The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-16
Greeley's CoIored Visitor.
From The Washington Post.


"Of all men who in facial lock and
expression" remarked the Hon. Amos
Cummings, "remind me most forcibiy
Of Horace Greeley, Senator Hoar, OF
Massachusetts,, stands Iirst. I saw u
great deal of Greeley at one time. |
worked on The Tribune for some years
! in various capacities. One of Greeiey's
peculiarities was high treble voice Of
! the sort described as measley. Oae Of
his strong points was Lis profanity.
To hear Greeley swear in that piccolo
! tone was one of the pleasures we all
! looked forward to on the old Tribune.
When Greeley was engaged in writing
, an editorial or an article, he not only
didn't want to be disturbed, but you
couldn't disturb him. You might stand
at his elbow and sing song, make d
speech, yell fire, or call him names;
Greeley would keep right on with bis
writing and never turn his head. Once
recall how big, broad, black
preacher came up from Virginia to STE
Greeley. He was as shiny and consis-
tent crow color as he might have
been if be had used Morse's stove
polish for bath soap.
Greeley was writing an editorial. In
those New York days you didn't send
your card to the editor. Icu came
b!undering along on your unannounced,
uuaided merits, told your story and
was thrown out or made friendly with,
Just as seemed most likely to swell the
subscription list or add to the adver-
tisiug of the paper. The darky preacher
came in and stood u little to the rear
of Greeley, with his hat in one hand
and cane which looked as if cut from
the small end of a buggy tongue in the
other He waited a respectful mo-
ment, changed his feet, and coughed,
but Greeley never turned hard or
head. At last the dark envoy con-
cluded to address the editor anyhow.
He struck great attitude-I could see
him from my room-and bringing the
ferule Of the buggy pole down on the
floor with click, saic:
".Mistah Greeley, sab, I have been
deputed by the colored people Of Nav
folk, Virginny, sab, to consult wild you
on de 'melioration of de condition Of
de freedmen of de south
"Here be paused for profound mo-
ment while Greeley kept on writing
without giving the slightest sign. After
a moment or TWO spent in regarding the
back of Greeley's head the ambassa-
dor shifted his weight onto the other
foot, and struck in again.
"tGen'rul Greeley, sab, de colored
people of Nawfolk, Virginny, nom
mated me for de distinguished honah
of talk wild you on de meiloration of
de distressin' condition of de freedmen .
Of de SOUTH
Here came another pause. Greeley
kept on at bis work and paid no more
heed than to the clatter of the street.
The preacher couldn't understand it,
but he made up his mind to have one :
more shake before he gave up the box.
"'Jedge Greeley, sab, de colorsd peo-
pie have designated noe to come nawth
f'om Nawfolk and considah wild you 4,
De harrassin' surroundins Of de freed
men of de south. Do you heah me,
sir?' (
"'At this point he shifted the buggy
pole into the other hand and shook
Greeley by the arm. The OLD man tore 7
himself from the grasp Of the black
and without looking1 7
around screamed in the voice Of
xrathful henhawk:
'.sTell your d-n freedmen to 60
,ver to Jersey and dig potatoes and
1usk corn and aIneliorate their own
,onditions.'
IF / hadn't been working on The
Tribune" concluded M1. Cummings,
I should have wired down to Nav
ok and had the am bassador's report
# bis visit to Greeley written up for
he paper. It: ought to have been :
,ood reading" r.