The Washington critic., 1890-05-14
An uNcANNr rxpnnlnNcn.
senator Anthony Read the Proof of
mis- Own Obituary.
Igl1nr R,1d KinIJqN In Me ED0ch.

mis- own obituary.
1riAur Reed RiniJqu IN me Epoch.
They were party of politicians en-
loving the aesthetic surroundings of the
Hoffman House and its excellent liquid
refreshments. One OF the party was
from Rhode Island. "Did you ever
hear of Senator Anthony's uncanny
experience ?" was asked. 'Well,
Senator Anthony had an experience
that few men have ever had, or would
care TO have. You know" continued
he. "that Senator Anthony was for
many years the editor of the Providence
journal, and retained his connection
with the paper in loose way after he
was elected Senator, good deal as
Senator Hawley still retains his con-
nection with the Hartford Odurdm. In
the last year of Senator Anthony's life
It was evidently only a question of
months how soon apoplexy would carry
him off
Zone night the news came to the
Providence Journal Office that Mr..
Anthony had been stricken at his New
York hotel on his way to Washington.
The managing editor sent a message in
hot haste TO one Of the Senator's most
intimate friends, professor In Brown
University, for an elaborate obituary Of
him. The very next dispatch might
bring the news of the Senator's death,
and the Senator's own paper must do
his career Justice If the mail was
missed on the last edition. The pro-
fessor fortunately chanced to be at
home, had formerly himself been a
newspaper man, and was thoroug ghly
familiar with the Senator's career. He
Immediately set to work, and before
O'Clock the next morning the copy of a
two.column obituary had passed
through printers hands and had been
put into cold type.
'The Senator did not die at that time
In fact he recovered sufficiently to go on
10 Washington. But the managing edi
tor of the Journal, realizing that the
end might come at any moment, thought
| 1t best not to have the type of the obitu
ary thrown inssbut kept 1t standing
against an emergency. Weeks passed
when one day the managing editor re
ceived a letter from Senator Anthony
containing this simple request; PLEASE
send me proof of my obituary stand
ing in type The editor was perplexed
He had not the slightest idea that Sena
tor Anthony knew anything of the ex
istence of the obituary. He did no
know what to do. but finally decided t
bluff the Senator by feigning ignorance
of what he meant, and ignoring his re
quest
In following letters the Senate
made no reference to the obituary, anC
the editor congratulated himself on tn,
success of his bluff. One day, Senate
Anthony reached home from Washing
ton and walked into the journal Office
He went straight TO the managing edito
and looking him full in the eye, said
Please send up to the composing room
Immediately and have them strike M
off proof Of that obituary about whicl
i wrote you.
There was no help for it. The g Ii
tor had no longer the nerve to fei g
ignorance, or to deny the existence q
the obituary. He did as he was ordered
and soon the oflice.b boy appeared will
the proof sheet in his hand. The Sena
tor took it and walked slowly into
small private office that he always re
tanned for himself He closed the doc
and remained there alone over an houl
What his thoughts were as he sat |
that small room all by myself, CAREFUL
weighing the final estimate of his caree
by his most intimate friend, all read
fol. publication in his own paper, no on
ever knew. He walked out of the offic
in silence as he had entered it, and
without comment. handed the proc
sheet back to the editor clean revis,
There was not a pencil mark on it. II
then left the office.
J.. mot long after the fatal stroke CAM
and that obituary was printed exactl
as it was read by Senator Anthon.
Here's health to his memory