New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-02-25
George d. Prentice.

There is sort of general idea that
Prentice was "a bad man with gum"
duelist, and all that sort OF thing.
Nothing could be more erroneous, The
fact is he never fought duel, but was
sometimes, from the nature of his bust
ness, forced topersonal ard sudden rem
counters. He was frequently cilal-
lcnged, but always made fun OF mes
sages. Once he wrote his challenger that
it only took one fool to send challenge,
while it took twoto fight, and he didn't
wish to be classed in the category. On
another occasion he accepted the chal-
lenge, and having the choice Of wea-
pons. insisted that each man should be
armed with straw and cask of
whisky, and that each should suck with
his straw from his own cask until one
ieil, and that one should be considered
vanquished and the others honor salts
fed.
Prentice was an exceedingly candid
man. as the following anecdotes will
show: Once Will S. Hays, the famous
song-writer in conversation with him
said: II suppose, Mr.. Prentice, you
have seen my last song?' With a sly
and quizzical look at the minstrel, he
replied: swell, hope SO BILL
Coming out of public building one
day. where there were double doors
which swung in and out, young man.
who was coming in, pushed against the
eft-hand side of the door in order to
enter, while Mr.. Prentice was pushing
against the other side of the door, try
ing to make his exit. The result was a
ridiculously awkward halt. Finally,
when the two had managed to get the
door open, Mr.. Prentice said to the
stranger: MY young friend, in max
ing your way through the world, if You
will only keep to the right you will
never run against anybody but a fool,
and you needn't apologize to him.
Somebody stole the unabridged die
tionary once from the editorial room of
the Journal, and Mr.. Prentice, having
| occasion to use that valuable tome, dis
covered the loss. Forthwith he ordered
that another copy of the book be pur-
chased at once. For, said he, mo
one but shameless egotist would At
tempt to edit newspaper, without
| dictionary"
Mr.. Prentlce's hat was one of his &C.
ccntricities. He always had it more
than half full of bits of paper not larger
than postal stamp, on each of which
he had written word or two, in the
way OF memoranda. Besides, he car
ried his pocket-knife, pencil, scissors,
spectacles and portemonnaie in it, and
sometimes, in an absent-minded way.
he would put wcll-masticated chew of
tobacco into it instead of throwing the
cud away.
Many persons from abroad used to
call on MIR. Prentice when they were in
louisville, as though he was one of the
curlosltles OF the city, or just for the
purpose of being able to say that they
had talked with such great man, and
this was peculiarly annoying to him, as
he was inclined to be retiring and real
ly never thought of comprehending his
own fame. On one occasion an old
friend called on the editor, and brought
with him callow young man from
some underlined locality in the rural
districts. This youth was particularly
curious, and actually asked Mr.. Prentice
to say something funny. The ludicrous
remark was smoothed over as quickly
as possible by the gentleman who
brought the young man in, and shortly
thereafter some refreshments were or
dered to be brought up to the sanctum.
Mr.. Prentice had chosen mint
julep, and when it came he held it up
and asked the gentleman why that
drink was like his young friendp OF
course the young man, feeling flattered
by the attention. was eager to know,
and begged for the answer to the CO.
nundrum. Finally, turning to the gen.
tlelnan, Mr.. Prentice said with a pleas.
ant smile, This is greenhornr'-
HiN l.. Tsscher, IN Denvcr Opinion.