Smyrna times., 1891-07-22
MoARruy,s ~rHoueHT EXCHANGE"
Senator stanford's Private Secretary's 3
nr.In Of An,nnenrnent.

Senator stanfOrd's Private secretary's
Mode of Amusement.
"Did YOU ever hear about McCarthy's
Thought Exchange'p one of a group
asked in restaurant the other day.
"Who's Mccarthy somebody asked.
"Why, John B. Mccarthy, Senator
Stanfords private secretary" said the
first. "He's an odd genius, and so handy
that the California millionaire gives HIM
his own salary of $1,000 year IN addl-
ton to the So a day allowed by the gov
ernment to attend to his affairs. I'm |
reminded of his Thought Exchange by |
reading the story of Clyatt, the London
reporter, who had witnessed 300 execu-
tions"
The gentlemen present said they had
never heard OF the Exchange"
sWell," said the first speaker, INC
Carthy used to be q newspaper reporter.
He has worked in New York and in San
Francisco, and good many towns be-
! tween them. Before he became Stan
ford's secretary he was in Washington,
reporter on the old National Republican.
He complained that life was so dull Sun
day nights that it wasn't worth living,
so he organized the Thought Exchange
He printed a notice in The Republican
that such an exchange had been organ
lied, and that all people who had any
views on any subject would be welcome,
and invited to speak. He rented hall
on Tenth street, and the next Sunday
night about fifty were present.
t'There were Spiritualists who wanted
to give exhibitions of their powers.
There were labor agitators. There were
socialists and temperance workers.
Everybody was allowed to speak. The
following Sunday the attendance was
larger and the speakers of about the
same sort. The hall rent was eight dol
lars an evening. A collection was taken
up which usually amounted to dollar
or two more than that, and that was
clear profit. The thing went along until
the owner refused to rent the hall, and
so the Exchange was about to move out
to a little haH near Twentieth street and
Pennsylvania avenue; but it did not
make the change"
"What has this to do with q man who
had seen 300 executOns?' some one asked
CAS- / said, Mccarthy used to be ;
newspaper reporter. He had seen hang
ings in dozen states-about forty in al
is his record, 1 think. He saw GuiteaI
It executed, and had been present II
Iynchings in Missouri and elsewhere
On the last night the Exchange wa
Il to meet in the Tenth street hall n
NJ speakers came forward. Something ha
NJ to be done, and Mccarthy was equal
the occasion. He went upon the plat
b. form and announced that he would Civ
N lecture His subject would be 9Th
. Comparative Merits of the Long an
N Short Drop at Executions He went d
it and discussed the subject as coolly Z
one would discuss whether WashingtO
or Napoleon were the greater genera
X He talked for two hours. He cited se7
eral executions he had witnessed I
Oh showing the merits of the two systems.
''He described one or two horrible a
fairs where a rope, and q mob, and
TO bridge were the principal accessorie
The ladies present got up and went ava
at that, and the others of his audient
were either dazed or charmed with h
audacity. After talking for two hour
Ai he announced the change in place
meeting for the next week, and SAID
would deliver another lecture on Il
20 same subject, giving especial attenti'
to lynchirgs.
on "One of the long haired men prese
came to him after the lecture and sal
'Of course your lecture was very fiji
and it certainly shows you have h
some remarkable experiences, but dol
to you think it would be wise for the ne
our time to take something in which '
could all be interested? Next we
the there was no audience, and the 'Thoug
Exchange was dead. Itwasn't long a
er that that Mccarthy was appoint
inc private secretary by Mr.. Stanford.
New York Times.