Telegram-herald., 1891-04-04
A GENTLE numoalsr.
80 nesrA>s 81 the Lsss A Mi1ss 0xts-
vsId, TIE rss esas<iszssx-"

GrtsEoid. was rcn1 or quoting the re-
mark Ii bis serious moods. He had these
moods, for bis hulnor, ike al that rings
true. was ever On the border CT strict
truth. Even the earicatarist 10 sue
cssd must keep close 10 nature, and my
dear friend Griswold was no earicatur-
sss. He Wa rather the gentle, great
hearted. kindly philosopher, who won
our laughter by pointing out tho in
herenE eccentricitics Of things than
the cynic who exaggerstes them
'Miner" or ''Gris," as we used TO love
% call him. was great man Not great
sccordiag 70 tina standard by which the
world mates out its clumsy approval,
out inherently great in that he had mas
tered . philosophy that was suficient to
him. and WAS = complete exponent or II.
Generous beyond bonnds. he was forever
DONG good, and satisfying himself com
piesely with the Consciousness Of having
done 1t, looking for nothing more. Low
ing by nature. he went at times even to
exoezs IN the good fellowship that too
of1kn became conviviality. Clear head
ed, he controlled himself with strength
of viii that kept him within bounds
not the bounds Of conventionalisy, but
those Of his own good sense.
This man, who WAS cherished friend
Of great many Of the most distinguished
men Of the last thirty years, was born in
obscurity. and ran away from homo
when only a dozen years or SO OF age TO
go 70 work on canal boat. To tell the
story OF his life would be like turning a
Kaleidoscope. for there was nothing Ike
consecutiyeness In 1t. and the variety Of
his experiences was bewildering A
sornber tragedy In his life made Of him
a broken hearted man IN the prime Of
life. and il was only after years of suffer-
ing that he found peace and happiness in
bis second marriage.
With the exception Of that episode
tis history was merely succession Of
careless adventures full of merriment.
Something Of the way he regarded tho
serious matters OF life is shown by what
he said 70 Charley Stow when that gifted
genius met him in Cincinnati. What
ere you doing hereT asked Stow. "Came
on a collecting tour" said Griswold.
what luck:" Capital! Most success
full trip ever made % the kind. Been
here three days. Collected hundred
and fifty dollars. Telegraphed TO my
wife for fifty to get home with, and Just
got that"
In his early days he was always likely
20 be broke" though he made great
Gums by lecturing when 1.-THE Fat Con-
sributor" WAS at the zenith Of his fame.
tie used to ten with great glee Of one
morning in Cleveland when he and .
boon companion found themselves penni-
Iess and breakfastless, with no credit
oven for q cocktail. They stood on the
corner in a quandary, when suddenly
Artemus Ward, warm friend Of both
Of them, came along. Browne (Artemus
Ward) was then very flush of money, as
they both knew, and they hailed him
joyously. lie stopped and chatted pleas
antly for q few minutes. paying no IT
fention TO their evident distress. and nj
length Griswold told him plainly that
they were both busted" and hungry.
''Ohi" said Browne, talking very fas,
and giving them no chance to interrupt,
I'm very sorry. Now I'll tell you what
you must do. Gro to work right away
Start newspaper. You must be sure ia
make it light and breezy in character.
Beware Of dullness. Don't attempt to
be too serious. Make it breezy. Make
1t breezy. Good morning." And be
walked of rapidly, leaving his friends
almost stupefied-
IL was rather more cruel than Artemus
Wards jokes were apt to be. and Girls
void would have been incapable Of il.
though he never got over his apprecia-
ton Of the fun in it. He was fond OF
practical jokes, but never at any one
else's expense. He always made himself
the butt. For instance. he used to tell
with great glee how he got himself ar
rested FIVE times in one evening by diff
ferent policemen for the sake of being
taken to a station house where the
captain was a personal friend. and would
not lock him up as the charge was moth
Ing more serious than singing in the
street. '.Of course" he said. II could
not sing. but | felt as though I would
like to. and tried. The policeman
could not be blamed"
Griswold was an inveterate punster.
but this was excusable on the ground
that some OF his puns were witty. He
invasion Of Canada. and crossed the river
TO Windsor and entered . barroom,
where IN spirit Of pure fun he began 70
sing q Fenisn song. II was dangerous
fun. for q stalwart stranger. full OF Can
sdisn patriotism, suddenly presented .
revolver at his head and exclaimed
sternly. You cant sing that song in
Windsor Quick ~ . fash Griswold
replied. g couldn't sing is IL was out
Of wind. SORT
He and Artenus Ward in Cleveland
played Characteristic prank on q teach
er Of elocutiou who had just como to the
city % settle. They called at q m
and rang his bell lie came 10 the door
in his nixhsshirt. and they pushed their
way in aud told him they came 70 inter
view him The professor. though de-
lighted st the chance II a notice. protest.
ed that IL was very late. "Oh. we don't
mind that" said Griswold; Eve are ueed
10 nixhework And Browne said,
"vou are an slocutionisfr' Yes
well. then. eiocuse.- And befor. the
h~wilter-d mao knew what he was
about he was on . chair in his scsnty
co~tums spcuting heroic verse. Then
they went on and wrote him some hnt
ciss~ notices
such stories show enly ore side of this
true g-ntl-u,sn and kindly fellow, bot
g. enc who loves the laughter Of hfs