The Irish standard., 1886-07-10
KEuwAED PHILIP ASA JOKER.
A Few of the Many stories 'H'old @ Ills
AuGacitY In 1,!axin~ Franks

A Few of the NIary stortc. 20 Id o EIis
Audacity Ira Playing Franks
Kenward Philip, albright newspaper man
who was buried recently in Brooklyn, was
one Of the most inyeterate and conscience
less practical jokers of the Bohemian cir
Gle OF which he was a prince. To the gen
eral public he was known only as the man
suspected of having forged the famous
Morey Chinese letter. Good stories are
told of him by the score, but two or three
will serve to illustrate his audacity in the
way Of fun.
When Josh Hart started Truth, with
the trumpeted purpose of sending all the
old and higher-priced morning journals i'll
to hasty consumption, Mr. Philip became
one of his chief lieutenants, his facile pen
overcoming the drawback of his unrelia.
bility. It'was decided to establish Truth
bureau in London, and Philf, was chosen
for the work. Arrangements were COM
pleted, passage secured, and the agent fur
nished with $500 in gold for current ex-
penses. Thus equipped, Philip. on the day
of sailing, shook every body by the hand,
issued from the Truth Office, jumped into
& coupe and was Off for the pier. About
the time the steamer was due at Liverpool
and Mr.. Hart was looking for a cable
gram, q gentleman entered his Office ettir-
ed i'll an expensive suit OF the latest cut
and with q shining Dunlap decorating his
auburn locks. 1t was Philip. The pos
session of $500 simultaneously had proved
TOO much for him, aud he had passed q
Jolly week far from his usual haunts. It
was some time before Josh Hart fOrgaye
him.
About Il year before this time Philip
contributed more or less profusely to the
Munro publications, and could turn Off a
good sensational serial for young folks
with remarkable ease and dispatch. On
one occasion he had failed to turn in
certain instalment on time, and therefore
could not collect $50 due on a previous
instalment. He was in desperate straits
for cash, but had interviewed the pub
Usher in vain. The next day he repaired
to the office Of friend who was city edi-
tor Of an evening paper, secured roll Of
old manuscript after some persuasion,
and hurrying to the Munro sanctum
passed it in with show of great haste,
announcing that he must hurry across to
Brooklyn, where his landlord was
threatening to eject him for non-payment
of rent. He secured the $50, but the
publishers feelings on inspecting the
'scopy' may be imagined. The next
afternoon, realizing that his reputation
was at stake, Philip again repaired to his
friends office and secured the use OF it
for the night. He ordered up g. bottle OF
brandy and half a dozen cigars, and got
Jhe janitor to lock- hilu i'll end carry off
the key. not daring to trust himself as a
free man. When the janitor unlocked the
place next morning he found an empty
bottle and six cigar stumps on the table,
the floor covered with freshly written man
uscript and Philip fast asleep in his
chair. He enabled the publishers to keep
faith with his readers, but it took the
same time to make his peace for the
prank he had played.
One afternoon Philip sauntered into
brother Journalists sanctr1m and requested
his company at luncheon in a wellknown
inn near by. He deJested ting alone.
His friend was skeptical rs to Philips
ability to pay, and was too busy anyhow
to leave. Philip dispelled all doubt by dis
playing roll OF bills. The editor then in
troduced q gentleman who was calling Oh
him. and who, he thought, would prove an
acceptable substitute for himself. The
jnvitation was transferred, and the pair
Were soon seated and discussing q choice
bill Of fare Reaching their coffee, Philip
produced a newspaper and began tearing
to tatters q certain editorial. His
language was SO vigorous as to astound
staid, elderly gentleman who sat opposite.
Philip suddenly rendered him the paper
with extreme courtesy, and, while the old
man was absorbed in the offensive article,
quietly flched his check for a plate Of
soup, and depositing in its stead a check
for the elaborate double feast, made for
the cashiers desk. His new acquaintance
was too much astonished to speak until
the sidewalk was reached, when he ex-
claimed: "Mr. Philp, you certainly do
not intend to allow that cid gentleman to
pay that bill !'
s.That's all right, my FRIEND" replied
the joker s:He'll get square on some one
else"
'sIhen will say good-day, sir" and Mr..
Philips guest indignantly returned to the
newspaper office to denounce the rascality
Of his friends friend.