The morning call., 1890-06-15

DAVID BENNETT HILL OF New York.
There is probably no word more effusively
or irradically fixed in the vocabulary OF
American slang than that one now eXclu-
siYely and universally Signityinga mysteri-
Gus, dubious, yet powerful and all-suiliclent
influence with, or over, political comOlna-
tons or dispensers Of political patronage
Its use is quite as common and cOmprehen-
sive in all active business, and not unusually
in social, and even in ecclesiastical, affairs
| refer to the word pull" One has d
pull" at the White House; another has
pull in municipal affairs; a clever cler-
gvman has a pulp at local or general con-
ferences, with presbyterieS, in church and
missionary boards, indeed with his bishop
or archbishop; and the schoolbOy of 10
strives for a pull" with his teacher or
among the juvenile crowds whose affairs
comprise tile mOStI important considerations
of his daily life. The word has been editO-
rally deplored, assailed and numerically
scourged and pursued, but always comes
out uppermoSt and goes straight on in its
sententious work and uses with hardy
kuuckles and sturdy legs. Like one of
those grim and hardy waits of the street,
that, homeless, parentless and without an
cestry, pushes himself, from the very ag-
gressive power of his usefulness, into
position and place, pull" may be now re-
garded as a naturaiZed American, and I'M
portant enough in It's lard-hSted place to
deserve attention to its ancestry. Various
philOlOgists have already written essays
giving pull distinctlvely American origin,
by the purest accident OF research upon
another subject, l discovered this to be in
correct. For its immediate parentage we
must charge its Obloquy. or credit its merits,
10 the Irish. While recently in Ireland.
engaged in an investigation upon certain OF
Its resources, l came upon an old work en-
titled, "a Statistical Survey OF Roscom-
mon," printed at Dublin in 1882.
INT into tinn
eitas of local nature to be found
in this Survey" is an account OF the
rise and fall of the Angina Coal and Iron
Company. in 1924, known as the bubble
year Of English and Irish speculation; and
particularly of the remarkable manipuia-
tons among London nobility and capitalists
in nearly successful effort on the part of
an Irish engineer, architect and builder
with the significant name of Flattery, TO
float a RoScommOn bog and hole in the
ground upon London investors for
81, 800, coo; FlatteTy's share on which booty
was to be 100000 Although it was up
hill work, and eventually became SO glazing
fraud that Parliament investigated and
put quietus upon the scheme, the radiant
enthusiasm of Mr.. Flattery found frequent
vent, by letter, to his RoscOmmOn friends
In one Of these, dated London, November
30 1924 (Appendix p x.l, is found our
American pulp in its robust force of ap-
plication and incisiveness.
MR.. FLATIERY WRITES:
81 have not sighned anything for them yet,
tho have humbuged them out of $3.50,
and got them to send of the work of the en-
CINE, which cones to e1000 / have now
pull on them, and will make them do whats
rite"
The announcement Of SANKEY'S engage
ment Of marriage to Miss Dorothy Ten
nent the London painter, will recall to the
memory Of older working journalists of New
I Urk his earliest known dream OF domestic
bliss. His inamorata was truly sweet
Philadelphia girl, daughter of a well-known
family of that city. 1t was wonderful
love match. flaming gIoriously along
through 1861 1865 and 1869, while Stanley
was simply an ordinary sort of cor
respondent and utility man on the New
York Herald. He was a furious and ar
dent lover: kept the railway car-seats
warm between New York and Philadelphia
visiting his betrothed; and the balance of
the time drove Felix de Fontaine and the
rest OF his companions among the od-time
Herald boys wild with his rosy schemes for
future domestic joys. The greatest source
of their dscomforture was in his perennial
and gorgeous architectural fancies. He
drew hundreds upon hundreds of plans,
each one for a residence to cost anywhere
from 100000 10 $500, 200, though the gener-
GUS and improvideDt fellow seldom had
more than enough money on hand for "a
bowl" at "Cobweb Hall" and before he
would mail these to his Philadelphia sweet
heart, as he almost daily did, his set among
the Herald boys must invariably examine
and pass judgment upon them. Going
over TO discuss the changes In our future
home." came to be the explana::
tory remark as the party went
into council. This was something
fearful ON the other fellows. all forgiven,
however, for Stanley had big heart for the
fraternity; and he would never forget his
fellows, not he; nor his lovely wife to be,
not she. One great, grand room was to be
theirs foreyermOre. Indeed the wonderful
mansion was to be built all around this
grand room. 1t was 10 be filed with broad.
cool, leather lounges. A great library was
to cover its walls. 1t should have half
dozen fre-places and at least dozen cosy
corners. Tables and all material for writ
ing should be eyerywhere-yet nothing
"shop-like" in sight. There should be loads
of splendid rugs, A sideboard provided
with such galore OF inspiration and wealth
of cigars as never was i'll any other mans
home should be there for his newspaper
friends BY George! they should eat,
drink, sleep. and work there, If they liked.
In a word, it was to be, and be called, their
Souls Rest"
This dream was broken in upon by his
African search for Livingstone. On his re-
turn, the most famous man of his time, in
1872, he found his betrOthed married and
already a mother. The "S0UPs Rest
dream was done. The heads of the old
Herald boys are already wen silvered. The
Philadelphia lady is the mother OF young
men looking about for wives themselves.
And Stanley. still hale and hearty, realizing
his dream In another way. with one woman
who could work and wait. is to be sort OF
king Of the vast Congo Free State.
EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.
COPYRIGHT 1880