The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-10-31

" NJ bAlLkhs
he makes bee line for Monte" Bailey, !
as everybody calls the genial editor, and |
Monte has never been known to turn
any needy one away empty handed |
Mr. Bailey's face is one Of those to
which a photograph cannot do justice,
because in the photograph you miss the
humorous and kindly cordiality that
Eliminates it. Then there is peculiar
twinkle of the eye, accompanied by the
faintest suggestion Of a movement Of
the body, as if in imagination he poked
you in the ribs and had to hold himself
in from doing it in reality. This hap
pens when Mr.. Bailey says something
which might be called a Baileyism. 1t
is a genial kind Of humor that he has,
and because it is unstudied it is good
and never fiat. Withal he is truly mod
est, like Bill Nye and other great men,
He took me into his back office, put
me in his own chair and then sat down
by the side of the desk and began to
talk While we were thus occupied a
friend came in, and Monte turned on
him with the kindly shafts of his wit,
rallying him about everything that came
into his head. This gentleman told me
afterward that Mr.. Bailey was always
the same. 81 never enjoyed myself SO
much in my life as have with Monte
Bailey" he said, land ! must say that,
while he has written some mighty fun
ny things, like him better than his
books. And yet, when | asked him
why he didn't write any more, his reply
was; 81 am played out. If any one asks
you, tell them that" He continued: IF
there is anything which disbelieve in,
it is for humorist to allow the machine
to enter into his work, and the moment
that he feels it he had better stop"
handed him one OF his books, which
was lying on his desk, and asked him if
he would indicate those sketches which
had been the most popular He stood
there with the book in his hand and
started on a train of "reminiscences. Both
of us forgot the object of my visit, and
| for more than an hour he ran on.
you are too young he said ito ap-
! preciate how we used to live in the old
days in New England when | was boy.
Now that sketch of the boy carrying in
4
was the eldest of family, and it seemed
to me as if we were always moving My
stepfather had the kindest heart in the
world, but terrible temper, | remem-
Der myself standing in the kitchen one
day while he was trying to move the
stove. Although | was but child, it
was so extremely funny to me to see the
varying expressions on his face that
every once in a while | was Obliged to
run out in the back yard and roll over
all doubled up with laughter"
These early impressions evidently
clung to Mr. Bailey with great tenaclty
and gave a peculiar vividness to his
sketches One of his associates at the
time when he was writing them said
that when Monte was writing in his den
he could always tell when a happy
thought struck him by peculiar chuckle
that came through the cracks of the
door, and when he heard this he would
say to himself, There, Monte's getting
off good thing" | asked Mr., Bailey
about his experience as a lecturer. He
laid down his book on the desk and
standing up with his hands in his pockets
and swaying gently backward and for
ward he replied:
That's where made a big mistake
but, the fact is, never thought | could
do it, At one time was offered $4,000
for a course of lectures, but never hac
much experience with an audience, anC
was afraid that what | said would fal
/. fiat. Some time afterward Bret Hart'
gave lecture here, and ! introduced
: him to the audience. | felt keenly thu
! solemnity of the occasion, and suppose
. had some diffidence about it, and per
. haps this very thing is what caugh
them; and then felt rather abashed il
the presence of such great writer a
Bret Harte. When got through speak
ing Harte turned to me and whispered
'D-n you, Bailey, you have taken al
the wind out of my sails.
In 1874 he visited England, Scotland
Ireland and France, and on his retur
lectured on England from Back Win
dow" While he was travelling in Eng
- land one day on the train his wifi
wanted to buy book to read. The bo
handed him one and he said, as he CAV
: it TO her, Here, my dear, is book tina
2 think you will be much interested in
1t was a copy Ct Life in Danbury'