The Press., 1890-03-27
4 REPORTORIAL EPISODE.

The Herald man was the responsible party. He "wound up the orator so ef- fectively that an address was out of the question, but then he did the square | thing, as you know"
 was interested, but didn't know. found out, however, before left the group of Washington Valley families, into whose company was introduced not long ago on regular assignment. .. | 'Its no great st ry," my gentleman
 armer remarked, "but It serves to illus grate how well equipped you newspaper iellows are for work of every nature." | Il cannot remember the year when the cornerstone for the Washington monu- ment was lad on the crest of Washington Rock, whose height overlooks the whole eastern portion of New Jersey. It was 6 L,ng time ago. imagined that you re- ported only for meals at that time," con- cludrd my reminiscent friend. as he shot Q
 ,dr. glance at my youthful face. | But there were reporters of callbre at
 ne cornerstone laying," he continued. ''rhe day was an appointed holiday in this sec ion, for the memory of George Wash
 ngton Is nowhere more revered than right here, where the country's father and de-
 ender held his headquarters for several months.
 ''Ine playing of bands and the boom. boom of cannon opened the program of the afternoons celebration, and regular concourse of people were in attendance. The crowd of townspeople from Plalnfeld, Somerville, Morristown, Railway, and l New Brunswick were chock full of enthusi- asm for the occasion, when the leading figures ill the celebration were driven to | the spot.
 "All of the New York dailies were cov-
 red by efficient men who had wined and dined with the committee of arrangements.
 "The orator of the day-I don't know who he was or where he hailed from seemed rather the worse for wear, when he was conveyed by carriage to the sum- init from whence General Washington had viewed the British army, and had direct ed the movements of his own bodies of men accordingly. In fact, the Caesar of the affair was most assuredly under the weather and influence. He could uo moro nave kindled the fire of patriotism on that memorable day than he could have par taken of more refreshment.
 "The committee were dumbfounded, and 'tee-totally' at a loss for speaker, when the Herald man quietly sad: I re- semble MT. - ill personal charms, and will undertake to follow out the course which he would have pursued had he not o.en so badly assaulted-or punched
 "After hurried consultation among
 themselves, the committee decided to pass off the Herald man as the orator.
 "'But what do you know about Wash lugton?' asked a brother reporter, ad-
 iressing James Gordon Bennett's hench- man. What flights of oratory have you prepared to arouse the enthusiasm and ,.xtract the tears of the assembled multi
 ude? ? In fact, what are you glvin' us :?
 "The Herald man acknowledged that hls personal acquaintance with Washing
 uu had been slight. Tbe Herald man
 really laid bare that fact. But, said he, T dtpel4d entirely upon your cooperation
 0 euabie me to retire from the field with
 ut being brickb,t ,tted. You must not al- low the dear pubic to hear anything but W shiugton's name. Hurrah with all
 your power whenever the word Washing
 ton passes my lips. Iii you start the sensa-
 Ion of hurrahihg, the assemblage will take
 up the applause and utterly drown me out l won't have to say much, but warrant the speech will be pronounced a E rousing and glorious one.'
 ! Well, that fellow was introduced as 1the great and only orator. Me- emiled
 bl ndly and coplously upon his audience.
 He Was happy to notice the deep interest that had been evlnc d by the people on
 rhis OCCASION when memorial was about
 to be offered iu memory of that gi eatest ol
 ii Amerlcans, George Washington ''Hurran hurrah hurrah T.! yelled the reporters.
 , "'Hurrah hurrah II! voiced the peo
 pie, and the orator sad Ill all aside: E "'Dont be afraid To shout: you have
 made good beginning. Give tito them
 neavy?'
 linen he continued 'lhe enthusiasm
 which has just been displayed upon my
 mention nt General Wash,ng-' r "'Hurrah hurrah ' voclterated the busy paper stalners, and the 1lslng exclta- | nilitlss of the crowd echoed the refrain
 with ihuDderous hurrahs.
 ; And Ao It continued for half-au -hour. \ Inc orator swung hls arms Ill a nervous, F expectant fashion whenever he proposed F to mention tine name of the great Wash gton. The reporters, seemingly busy with noting the salient points i'll wonder. 5 full oratorical effort, were convuised with I laughter, and yet ready enough to start ] the plaudits rolling from the base of the monument each time the Herald mans } voice weakened, or the Washing was rung in.
 ''It was wonderful the way the fellow steered clear of dates, prominent men and battles in that great speech. He made not one error of judgment, and when he noted that the audience were right at the helght of enthusiasm, he stcpped-stopped 3 short.
 4 s'As far as I know" the relater of the above incident remarked, the public is mol l informed upon the fake which was prac tict that day. The reporters who were present des cribed, in their accounts of the ? affair, the beautiful site for the monu l mental base, the charming day, splendid music, and banquet. the number. of people present, but not a word of the orators ut g 'erances. don't know how they explain l cd matters to their city editors. I an sure, however, that the Herald man wat
 the best paid of any of those. who filled . the Washington monument assignment v I happen to know him. Root F. R a Huntsnaa'a, d'a The Journalist. l Don't use rosin soaps when you can buy . bars of Brussels soap (which contain no rosin '' for 50 cents, at c. l.. Johnson's.