New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-28
COL GRANVILLE watkins.

49, 30. mn difference lie is child OF the west
d i does not concern him that his fa'he l'1S no'
,ona.rafcl 10 the remote corners OF Tue heP"''''
r. Maine and Massachusetts, are content TO remain
in ienoIauc, OF Inn ho is content 10 lou 'n"."
live on in their ignorance. 1t IS the oDecI oi '"''
Yane- 70 enlighten them abo1t one oil the most It.
marla lo men of the day.
Ito v,,s horn ia the famous Bue-grass recon ol
Ec,.ucly of wealthy but honest parents WI" ''o'
ofterwarA lost nearly all their possessions oN''''
Granville AMI eleven other children win VIM"
they in later years em'gfa;ed 10 'ho "'S, W
Mis.i,s;nni II Is amazing how many people nave
been born within a radius OF tWeiNe H',''' 80 -n
;r,top Kentucky. and he who is born there never
Ta.a :, This ,nust no, cause the reader to DIS
- .bo stotament that Colonel Watkins was
-, ,,t,in that charmed circle, for he mas 'hN"I'-
,I,. dolor.1 that such was the fact ana nave ho'
GOO, IL di,DItcd. lie often saw Henry C'"N ~, MS
cbud5ood and was familiarity acqualhteu Wv" '''i,
Ifroor and all the eminent horses OF Lexington anu
vicinity. , -- -aot MAJ,
According &c the stories OF biograPherS great mon
ho,o osoora'ly been remarkable for the eNVr"ordI-
nary talents they displayed IN chiIdhool' III was
NOT so however with Granville NadkihS ms
naarost neichbors never discovered that ho was
mcro than an ordinary hoy although III must DE
admitted that his mother always believed tnat ne
of his hovhood TO be related. must pass on to
consider his college life. Hero again the proper
data are sadly wanting i suspect that tho ColoneI
mrst have gotten into some college scrapeS, perhaps
was expellcd; for though he often alludes 10 HIS
college DAYS In convivial moments ne mas never
been heard to tell at what institution he was edn
Gated We can. Therefore only indulge IN tms
nossinp allusion to this interesting period OF MS
history. ,
Perhaps tbs reader who does not know Coiono!
Watkins is ready to ask what he has done 10 make
him lannon's; what is the secret of his popularity.
must confess that am somewhat in The predica-
ment Of those numerous tourists who have visited
some oreat man abroad and have trod TO answer
the Question why he is famous, and have ao-
tnowledoed that they could not detect the secret
Soma have ascribed 1t to one thing, some TO an
other Perhaps it is combination OF great QUANTITIES
so tremendously blended that no one is predoml-
nant 1 cannot enter into an elaborte disquisltion
npon the causes and elements OF Colonel Wad-
kinss fame. But can give few hints for the
bene6t of those who are Just beginning to learn OF
his merits.
Won mist picture to yourself quite handsome
man. His good looks united with pleasing ad-
dress secure for him a certain degree of popularity
with the sisters nieces. female cousins and aunts OF
the pspple That is a great point gained; for these
interesting female relatives of the people exercise
M little influence over the people Themselves
Then the Colonel displays a charming urbanity
In his intercourse with the sovereignS lie relates
anecdotes with inimtable grace and humor. lie re-
nembers that. whether IN the Old world or in the
nav THAR maiesties love to he amused. and never
was CONT lester more successful in the palace than
he on the hastings in driving dull care away from
the face of royalty While he talks and you laugh
Won perceive that he is the familiar fri'nn ana as
sociats of Presidents. Governors. Senators, ami
other great men of the land. Insonsibly he grows
upor you and you observe to your wife wren you
return homo that Colonel Watkins is a wonderful
faIlow To use his own language the Colonel talks
himself I'D He says to young men, sometimes. IN
priyate, AT Nbu want to rise in the world talk
Yourself up my boy. talk yourself mp" The Colo
mel is a pos3essor of that mysterious something
called magnetism. He has a seductive smile Nhen
he meets Won there is a seraphc illumination OF his
face in honor of You that is captivating. He is so
glad to see everybody You may have suspicion
that he is sham aud sholdy. You may dislike him.
But when YOU meet him you became hypocrte NJ
once YOU smile back at him. You are pleased 10 ne
the rec;p,ent of such generous whOe-sonled recog
milton. Such warmth of gecting thaws out your
soul You are for the moment sorry for any word
Of cordemnation Won NAV have spoken behind his
hack You are looking at the sun with naked eve
and cannot see his spots His piercing eye seems to
say: GYou have been against mel know II. bh'
1--we You all the same. You have only 10 Feent
ann come back. ! am the best fellow n the Woili ;
Won have been mistaken IN me, that's all. Come
back. prod gal"
The Colonel never allows himself 10 adnl; That
he has enemies. For no is that genuine proIuet OF
popular government politcian-a polite man.
OF his keenest adversary he has never been heard,
in public TO say anything worse than May the
Lord have mercy on his poor political SOUL lie
has been at times the subject of tho sharpcst per
sonol abuse on the stump and in the newspapers.
but his temper has never been RULED lie seems TO
take it all in a Pjckwickian sense late news
paper editors and correspondents have endcavored
at various times TO undermine his Justly earned
reputation Ivy the OF the most atrOcious cpthetN
in connection with his hOnOred name. When they
have descended so low as to call him trickSter' a
political jObber, ring-thief. Treasury-plundorer
q lobbyster, a scalawag. a fraud, and Know not
how many other lgnOble things, he has gone on
smiling complaceatly, because lie knows that these
base myrmidons of an unbrde press are but add
ing 10 his fame by their unprinciped attacks. 1t il
the penalty which man has to pay for being great.
"A man who wO1ld figure in public life aud make
a gOod thing OF it," remarks the Colonel must
have his name in the papers good deal 1t ls more
pleasant TO have them praise you, certainly but
that grows stale after while. And then TO keep
them at it, YOU have to do so deuced much Of the
writing yourself, and some of tho rascas charge a
high price for the Of their columns in that way.
But if you can get them TO abusing you, they relieve
You of the trouble Of writing yourself up They do
il for YOU don't you See and keep your name be
fore the public at their own expense. The people
grow suspicious if the newspapers praise a fellow
too much. Let them punish HIM with some good
stiff abuse and it will arouse sympathy in his be
half Look, Tor instance. at General Butler. The
papers have been fighting him for thirty years and
he has thriven on it,. There are many more such
that could be named. A man must not be too thin
skinned. If you have got cheek nOtorety IS the
twlnbrother of fame and twill serve your purpose