Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-26
NEW YORK LETTER.
BILLY FLORENCE rELLsHo Hx FOUND
EXPLORER STANLEY.
A story at Russell Earrison's Expense
Personal Gessip-An Editors
Cltnh
roorre.popd.uc. Of the Richmond Di,pstch.l


Al the St. James Hotel last evening
there was large group of guests DISGUISE
ing foreign news and the conversation
turned to the latest exploits OF henry
Nj. Stanley.
ibid Won ever hear how ] found
Stanley ?" asked William j. Florence,
the great comedian. Every one an
ewered in the negative. and asked for a
recital of the story. "Just after Stan
lev had crossed the Dark Continent,
said Florence, 81 was passing my vaca-
ton in Europe. While IN PARIS. re-
ceived cableersm one day from the
New York Herald, which read about
as follows:
",Stsnlev has arrived at Marseilles,
where we have cabled him. GIVE him
magnificent dinner in Pans the DAY
afser tomorrow. Spare no expense
You may draw against us ior any
amount Please favor rs.
went ahead and worked like beaver.
I engaged the Hotel Chatham. one OF
the best in Europe for big receptions
and ordered dinner for 30 Rnests. L
skirmished around, and, thanks to the
intense popularity which the great ATT
can explorer had won, had no trouble
in getting together one of the most bril-
liant and distinguished crowds that FsriS
could produce. was very nervous, oil
course, about the matter, and spent tho
whole day preceding the night Of the re,
ception in supervising the floral ana
other decorations and arranging the DIS
tribution of the guests. In the AFTER
noon. while hard at work Illuminating
in the choicest Americanese against an
imbecile florist. heard some one sing
out Hello, Bill what are you up to
The voice had q hslf-fsmilisr ring.
turned and saw agray-moustsched IN
dividual with rather shabby clothes and
the unmiAakable expression of New
York newsPaper-man.
Hard at work getting up dinner.
"What Is it all about-some political
affair ?"
"Oh, no it's q complimentary ban
quet TO Stanley"
"Wen. | fancy he'll be delighted.
He ought to be. anyway.
All the time was puzziing myself as
10 whom my visitor was. i could not
place him in my memory. and therefore
resorted to the old e1pedient OF asking
questions.
"What are you doing here ?" I be-
gan.
"Staying a day or two and then going
back 10 the States ria London.
ANYTHING important or Bewsy
Absolutely nothing. Just gong
back 10 rest little. You know, Bill, n
fellow cant work forever without some
relaxation.
/ was as far off as ever, and so tried a
new tack.
ITS long time, old boy, since We
met"
"Yes. quite a number Of years
"What was the last place " que
ried. growing desperate.
~ don't remember, Bill, the exact
place or time 1t may have been New
York, Chicago. Boston, or Cincinnati.
I've seen YOU so often that ! can't tell.
/ paused, not knowing what to say
next.
He promptly took up the conversation
by remarking:
"Ssy, Bill, | think I'd like TO take in
this dinner. Could You accommodate
an old friend ?"
This was coming il strong. He looked
all right and ] Was certain | knew OF
him under pleasant auspices but he
might ho some black sheep that had
strayed from the fold So ] answered ::
"I'l try 20 arrange II, although all
the invitations are ont and every seat
filed Let me have your card, and I'll
see if | can't get a plate somewhere
around the board. "
He smiled ss be answered. "Bill, |
haven't got q card to my name. But
never mind that, I'll come anyhow "
This WAS too much for even me. l
looked OF him apOlOgetically and said ::
"My dear boy, / must make confess
sion. | have fearfully bad memory
for names and addresses. and, although
we're old friends, | cannot recall who
Won are to save my soul from perditioD.
Now. vino the dickens are you any
how"
He erinned all over. leaned forward,
catching hold of my shoulders, and said !:
"Bill, knew you didn't know me all
the time. I'm Stanley himself.
1t took minute to recover from the
surprise and subsequent laughter and
then we made a bee line for the nearest
bottle.
AT RUSSELL HARRIsOS's EXPENSE.
There is a capital story going the
rounds Of the newspapers of which Rus
sell E. Harrison is the hero. When the
new building Just erected by J'dQe on
Fifth avenue was formally occupied by
Frank LcSiie'e Illustrated IGeck{Y. he,
in company with William J. Arsel. his
partner made circuit OF the entire
place. In the composing which
have been equipped with a remarkably
large and costly outfit, Harrison lett
Arkell and sccos;ed one of the typos,
who is a typical New Yorker.
"Wbat kind Of type are you going to
use?" queried the son OF his father.
The compositor showed him the va
nous STYLES that were at hand.
"Do YOU consider them good enough
for Us d? " was the next interrogation.
Couldn't be better, young fellow, "
returned the printer, who did no know
his QUesiioner.
81 don know what you think, but
here is something which / regard as the
very best specimen OF work in this coun-
try" SO saying, Harrison pulled out of
his pocket copy Of his now famous
Helena (Monianal Jouypai and dis
played its ragged columns TO tine aston
ished typo.
There was pause. curing which the
latter glared in anger and disgust at his
interlocutor, and then came the re-
spouse:
"Say. sonny. It's wonderful how you
bum editors from the Lava Beds think
you can teach New FORK printer some
thing about his business"
QUEEN or AMERICAN SOCIETY.
Mrs. Emma Paterson Chlds, wife OF
the well-known Philadelphia philan-
thropist is frequently seen in New
York. where she has very large visit
ing list She is always welcome in the
best houses, for no woman in America
4 L