty! My s. M. told me often that for 13
weeks after my arrival l wept increasingly,
and kicked" with an eccentricity that never
has been suppressed. Perhaps had the collie!
Nevertheless, from my natal day to the present
moment | have kept up a noise and racket that
can't be subdued.
Throughout this broad land am known
particularly by the newspaper "Colonels" for
my songs, speeches, noise and poetry at all free
banquets given by clubs, hotels, steamboats,,
railroads, knight Templars. and church fairs.
point with pride to some of my very intimate
friends of the newspaper gang" who have
often witnessed my sportive peculiarities over
the wine cup in midnight hours at my expense.
don't know that the boys" will be flatteFed
by my friendship, but if can stand it there is
no reason why they should not.
There is Col. Henri Watterson, the hero of
Kentucky's disbanded militia, and on genial
terms with the star.eyed goddess And Col.
JOS. Mccullough, the jack of clubs of the Globe
Democrat. Col. Eugene Field, of the Chicago
Ne9s is so sharp" that he's never fat" and
while he can't sling on suffering public the
impassioned poetry of the lady and myself, he
draws with great unanimity hundred dollars
week from the plethOric pockets of the Neses
proprietors.
Coils. Jos. Pulitzer and John Cockerill. of the
New York World, are of my pure and pious
friends. They can't help 1t. Col. Keppler, of
peculating Puck, is an old financial friend of
mine. His memory is pasted in my old note
book.
Col. Stilson Hutchins and Col. Chas hurry,
Of Washington, are the virtuous friends of my
youth and the delight Of my comparatively
sober manhood. And these journalistic gentle
men bring as witnesses to disprove the severe
charge of silence hurled at my Siberian bangs.
Death may ensue at any moment, but silence
is outside the possibilities Of my living anat-
omy.
Laugh and the world laugh: with You,
Feast and your halls are crowded,
Fast and the world goes by.
Re-Joyce and men will seek you,
Greye and they turn and go;
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not want your wo.
JOHN A. JOYCE
Georgetown, D. C.