The Portland daily press., 1894-01-13
GREELEY AND THE FREEDMEN.
The Editor Was busy, So the Colored Dap
uty Was Badly Snubbed.


uty Was Badly Snubbed.
zone of Greeley's peculiarities," said
Congressman Amos Cummings, was a
high treble voice of the sort described as
mealy One of his strong points was his
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, he not only didn't wart to be dis
turbed, but you couldn't disturb him. You
might stand at his elbow and sing song,
make a speech, yell fire or call him names.
Greeley would keep right on with his
writing and never turn his head.
Il recall how big, broad, black preacher
came up from Virginia to see Greeley. He
was as shiny and consistent crow color as
he might have been if he had used stove
polish for bath soap. Greeley was writing
an editorial. In those New York days you
didn't send your card to the editor. You
came laundering along on your unannounc-
ed, unaided merits, told your story and
were thrown out or made friendly with,
just as seemed most likely to swell the sub
scription list or add to the advertising of
the paper. The darky preacher came in and
stood little to the rear of Greeley, with his
utO Ill OuS uctllN duO d Ce1llC W lllCu lOOACu
if cut from the small end of buggy tongue
in the other. He waited a respectful
moment, changed his feet and coughed.
but Greeley never turned hand or head. AT
last the dark envoy concluded to address
the editor anyhow. He struck great at
titude-I could see him from my room
and bringing the ferrule of the buggy pole
down on the floor with click said:
I. I 4
tied by the colored people of Nawfolk
V'ginny, sab, to consult with you on the
'melioration of de condition of de freed
; men of de south
Here be paused for profound moment
while Greeley kept on writing without Civ
ing the slightest sign. After moment Oh
two spent in regarding the back of Greeley's
head, the ambassador shifted his weigh,
onto the other foot and struck in again.
"'Gen'rul Greeley, sab, de colored peopl,
of Nawfolk, V'ginny, nominated me for d,
distinguished honah Of q talk with you o,
de 'melioration of de distressin condition
of de freedmen of de south.
Here came another pause. Greeley kept
on at his work and paid no more heed than
to the chatter of the street. The preacher
couldn't understand it, but he made up hi.
mluu W SuaAe ouCe Luorc psiore ne gave II
the box.
'Jedge Greeley, sab, de colored peopi
have designated me to come nawth frol.
Nawfolk and considah with you de harasr
in surroundins of de freedmen of south
Do you heah me, sah?'
''At this point he shifted the buggy poi,
into the other hand and shook Greeley b5
the arm. The old man tore himself from.
the grasp of the black commissioner. ana
without looking around screamed in the
voice of wrathful henhawk:
"'Tell your ID freedmen to go over
to Jersey and dig potatoes and husk corn
and ameliorate their own conditions
IF l hadn't been working on The 1rib
une," concluded Mr.. Cummings, Il should
have wired down to 'Nawfolk' and had the
ambassadors report of his visit to Greeley,
written up for the paper. 1t ought to have
been good reading. - ashington Post.