Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-17

can save poor fellow, and that paws for
the mistakes we make in helping those
who have not the good sense to help them
selves
Mr.. Greeley and l were among the pail
bearers at the funeral of Alice Carey. An
preaching the coffin before the remains
were finally covered, he remarked alice
has lived to reasonable age; it is about
the proper time for her to die. She has
done much good during her hfe." As we
rode from the house to the Church of the
Strangers DR.. Deems, who was in the same
carriage, discoursed upon the philosophy
of life and death, which Mr.. Greeley
summed up with his belief that in the
great hereafter universal harmony, holi-
ness and happiness would at least be estab-
llshed. AT the funeral of the younger sis
ter, Phoebe, which took place few months
afterward, MIR. Greeley was in ANYTHING
but pleasant state of mind, 'sNow. thai
girl" he said, "had full twenty wears more
IN her. She Ind no business to die at this
time of life. There is something about il
| cannot understand" and other remarks
to the same effect
A certain SUNDAY happened to come on
Christmas Day. Mr.. Greeley and | each
owned pews in DR.. Chapin's church, and
were punctual attendants We expected a
grand sermon from DR.. Chaplin on that
Christmas morning, but, much to our dis
appointment, a note was received from him
Just as the services were about to begin.
stating that he was i'll and could not at
tend. At first it was thought best to ad
journ the meeting, but finally a layman
offered his services, which we accepted. IN
conducting the preliminary portion of the
services. Meanwhile, Mr.. Greeley was
asked to go into the pulpit and say some
thing, as substitute for Dr. Chapin's SER
mon. He walked up without any hesita
ton, with his old white oyercoat or. A
lady from Kentucky, who was then living
in New York and attended DR.. Chapin's
church, was sitting next to me. She had
that Southern prejudice against Mr..
Greeley which too generally prevailed,
and she declared that she chad a great
mind to go out, for she never wanted to
see or hear Horace Greeley" | begged
her to remain and she concluded to do so.
In consideration of the fact that Mr..
Greeley was a miserable speaker, was
much afraid the prejudices of the Ken
lucky lady, would, after hearing him, be
stronger against him than ever He be-
gan, in a low drawing tone. by
saying that the celebration of Christ
mas was very proper thing for
all protesting Christians to engage in.
OF course" said he, "this is not abso-
lutely the anniversary of the birth of
Christ; it is generally conceded by learned
Biblical scholars that Christmas really oc-
Cured III, or about the month of August
but, as this day has been fixed upon as the
anniversary of the Savior's birth, it per
haps does not make much difference" Mr..
Greeley drawled along in this way for
more than half an hour, giving us new
ideas, new thoughts and much valuable in
formation. Every person present. | think,
was deeply interested in his discourse.
Toward the close of his remarks the Ken
lucky lady said to me "Mr. Barnum,
that man is horrible speaker, but de-
clare was never more edited in nv life
he IS really wonderful man and | shall
never again feel the slightest prejudice
against him"
A lady friend in Hightstown, n. j..
having read and heard much of Mr.. Gree
ley, begged me to induce him to give
lecture Tor charitable purpose. | asked
him, and he readily consented to do so. [
met the lady month or two afterward.
and she was exuberant in her expression of
gratitude to me for having influenced the
great man to visit Hightstown. Said she:
" | was honored by his making our house
his home during his stay, and really felt
our house was hallowed by his presence;
but oh, Mr.. Barnum, did you ever hear
such tedious, terrible speaker? He began
his lecture by saying IN his monotonous
voice: 1t has been said that | am the
poorest public speaker in America and /
think that is really true, but what he said
enchanted every nearer"