Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-17
HORACE GREELEY.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE GREAT EDITOR,
By P. T. BARNUM.
The Snowman and Writer of Opposite
Political Faith, Were Still Warm
Personal Friends.
[F.om the Kew YORK Tgibune. !


before had personal introduction to
him. was then Jacksonian Democrat,
and, of course, opposed to him in politics
He came one day into the Office of the
CHristidn Messenger, in Fulton street, where
| happened to be calling, 1t was election
day, and politics ran high. He asked Mr..
Finch, the book-keeper, whether DR.. Saw
yer had voted yet, and, although Mr..
Greeley did not know me, / at once said
"There is no use for you to drum up the
clergy to vote; l will bet you S25 that the
Democrats will elect their ticket" He
felt in his pockets and said 81 have only
got s.. will bet you that" Yet, really
expecting defeat, I did not want to bet at
all, so | said; "Oh, no; will not bet I'M
less you make it S25." 'Finch," said
Greeley, "lend me $40, and l will take that
bet"
Finch replied ''You would better not
bet, MIR. Greeley; this is Barnum, the
museum man, and be will be sure to beat
you IN some way" ''Neyer mind said
Greeley, 81 will bet him." | was, in fact.
sorry to do this, but we put our "stakes1
into Mr.. Finch's hands. To my surprise.
the Democrats carried it, although it was
charged that it was done by fraud From
that time Mr.. Greeley and | became warm
personal friends.
His pecuiiarities, especially that of alb
sentmindedness, have been often described,
and | have witnessed many curious in
stances. One Sunday at DR.. Chapin's
church my daughter Caroline was with
me, and after service, as we were about
stepping on horse-car, Mr.. Greeley did
the same. My daughter urged me to in
troduce her, so said to him: "AIr. Greeley,
this is my eldest daughter, Caroline" He
looked at her, passed his eyes down as far
as her feet and up again to her face, but
made no motion of recognition. Caroline
felt mortified, and said afterwards: "Well,
father, that is the most curious introduce
ton | ever had TO any person. What was
the man thinking about ?'
Years afterward, when l was President
of the Worlds Fair held in Reservoir
Square, now Bryant Park, in New York.
MIR. Greeley was one of the Directors, and
was always the first man present at the
Directors meeting. He would sit and
talk with me few minutes, and then in
variably fall asleep. and remain so until
awakened by the arrival of other Direct
ors. When the association was about dis
solving and wanted to close up its affairs,
it was stated at Directors meeting that
that the city held a bill of several thou
sand dollars against us for taxes Mr..
Greeley said: Now, gentlemen. if YOU
will appoint me a committee of one to wait
upon the Mayor, will propose to him
that the city shall take our iron fence
around the square as payment in full for
the taxes. OF course the Mayor and
don't agree politically, but he will not be
mean about a thing of that kind. and /
think can fix it."
/ had occasion to so to Europe a week
afterward, and was absent nearly two
years, during which time the Crystal Pal
ace was burned. Soon after my return |
was standing at the door of the museum
when Mr.. Greeley passed: and | extended
my hand in great JOY to greet him after so
long an absence. He paid no attention to
the movement, but stood as if we had
parted only the day before. "Well, Bar
num-" he. said, 81 think the Mayor will
agree to my proposition about that iron
fence; | am going to see him again to-
morrow and hope we shall arrange it."
During the rebellion Mr.. Greeley often
called on me at the museum; at one time
when our cause looked the darkest, and
McClellan's army was lying idle, to the
dissatisfaction and dismay of most of cur
Northern patriots, Mr.. Greeley walked
into my office. "Oh," said he, 'if Nc
Clellan would only start that army! 1t
does try my patience beyond measure"
"Yes, indeed" l replied, 81 would gladly
give half possess if l could be assured
that we should be successful and the Union
preserved. Don't you almost give it up,
Mr.. Greeley ~
''Oh, nc" he drawled out, II don't give
it up. My faith is greater than that of
the old woman driving her horse down
hill, who said she trusted in Providence
until the breeching broke, and then she
gave it up. My trust in Providence is
greater than that. We must subdue the
rebellion and abolish slavery. But it is
dreadful dark time and very trying to our
patience"
While resided in New York Mr.. Gree
ley frequently called on me, and on one
occasion stayed with me over week. He
could never write except by raising the
desk as high as his head / arranged in
my library desk of that kind expressly
for his use, and there he sat and wrote
every day, his private secretary calling for
his manuscript for the Tribune.
He wore a pair OF thick. soled cowhide
boots, and | begged him while in the
house and at his work to take them off
and put on pair of my slippers. He
peremptorily refused, aud said che was
used to the boots, and it was all right" l
insisted that slippers would be more COM
Portable, add to his pleasure, and even pro-
long his life. 81 guess not" said Mr.
Greeley, "but if it did, that would not be
of much consequence. 1t is not the leugth
of mans life, but the good or evil which
he does while here that counts" l urged
him to take of his coat and slip on one of
my loose dressing gowns which he also de-
clined, but finally accepted
He had many political callers at my res
idence, asking favors or making suggestions.
He always answered them firmly and some
what dictatorially. He evidently under
stood them perfectly, and all the subjects
they brought before him. On one occasion
a eedy-looking individual called and
asked for Mr.. Greeley. At first hesita-
ted about admitting him, but he said that
he and Greeley were old "cronies," and he
must see him. As soon as they met Mr..
Greeley said, "Sam, have you got around
again? What have you been doing ?'
SAM" who had red nose, which indi-
Gated what his principal occupation was,
replied, "Well, Greeley, have been try
ing hard to make living, and can't do
it; | want you to get me some place in the
Custom House, no matter if it's only a
messengers"
'Now, Sam, what is the use?" said Mr.
Greeley; "if | could do that you would be
drunk in two days and only disgrace your
self and give the Collector the chance of
lampooning me-"
'Noy. Horace u replied Sam avou have