The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-23

IAkNlo IIEIIhls
t..fs. "a 70 werc-but this opinion would
Quickly dispelled by chat with the old
C .aa0ua settlers who knew the habits,
manners and customs of this curious fam
.Iae frt time / ever saw Horace Greeley
nleut.y stamped ON my memory, said
a..I lady tO the writer a few days since.
Vic bad begun % write for The Jeifer-
s.. au. a little two leafed paper published
h Sew York He was home on visit TO
.ntHts. Ny father and j were invited
spend "a duy and night at the Greeley
homestead We rode 10 miles on horse
back. and when we finally reached our des-
taat.on a lmky, awkward youth, with a
81 #. of tow c0lOred hair and the longest OF
.aus and les, came forward 90 assist me
oI my horse This feat he performed 50
4 cmsilv That my dress was caught III the
saddle. and fcll forward into his arms. j
WIS mortified and indignaut supposing
him 20 Doe a hired man. but Judge Of my
a4meut when found that this awk-
ward youth. who looked ike nothing 50
much as great green gosling, was none
other than Horace himself, a real live
writer
"Ile family" continued the narrator,
"lgel iu the most primitive fashion.
There were OF course mo carpets, the Ia
be was Of pine and each one dipped food
nom one great dish. Everybody washed
stthesqme Gin bowl outside on a bench.
There were no partitions in the chamber,
merely curtains hung up TO separate the
various beds. The chickens and turkeys
wore permitted To walk upon the door
rns and even TO enter the kitchen in so
cable fashion Amid such surroundings
lad Horace grown up The family were
t.8 poor 10 afford candles, and so it was
H.rre's custom 70 tramp to the neigh
boring woods and bring huge pine knots
fr Tie fireplace. When these blazed up,
UeI0y would throw himself down on the
floor and read aloud to his mother as she
600 spinning and eagerly listening, for it
vasto Dis mother Horace owed his love OF
knowledge
"Wlm he was first married and brought
DIE bride home on avisit, sugar party was
given bon their honor on neighbOring farm.
att she guests had arrived, and we were
looking out. watching for the belated bride
and groom At last we saw something APP
pnrln the distance As this object came
nearer we discovered it was the old white
horse of the Greeleys slowly picking his
way through the mud. On bis back SAT
te bride IN q brilliant yellow frock with a
ueu velvet belt, and behind her, wrapped
500 bis famous white overcoat, sat the cd
iror of the New York Tribune. IL was the
funniest sight / ever saw and set us of in
t's of laughter remember concluded
rg Informant, laughing again at her reooi-
aaon. 'th4t simply lay down and rolled
ulon Che floor in o spasm Of mirth.'
Mr Greeley came home every year, and
after q day or two 0u the old farm would
start out Co walls miles and call on people
was never known TO knock at a farm
house door No matter whether he knew
i-e climates on not. be would push open the
door, walk right in, sic down by the fire
and fall % discussing crops and other
t.c, dear 60 the farmers heart. Every
lr uas glad 20 welcome this gentle,
n. Intruder Then, too he always as
em0.l hIs ueighbOrs in a school or meet
t .us-e and ,ectured TO them on some
far topic. He was regarded with great
fIln by these plain peOple-a venera-
OIL. which at times deepened into awe. On
ca,ion after lccturing he Immediately
l.t tle building. as he was 10 be carried 10
o.. .r.ia 10 miles away. lie hastily brushed
through The thrOng, and as he passed one
A-l 0.d lady turned 10 another with ra-
4a.l lacc. "Why. don't You believe, he
olo I'd mew she said in an almost breath
lrs tone " Qualification. That touch doubt
.e,. transhgured her homely existence.
Ar Greeley WAS jealous Uniyersalist
a- believed that we get our punishment
hllt along here every day. I'm view Of this
laie lhe following story hitherto unpub-
lstel and which WAS told me by a lifelong
lural Of the editor has droll enough side:
When he came home Oh these visits, he was
Of course constantly petitioned for favors
and donations One day travelling mis-
aouary called upon him 20 ask financial aid
W build mother meeting house.
hr erA.iev .ss4 S4@r, - lle preparation
ofsouc cGltorn work ana was not IN any
mood 20 DO bothered. However, the mis-
eopHry. eho was an obtuse though excel
ielt man, kept twanging away in his mo-
Dololpus sngsong refrain. I'VE need All
uls neH, ah,-mreting house, brother Gree
ley, ah-s0 many precious souls. ah--perish-
mg-so many, ah-going 10 he'd"
That's rightw said Mr.. Greeley sudden
y nom his pile Of manuscript Good
enough for them. let 'em go. There don't
Laif enough people 20 10 hell"
And long streak Of sable co0ttails might
nave been seen flying toward the gate as
hs tnolkS6 fpissionaxy rushed away from