St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-01
A Curious Old Parsonage,
Whom st. Paul People Had
Learned to Love.
He Wanted to Wait for the
Cable Cars, But Had
No Time.
Two or Three Other Little
Matters That He Left I'm
attended to.

Paul, left the city last night, after
stay in the city of exactly twelve
months. He will not return at present,
and so feeble was he and so bent with
age that his friends never hope to see
him again in this cold climate. One
could hardly help a tear of pity at
the sight of his totterIng form
and haggard face. At one time he had
large interests, social and financial, in
the city. He was the center of a group
of gay SOciety-gOerS who thought of no
one else, while whole armies of bust
ness men were content if he Endorsed
their deals. Much of his business was
closed out before he left, but there is
said to be not little that must be set
tied 10y proxy, for lie is unable
He was peculiar parsonage. Dur
ing his stay here he has done much for
the city. and there are hundreds and
thousands of people who will remember
his favorS 50 long as they live. He had
a streak of beneVolence in him that
would not be curbed, and the poor have
found him a friend in the
hours of their sore distress.
He had wonderful business
ability and made money rapidly, in
many eases only 10 spend it again. He
and schools, and located missions in the
suburbs of the city. Some who have
known him have found him veritable
DR.. Jeckyll, full of good works and
words.
But he had also dark streak running
through him, which now, that he has
gone and cannot defend himself, per-
hapS ought not to be mentioned He
has been accused of theft. Some fami-
now broken and are eating ashes of
roses, which they claim he brought
them and mixed in their dirt. Some
have seen him out late at
night, freQuenting saloons and brothelS,
and apparently without a thought
OF aught that was good or honest or re-
spectacle. During his stay in the city
he has looked on cases of poverty that
would touch the heart of miser, and
refused to contribute nickel from all
his bounty. He has been an eye witness
when the virtue of honest women has
been aSSailed, and allowed the villain to
go unmOleSted. He has danced with
glee once or twice at the sight of muir
der. So that there are those who have
seen in him only the repulsive figure of
a Mr.. Hyde, rioting in crime and dead
to every good and noble act, He
was a Veritable case of DR.. .Jeckyll
and Mr.. Hyde, if there ever was one,
though fortunately he was content to
appear as his real self, benevolent DR..
Jeckyll, on the majority of occasions.
WHAT HE SAID.
Before this strange parsonage went
he talked with GLOBE reporter. 1t
was near midnight when he was found,
and he had his gripSack in his hand all
ready for last good-by.
Il am sorry TO CO." said the Old Year,
as he strOked his beard, for | have en-
loyed my stay i'll st. Paul very much.
Could L have remained, l would have
done much more for the city than
have ever done, but shall turn over
my affairs to an able SucceSSor-a rela-
tive of mine, who, though inexperienced
in the ways of the world in general and
this part of the Northwest in particular,
will prove more than able to take up my
work where leave it. | can truthfully
say that / am surprised at the evidences
of the wonderful growth of your city. 1t
Is breaking my heart TO go and not see
those cable ears running" he continued,
''for l had set my heart on seeing them.
They were TO have been one of
my most brilliant bits of work
and to all pOSterity it would have been
heralded that while | was in st. Paul
this great Improvement came about. |
ity few days longer Than usual with
the hopes of seeing the line running,
but have been tritled with so often,
and so often been deceived with prom
lSeS, made only to be broken, that l give
it up. 1t cannot be. Possibly nv sue
ceSsOr will see them, but even that is
chance. Ten days more would be no
object to me, but if l waited | have
nothing to assure me that | shall see
4 4.
for none of my family has ever been
known to live through more than one
spring season here.
Il also dislike TO go and leave Rev.
Sam Smith wading around so reckleSSly
in the snow. To be sure a good start
has been made toward sinking fund
which shall revert to him, but that is not
what l refer to. / have no fears
that he will starve. He is
something of hustler himself.
and while he lives and has his health Sam
Smith will enjoy his meals with q regu-
larity that will keep him physically in
good shape. But there are other things
in the deal that / should like to see
settled. l shall never know whether
the break he made was wise one on
the whole or not. IwOuld like to wait
and see If he does as much good out of
the Methodist church as in it. Posi-
bly, others may be lead to kick over the
traces by his example, and the grand old
structure that john Wesley built be
tumbled to ruin. do rot want to know
that, and so perhaps it is best for me TO
go now. But still it weighs on my ;aind
that he has acted 500
ONE OTHER THING.
"Anything else that ought 10 have
been attended TOP" asked the reporter.
There is one little thing tilet would
like to have seen settled up. That's
this high license question. How do l
know whether the price If drinks will
remain the same when / am gone.
TVe been something Gf r0under
myself and would like to knew how
some of the boys that keep the swell
joints are coming ont in this matter. or
course there was little or nothing |
could do about It, except get ready for
the new deal. 1 had something to do
with making that law, but every body
In st. Paul that las had anything to 30
with it since seems to have been making
special efforts to keep Ine from finding
out how it would work. The only thing
can do is 20 put the Whole thing into the
hands of W. L. Murray, vino knows more
about ali these things than | do myself,
and let him settle it. He'll 90 il, I'm
confident of that, 10 the general satis-
lSStlOh VI 4Ntlscil "litt t'iS CoiihiliiltS.
"You don't seem 10 lie ready to 90
then on the WHOLE" said the reporter"
The Old Year turned around and
looked at the city just then, for it was
almost IL O'Clock and he was
due TO leave at midnight sharp.
lie seemed bit more wrinkled
than ever. but Mt once his face bright
ened, and he said: Yes, / am ready.
am ready. / know that it never would
be possible for me to square up all these
things if stayed until after the carni-
val directors submit their next annual
statement, and so l may as we'll go.
i've had good time here. If there is
ANYTHING | haven't done I'll have to