Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-08-03
SUCH Is FAME.
How Some Great People Find Themselves Very
Small at certain Times.

How Some Great People Find Themselves Very
Small at certain Times.
A society" woman at whose table Long
fellow was dining, asked him: "Oh, Mr..
Loagfellow, have you ever published a
boOk?" This was after two-thirds of his
life work was done. Hawthorne says that
i'll his later years he met many people
who knew him well as the ex Surveyor of
the Port of Salem, but who never knew
that he had written anything, and had
not even heard that there was such a
book IS the Scarlet Letter" Even the
genial AutOcrat is not appreciated by
everyb body in his own town. One day an
American gentleman went into barber
shop as DR.. Holmes was going out. DO
you know who that was that Just went
out?" asked the barber. Being curious
to see what account OF DIR. Holmes tbs
barber would give, the visitor shook his
head. "Why," said the barber, chats
old Dr. Holmes?" "Oh, he's been doc
tor here q great many years. [ believe
he amt a practiciL' any more, but he's
thought good deal of"
A crushing remark was once made by
a wouldbe fl ltterer to Mr.. W. d. Howeils,
the American novelist. Shortly after the
publication of "Tke Lady OF the ArOo-
took" - ForegOne Conclusion" and
"Venetian Life" lady asked that gentle
man for his autograph, whereupOn he
wrote some imprOmptu verses in her al
bum. She read them over and then gave
an encouraging smile. "Oh, Mr.. HOwells,"
she exclaimed, II should think you might
do something for the papers aud maya
zines; I've seen much worse things than
that in print!'
When even Dickens and Thackary met
with experiences somewhat similar to
this tt e smaller fry can scarcely hope to
ape. Men we'll known in other walks
of life are scarcely less fortunate than the
novelist. Take for instance, the story
told by q clergyman, as being part of a
conversation held by him with an English
man to whom he pointed out Gen. Grants
residence in New York. The English
man asking. "Wnat name?" and seeming
to obtain no further light, the clergyman
repeated it to him, and said: "of course
you have heard of General Grant? He
was our president for eight years, ending
in 1877"
"Ah!" remarked the Englishman. still
with no evidence of recalling a fact pre-
viousIy known.
"Then, too" proceeded the clergyman,
che was grGat general, and was i'll com
msnd of million of men at the close of
our war. You remember OCr late war,
of coursef"
"Well, no." was the answer. "Beg par
don, but have just arrived in this cour-
try, and was SO long at sea that | have
not heard the latest news. [ was at sea
sixteen days, really"
This gentleman was scarcely abreast of
the times, and his ignorance reminds one
of Mark Twain's famous question 10
railway carriage bore: "Adam2 What's
his other name?"
1t is really surprising how few eminent
Americans are known TO the average
general reader" in England. In America,
the names of many of our prominent
men must be familiar, in consequence of
the frequency and the familiarity with
which their actions are discussed in the
columns of most of the great news papers.
One is surprised indeed, TO see English
affairs dealt with as if England were only
some two or three hundred miles from
New York.
Greatness Is paid homage to by some
people in very peculiar ways. Every
BODY must remember the story told in
connection with Victor Hugo. The great
poet was startled one morning by the in
trusion of three Englishmep. ''yictor
Hugo" consulting pockst book. The
poet bowed, thinking that he should be
asked for his autograph next. After the
visitors had stared for a few seconds, the
pocket book was again consulted.
"Eleven O'Clock; the lions!" said the
spokesman. Then the party bowed and
walked out of the room--Chsmbers
journal.
:'Adolphus, dye know hat I'm little
vezed at Miss SImmons?"
What happeuend, Arthur, old boy:"
"Well, you know pride myself on my
singing. We were at the piano. "IIl
slug one more song and than go home l
said"
aWas it later"
"About midnight"
"And what did she sayf"
''Sne said, Can't you go home, frst:'
"And did your
"Yes, Adolphus. 1 tell you I'm little
IL