Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-08-26
TaIjiraiaia free gress.
w. W. b. GALLAHER, Editor.
Charresto,on, Jefferson County, West VI
august 20, 1880.
Anecdotes Of WhippIe..

Many of Mr. Edwin P. Whipple's keen
sayings have been passed into general
circulation. The phrase in which he
characterizes Emerson rs "a cross between
Socrates and Sam Slick" may serve as an
example, and it is a wonderfully clever
bit of mingled satire, shrewd criticism
and winged humor. Couldn't a pleasant
essay be written" | heard him remark
once, son COPYRIGHT, e ones jokes. You
laboriously elaborate quip or a jest, say
it once, and then every man who hears 1t
feels not the slightest compunction at ap-
propriating it and passing 1t off as his
own. There should be means Of legal
protection against such encroachment on
private rights, and | suppose the copy
right law is the proper thing 10 do it.
Think of how droll it would sound: i,
So-and-so, having discovered a play upon
such word, running thus and thus, to
be led up to in this and this manner, do
claim the full right, title and 50 on to use
said pun'-and all the rest Of the rigma-
role"
DR.. Bartol, in his eulogy, gave cou-
pie of instances of Mr. Whipple's quick
ness Of reparlee. A friend having asked
him what would be his idea Of a public
library if he half a million to build it
with: IF | had the half million" re-
turned Mr.. Whipple, 81 shouldn't have
the idea" In a debate which may have
irritated him little, his opponent at
length said roughly: "You have GER
tainly lost your understanding" " at is
very evident" returned Mr.. Whipple with
cool keenness, "that you have not found
it."
When the Hon. p I. Barnum was
younger than now, he was infected with
political aspirations, and secured a seat
in the Legislature of Connecticut. His
efforts as an orator were less successful
than his essays in the show business had
been, and the Legislature could not be
made to yield him a hearing "What do
you suppose Is the reason some one ask
ed Mr.. Whipple, chat Mr.. Barnum
could not obtain the ear Of the House :"
"Oh, nothing is simpler" was the ready
response, "they were afraid he'd exhibit
it in . museum
In graver talk M Whipple was keen,
wise, broad and discriminating. He had
read widely, and he had read with that
appreciation and profit which belong only
to the finest intellect. He saw with re-
markable elearness the bearings Of sub
iect. lis relation to other thoughts and
themes. and he constantly brought out
the most richly suggestive analogies, while
he seldom ldtktu al lllcltAllS| VI al A4At'
tration, so closely to the point and 80
aptlv told as to be better than most ar
guments. And yet with all this he was
a rarely good listener. His modesty and
his kindly generosity we're a beautiful
lesson to more impatient and lesser men,
who could talk but could not give atten-
ton 10 others unless they were forced TO
it. / remember one evening when a
rather wordy and decidedly young Har-
ward student had been taking upon him
self the lions share Of the conversation
in the group which had gathered about
Mr.. Whipple in the latter's parlor. that
| said impatieltly to lovely old lady
81 must say | wish that young Mr.. -
could have been Suppressed. ] wanted
to hear Mr.. Whipple's views on that sub
iect." But wasn't it finer, she replied,
Ito see how splendidly he can listen, !
felt like thanking Mr.. - for bringing
him out so nobly."