The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-12-24
HOURS WITH GREAT MEN.

/ suppose that could write an entire
library OF personal "reminiscences rela-
tive to the eminent people with whom
| have been thrown during busy life,
but hate to do it, because | always
regarded such things rs sacred from
the vulgar eye, and l felt bound to re-
spect the confidence of II prominent
nian just as much as l would that of
one who was much less before the peo-
pie.
l remember well my first meeting
with General W. L. Sherman. | would
not mention it here If it were not for
the Tact that the people seem to be
yearning for personal "reminiscences of
great men. and that is perfectly right,
too.
1t was since the war that / met Gen
eral Sherman, and it was on the liue of
the Union Pacific railway at one of
those justly celebrated eating houses,
which | understand are now abandon
ed. The cOiOred waiter had cut of a strip
OF the omelette with a palr of shears,
the scOrched oatmeal had been passed
around, the little rubber door-mats
fried in butter and called pancakes
had been dealt around the table, and
the cashier at the other end of the hall
had just gone through the clothes of
party from Vermont, who claimed
rebate on the ground that the waiter
refused TO bring him anything but his
bill. There was no sound in the dim
ing room but the weak request of the
coffee for more air and stimulants. or
perhaps the cry of pain when the but
ter, while practicing with the dumb
ellis, would hit child on the head,
then all would be still again.
General Sherman sat at one end of
the table, throwing life-preserVer to
a fly in the miik-pltcher.
We had never net before, though for
years we had been plodding along
life's rugged wayne in the war de-
partmemt, in the postoffice depart
meut- Unknown to each other we had
been holding up opposite corners OF
the great national fabric, if you will
allow me That expression.
] remember, as well as though it
was but yesterday, how the conversa-
ton began. General Sherman looked
sterniy ut me and said:
II wish you would overpower that
butter and send it up this way"
"All right" said /, If you will
please pass those molasses."
That was all that was said, but L
shall never forget it, and probably he
never will. The conversation was
brief, but yet how full of food for
thought! How true, how earnest, how
naIurali Nothing stilted or false about
it.
remember once, a great while ago,
l was asked by a friend to 90 with him
in the evening 10 the house of an ac-
quaintance. where they were going to
have kind of musicale, at which
there was to be some noted pianist,
who had kindly consented to play a
lew strains l did not get the name of
the professional, but L went. and
when the first piece was announced /
saw the light was very uncertain, so
kindly volunteered to get a lamp from
another room. l held that big lamp,
weighing about twenty-nine pounds,
for halt an hour, while the pianist
would tiuky tinky upon the right hand.
or bang. bOomy 10 bang bang, down
on the bass, while he Snorted and slug
ged that Old concert grand piano and
almost knocked its teeth down its
throat, or gently dwadled with the
keys like pale moonbeam simmering
through lhe Dleacheu riuters OF de-
ceased horse, until at last there was q
wild jangle, such as the accomplished
musician gives to an instrument to
show the audience that he has dis
abled the piano, and will take a slight
intermission while it is sent to the
junk shop.
With Il sigh of relief l carefully put
down the twenty-nine pound lamp. and
my friend told me that l had been
standing there like liberty enlighten-
ing the world, and holding that heavy
lamp for Blind Tom.
l had never seen him before, and
slipped out of the room before he had
| q cnauce to see me.-BuE Nye.