Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-01-09
m'cARThYs "THoue4T EXCHANGE. {"


Mode Of Amusement.
"Did you ever hear about McCarthy's
Thought ExchangeT ono Of q group
asked Ia a restaurant the other day.
"Who's Mccarthy somebody asked.
why. John d Mccarthy, Senator
Stanford's private secretary said the
first ''Hes an odd genius. and NO handy
that the California millionaire gives him
his own salary Of 5000 year in addi-
ton to the 81 day allowed by the gov
eminent TO attend to his affairs. I'm
reminded Of his Thought Exchange by
reading the story Of Clyatts the London
reporter. who had witnessed 300 execu-
tons.
The gentlemen present said they had
never heard Of the Exchange.
well, said the first speaker, INC
Carthy used to be q newspaper reporter.
He has worked in New York and in San
Francisco. and a good many towns be
tween them. Before he became Stan
ford's secretary he was in Washington, a
reporter on the old National Republican.
He complained that life was so dull Sun
day nights that ii wasn't worth living,
so he organized the Thought Exchange.
He printed 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.
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 10 rent the hall, and
so the Exchange was about to move ont
TO little hall near Twentieth street ant
Pennsylvania avenue; but II did NO
make the change"
"What has this 10 do with man VIII,
had seen 300 executions2' some one asked
/ m rttiat hSs-u ~ Ot
newspaper reporter. He had seen hang
ings In dozen states-about forty in nj
Ia his record. think He saw Guiteal
executed, and had been present nj
lynchings In Missouri and elsewhere
On the last night the Exchange wa;
TO meet in the Tenth street hall ne
speakers came forward. Something had
to be done. and Mccarthy was equal Il
the occasion He went upon the plat
form and announced that he would Civ,
lecture. His subject would be 'Th
Comparative Merits Of the Long ani
Short Drop at Executions He went "A
It and discussed the subject "a coolly a
one would discuss whether Washingtoi
or Napoleon were the greater general
He talked for two hours lie cited sey
eral executions he had witnessed a
showing the merits Of the two systems.
He described one or two horrible a
fairs where a rope, and mob, and
bridge were the principal accessorie
! The ladies present got up and went ava
Mt that, and the others Of his nudienC
were either dazed or charmed with h
audacity. After talking for two hour
he announced the change in place
meeting for the next week, and said !
would deliver another lecture on II
| same subject. giving especial attentic
I 10 lynehings,
Zone of the long haired men preset
came TO him after the lecture and sal
OF course your lecture was very fin
and it certainly shows you have la
some remarkable experiences, but don
you think it would be wise for the ne:
time to take something in which y
conld all be interestedr Next we,
there was no audience. and the ,Thougl
Exchange was dead 1t wasn't long nj
er that that Mccarthy was appoint,
private secretary by Mr. Stanford. :"
New York Times