The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-19
nome "Reminiscences.

CmcAGo, ILL.,, April is-I'hc Washing.
ton correspondent OF the Ndrs telegraphs
his paper several columns OF "reminiscences
Of Roscoe Conkling. Speaking Of his
wonderful memory, he says 'lle could
repeat many verses from memory, not
iragmcniary lines or brief sianzas, but
whole cpics, page by page. The Odcs Of
Horace in the original were "a familiar 10
him as the Palm OF Life. lie could rccito
the iir-t book OF Homer, Bryants tBnsla.
ton (which lac considered the best, almost
without an error, and portion OF
the third book, which he frequently
quoted from, and said reminded him Of
the tramp Of marching army. His IA
yoritc poems were "lalla Rookh" aud
'The Lady OF the lake" lie almost In.
yariably carried q book Of poems In his
pocket, and read from II during the debates
In the senate. Ills reading was varied
and extensive. Although not religious
man, lac was deeply interested In thcolog.
ical topics, and READ every new work Of
Importance, -, 80,
and finding him lying on lounge, with a
wet cloth over his eyes, for lac had good
deal OF trouble with them. listening 20 the
reading Of Remains life OF Jesus, 10y his
private secretary. Tho reading ccnted
when entered, and Mr., Conkling began
90 talk. lie liked 10 eolilolnlzc. and on
this occasion, NJ upon many otbcns, ho
spoke on religion as eloqucnlly ~ i he
had been addressing nm audience OF thou
sands OF people instead oi only two hear
ems, his private secretary anil myself. lie
was believer In the orthodox faith, aud
| think was a member OF the Episcopal
church, but ho had theory that most Of
the teachings Of Jesus were drawn from
the oriental pundits. The sermon ON the
mount, be often said, was a cOdiiicauon Of
the teachings Of Coniuscius.
"Mr. Conkling never revised reports OF
| the speeches he delivered in the senate, ~
INST members Of that body DO. lie held
/ that the Congressional Recod should be an
actual transcript Of what Wa said and done
IN the chamber, and insisted that his re-
marks should always appear exactly as he
/ had uttered them. But n The convention
/ OF 1870 he departed from lbs rule and pro-
Pared for publication speech which
differed In many essential respects
/ from that which he delivered IN presenting
Gen. Gmnts name 10 the, Inycnlion. One
/ Of the speeches was inlenled 10 20 down
/ TO history as an ideal OF 0ralory, aud the
other was meant 10 influencc VOTES IN the
convention. But bis plan miscarricd, aud
Il made him very angry A few days be.
fore the convention lac sent for me and
said that be had been selected 10 present
the name Of Gen. Grant Contrary 10 his
usual custom, hc had written his speech,
and desired Il 10 appear corrected ~ the
newspapers without being subjected 10
the ordinary mistakes tbai must occur ~
transmission bytelcgaph. To accomplish
this he desired my asislance. TOOK the
manuscript, had II put IN type, and iur..
nishcd him proofs for correction. Several
hundred slips were then printed ana
placed In the hands Of The Associated Press
10 be furnished 10 the newspapers when
the speech should be- delivered.
''But u was not tho same speech, M
have said. Tho introdnciory couplei, II
you ask me where lac hall from, my solo
reply shall be that lac cafne from Appomat.
iox and the famous apple tree. was moi
tho original NJ prepared for publication,
nor was there any reierencc 70 inc otneI
candidates or 10 Blaine's private telegraph
wire. Without the knowlcdgo OF hr'
Conkling ho Associated prce eicnograph,,
ers rat with the proof dir Of The qnglna
address before hom aud Corrected ~ as nc