Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-16

over <ivV,uVO year. VI these vass
amounts be has saved not . cent.
BE does not own even . roof 10
cover his head. "A natural Sybs.
rite, his purse 10 always open TO chsri-
table appeals. Reckless and rollick-
ing, witty and cynical, how he would
have shone at the Court Of Charles III. !
Convulsing men Of the world with
laughter by his jeu d'ssprits, snd.shock-
ing men too good for this world by his
mental chic and intellectual abandon,
he pursues his errstic course in the
literary armament like six-tailed
comet in celestial skies. No Journal
list has ever known more men, and no
men have ever known just such q jour-
nslist. lie counts among his friends
Beecher and Bob Ingersoll, and he
would have been boon companion for
either Dean Swift or George Villiers,
Duke Of Buckingham. A Bohemian
among Bohemians, no man was better
calculated to lecture for the decora.
ton Of the graves Of Bohemians.
THE LECTURE.
The lecture vas revelation In more
senses than one. First, in the audi
ence. Rare indeed is the man who can
attract such men as Roscoe Conkling.
Harry Hill, Robert B. Roosevelt, Nick
Lapgdon, George Jones, Edward Pay
son Weston. the wicked Senator Gibbs,
the poets Geoghegan and McDermott,
Bryan G.. McSwyny. Billy Edwards,
William j. Florence, Charles Ii. Cum
mings, Lester Wallack. Billy Tracy,
Simeon B. Chittenden, Fred May, Billy
McGlory, and scores Of the brightest
reporters and editors from this and
other cities, and have them unani-
mously call out, $50 on Go ont"
after an hours talk. Howard talked
two hours, and at no time was he wea-
risome. With perfect aplomb he ratified
away like an intellectual locomotive,
stopping occasionally to take water. A
more rapid tslker and at the same time
a more distinct enunciator is rarely
heard. II would have required
stenogrspher with marvellous skill to
have followed him. At first his audi
eDce was on the qui rire for something
witty. He saw this, and chided..it for
laughing at what was not intended for
Wit. Gradually be won its interest,
and then flooded it with fund Of
historical "reminiscences rendered
doubly captivating by the fire-hies Of
his imagination. To journalists his
memories were especially delightful.
He not only told them fresh stories, bat
he told them the truth about old ones.
A REPORTER CHECKMATPD.
For instance, the old story about the
telegraphing of the Book Of Genesis.
Every body had heard it, but nobody
had heard it Alright. Joe said that it
occurred at Niagara Falls while the
Prince Of Wales was making the tour Of
Canada. \ Herald reporter and How
ard, who was the Times correspondent,
had dubbed together and secured the
wire. Toward midnight Editor House,
Of the Tribune, came in with relm Of
manuscript. 1t was evident that be
had something exclusive. To use
Towards words We could not find
out what il was, but we could make ii |
useless TO him until we could ascer-
tain. So began to telegraph on--not !
The Book Of Genesis, but the geDeslogy |
Of our Saviour. Just fancy the aston
ishment Of the night editors at the |
other end Of the liue when they road |
hat Aram begst Aminidab, aud Zorro
babel begat Abind, and so on"
The facts concerning another memo
Iable historical event were also made
manifest. When Abraham Lincoln was
on the way to Washington to be inau-
gurated President, it was reported that
at Harrisburg he left the special train
and went through Baltimore disguised
in q Scotch cap and cloak. HaTper's
Reekiy printed caricatuTe Of Lincoln
in this Gaelic attire, drawn by Thomas
Mast. The story first appeared in the
Times. Howard explained why it ap-
reared. lie had been detailed by /
Henry j. Raymond to accompany Lin
coin. After leaving Harrisburg Detec-
tive Byrnes locked the reporters in
their car and told them that Lincoln,
owing to threatened manifestations in
Baltimore, had gone on to Washington
IN disguise. This was enough for Joe.
The President.elect had worn little
round travelling cap after leaving
Springfield, and Joe's yividimagination
Immediately transformed it into
Scotch esp and cloak.
WAR INCIDENT.
One stery Of Charles A. Dana is
worth repeating The incident occurred
while Dana was managing editor Of the
Tribune. Howard was officiating as
war correspondent. A great battle had
been fought. and Joe was telegrsphing
description Of it. He began with an
exordium, ITO God be all the glory
Mine eyes have seen the work of the
Lord, ard the cause Of the righteous has
triumpbed," with more Of same sort,
ollowed by the words, " The Army Of
he Potomac is triumphant We have
von a great victory" A day or two
sfterward he received q letter some
. hing like the following:
Hereafter. N sending your reports. please
I pecify the nurnb eI OF the hymn aud save
,slegraph expenses CHARLIE 4. DANA.
No pen can DO justice 20 Howard's
appearance. He wore tho baggy doe
kin trousers that baye lately come in
ashton. His bald head glistened, In
tenslfied his likeness to Shakespeare,
snd his gray French moustsche and
gosiee recalled old.time pictures Of
Moliere. His lecture was apparently
be tirst Of series, for at no time did
he come within decade Of the journal
i.m Of the present day. Nor did he
efer to his personal var experiences,
when, as be himself expresses it, ne
" garrisoned Fort Lafayette for months,
sud has never dreamed Of applying for
q pension"
Altogether it was . remarkable lee
lure, delivered in . remarkable style to
remarkable audience, with remarka-
BE personality, sad With more re-
snarkahie results