River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-09-02
ANECDOTES of Mhipple.

Many of MIR Edwin p Whipple's
keen sayings have been passed into
general circulation. The phrase in
which he characterized Emerson as "a
cross between Socrates and Sam Slick"
may serve as an example and it IS a
wonderfully clever bit of mingled sa-
tire, shrewd criticism and winged hui
NOR. "Co1ldn't a pleasant essay be
written / heard him remark once.
ION copyrighting ones jokes. You
laboriously elaborate quip or a jest,
say it once, and then every man who
hears it feels not the slightest COM
Function at appropriating it and pass
ing il off as his own. There should be
means of legal protection against
such encroachment on private rights,
and suppose the copyright law is the
proper thing to do it. Think of how
droll it would sound: i, So-and-so,
having discovered play Ipon such a
word, running thus and thus, to be led
up to in this manner, do claim the full
right, title and so on to use said pun
and all the rest of the rigmarole.
DR.. Bartol, in his eulogy, gave a cou-
pie of instances of Mr.. Whippie' s quick
ness of repartee. A friend having asked
him what would be his idea of pub
lie library if he had half a million TO
build it with: eff | had half million
returned Mr.. Whipple, Il shouldn't
have the idea" In debate that MAJ
have iritated him a little, his opponent
at length said roughly: "You have GER
tainly lost your understandings ut is
very evident" Mr.. Whipple retorted
with keen GOODNESS, ''that you have
not found il"
When the Hon. p. L. Barnum was
Younger than now, he was infected with
political aspirations, and secured seat
in the Legislature of Connecticut. His
efforts as an orator were less success
full than his essays in the show business
had been, and the Legislature could not
be made to yield him hearing. What
do you suppose is the reason some
one asked Mr.. Whipple, ''that Mr.
Barnum could not obtain the ear of the
House?' ''Oh, nothing is simpler,
was the ready response, They We're
afraid ne d exhibit it in museum.
In graver talk Mr. Whipple was keen,
wise, broad, and discriminating. He
had read widely, and he had read with
that appreciation and profit which be-
long only to the finest intellect. Re
saw with remarkable clearness the
bearings of a subject, its relation TO
other thoughts and themes, and he
constant Y brought out the most richly
suggestive analogies, while he seldom
lacked an instance or an illustration,
So closely to the point and so aptly told
as to be better than most arguments,
And yet. with all this, he was a rarely
good listener. His mOdesty and his
kindly generosity were beautiful les
son to more impatient and lesser men,
who could talk but could not give at
tention to others unless they were
forced to it. | remember one evening
when rather wordy and decidedly
young Harvard student had been TAX
ing upon himself the lion share of the
conversation in the group which had
gathered about Mr.. Whipple in the lat
ter's parlor. that | said impatiently to
lovely old lady: Il must say / wish
that Young Mr.--could have been
suppressed / wanted to hear MIR.
views on that subject"
But WASH It it finer" she replied. ''to :
see how splendidly he can listen?
never saw more perfect exhibition of
the spirit of a gentleman in my life.
| felt like thanking Mr.. bring
ing him out so nobly. '-B0Ston Letter
to Providence journal.