Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-13
THOMAS j. BRADY.
Overwhelmed by His Misfortunes
and a Victim of Insomnia.

!
and a Victim of Insomnia.
NEW YORK. June 12.-Not long ago,
after hard nights work Oh a morning
newspaper. made a dash for Sixth
avenue car. IL was a. m. The car was
moving from Vesey street and Broadway.
AS sat down, putting and blowing, a full
faced gentleman, with broad eXpanse OF
shirt front, addressed me. He wore a
trimmed mOustache. His blue eyes were
bright and sparkling, but there was no
merriment in them. His face was sober
and reflective. He was evidently a man
who had been battered and waterlogged
in the storms that sweep over the ocean OF
life. 1t was an intellectual face, chas-
tened by sad experience. 1t was the face
OF Gen. Thomas j. Brady, of
star route fame. For year past ne has
been living at the Astor House. AS the
car was just leaving the shadow of that
famous hotel | could not avoid an ex-
preston of establishment at seeing him
out so early. II can't Sleep" he said. in
a resonant voice, speaking slowly and de-
lberately. "FOr hours | have tossed my
head on my pillow, seeking sleep in vain.
Ive counted way up in the thousands,
and have done everything possible 10 Sc
cure nights rest, but it's no go. NV
thoughts wander all over creation in spite
of all that l can do, and l can't sleep.
While was lying in bed with every nerve
vibrating like the string Of a guitar at
concert pitch, and wondering what L
should do to get rest. happened 10 think
that Turkish bath might produce the
desired result. | remembered that some
body once told me that an establishment
OF that kind was kept open all night near
Sixth avenue and Twenty-fourth street,
and Pm going up there in search of it. Do
you know where 1t 1872
| replied that l had heard of such a
place, but that | could not give him the
number. Despite his immobility or face
and apparent equanlmity, / saw that he
was excessively nervous. He took off his
high hat repeatedly and wipel its sweat
band with his handkerchief, aud he made
eccentric gesticuiations with his plump
white hands. He played with his old
fashioned silk watch guard and frequent
ly shifted his attitude. The dominant
spirit of the man. however, seemed un-
shaken. He looked me full in the eye,
and talked and acted like man who
knew his rights in this world despite his
misfortune, and who 7yas only waiting for
an opportunity to assert them.
The General has lately been a prOmi-
nent figure in the arena of everyday New
York life. AS President of the Corn Club
he has presided at its daily meetings in
L
bic fund of stories and his imperturbable
good nature nave endeared him TO the
host Of good fellows that float to the sur
face OF city life in the late hours of the
afternoon. They all like him, and they
gather round him whenever he descauts on
the mutability of life. Chief Justice Mar
shall never bad a more superb flow OF
language. His analysis of the sin
of ingratitude would put many an
nD of hn dnU 70 fha
blush. He says the most bitter things at
Opportune moments-all the more bitter
because they spring hot from his heart,
and because they are stamped with truth.
He never speaks without saying some
thing. At dinners he is ALWAYS a well
come guest. AS post-prandial speaker
he is superior to both Gen. Horace Porter
and Gen. George A. Sheridan, for he
never repeats himself, and, like the late
Horace Greedy, always propcunds some
thing new.
But he seems to have been overwhelmed
by his misfOrtunes. He cannot see wherein
be is different from the men in exalted
stations who have prOfited by his work.
At times he rises TO his feet and denounces
them in language so glowing that it would
become prOverbal il printed. Like many
a man Of powerful mental grip, however,
he has tried to wash away all memories
IN excuses. Wine always flows freely at
his table, and bon mOts and sparkling
"reminiscences attend the smoke curling
from his Havanas. Such excuses, added
to tAe memories OF the past. have ended
in insomnia. He is ever brOOding
over the past, without definite ideas as to
the future. His experience in life has
shaken his faith in Christianity, and at
times he Out-lngeTsOlls Bob IngersOll in
atheistlcal apothegms. Indeed, the other
night. when rebuked for some radical
dOctrinal proposition and reminded OF the
services of the Founder of Christianity to
humanity. including himself, he startled
and Mortified the company by deliberately
rising and proposing His health.
Broken down in body, If not in mind,
Gen. Brady has shaken the dust of New
York from his heels and is trying to re-
cuperate. He owns a farm of 800 acres in
Virginia, at the mouth of the Potomac,
and he has gone down there to spend the
summer. The roysterers Of the city will
miss him, but the society OF birds, chip
hunks and honest farmers may turn his
mind in a new channel. The soft air of
the Chesapeake and fish diet may give
him renewed bodily strength, and when
the great political campaign OF 1898 opens
he may be in position to enter the
lists and break lance to some purpose.
He has the will and the disposition. All
he wants is energy and opportunity.