Middletown transcript., 1891-10-15
A SINGULAR INCIDENT
IN THE LIFE OF HENRY VALENTINE,
NOVELIST.

N the summer OF 1864 belonged
to an organization calling itseli
"The Catskill Walking Club
By virtue Of it's attainments in the
way of reputation, Henry Valentine
was elected Janitor; Chetwood, the
poet, ives chosen Secretary, largely
because his penmanship was as much
like steel.engraving as bis verses were
like carven cherry-stones Tom Jem-
mison, Of the New York Regulator,
was made Treasurer. for the philan-
thfopic reason that, his paper being q
new one, money was invariably scarce
with him, and we fancied the jingling
Of the clubs balance in his pockets
would impart to Toms life new and
delectable sensation. The remaining
Offices, the Presidency and the Vice
Presidency, fell to the lots respective
" Of myself and "Caddy Barlow, of
the Piccadilly Club.
It was while on enc OF our explor-
ing expeditions on Long Island Sound
that Valentine told us of the singular
incident in his career which | am
about, with his permission, to record.
We had anchored for the night in the
harbor of one of the towns on the
Long Island side Of the Sound, the
exact location of which prefer not to
state, since it might lead to the iden-
tifcation Of persons who figured in
Valentines novel, although the chief
parsonage therein-otherwise the lady
in the case-is no longer living, hav-
ing died, Valentine tells me, within
the past six months.
We had been sleeping on board our
yacht for six nights, and Caddy "
Barlow and were for going ashore
and putting up at the hotel. whore,
we understood, were to be had good
beds, good service an6 good meals,
but Valentine declared himself as
averse to doing anything of the sort,
while the other two members Of the
club we're non-committal.
sob, pshaw, Henry !" Barlow said
impatiently )" what's the use Of sleep.
ing on hard wood deck when there's
q fine springfield just yawning for
you ?"
"And what's the good" I put in,
!" of living on potted ham and con-
densed milk when there are live pigs
and COWS running wild through the
main streets Of this lovely burg, just
waiting to be hammed and to be milk.
ed?"
THAT'S the idea" said Caddy,"
smaeking his lips. Fresh ham is
my delight +; though as for milk, I
consider that an abomination, suited
only for the tea of lovelorn Marianas
whose lives are passed in waiting for
moated grangers who never turn up"
"Well, you co." returned Valen-
tine. "Don't let me interfere, beg
Of you. Go ahead, all Of you. But
as for myself, much as | enjoy your
society, / would rather stay here in
the boat alone than pass the night in
that town."
"Is this an idiosyncrasy Of genius
or the natural-born cussedness Of an
old man?" queried "Caddy," who
gloried in the fact that he would not
turn thirty for five years. 8 It the
former, I'll stay here, because; if
there's one thing I like more than
another, it is to associate with gen
uises. It has tremendous advantages.
Suppose, for instance, Valentine and !
were out yachting together, just as we
are at present, and the boat were to
capsize and both Of us were to drown.
Jove! I'd be immortal. The COM
ing biographer of Henry Valentine
would have to say, 1t was. while
yachting off Cape Codd with his inti-
mate friend, Stuyvesant Van Rensse-
laer Barlow, whom he always affec-
tionately termed Caddy," because Of
that interesting young mans fondness
for tea, that the author Sir days IN a
Cat boat, or the perils Of Miriam Bum
ker, met his untimely death, and
plunged two continents and an 18th
mus into mourning" That" added
/" Caddy," rising and striking statu-
esque attitude" that would make
me immortal where brass and marble
would prove utterly insufficient. But
if it is not genius that says "stay
here" but age demanding tribute
from youth, / go ashore. Which is it
Vally ?"
!" You don't expect Henry to con-
fess to you that he is q genius, do
your
aIdon't know why not" retorted
s" Caddy." You've confessed that
much to me about yourself full many
q time and off, q
Well, never miEd," put in Valen-
tine. with an amused look on his face.
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