Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
PROMISED HIS HELP.
THE PARTING WORDS OF THE IDLE
REPORTER TO HIS COLLEAGUES
A Richmonder Taken for an Ascending
Cashier Turns tho Tabies-A Veteran
JournaIist-Dupiicity Of Names.
III you have tears prepare to shed them

severed his connection with THIS paper
its staffmen. the surrounding policemen
night watchmen. and restaura'eurs 10
become one Of the pillars OF the STATE
Government. We all Lowell him, ana
dipped our napkins In his sacred piood
when he gathered his 200 old love-letters
from his desk, tenderly lilted up his rusty
old scissors, and carefully adjusted his
four-wlnters-ago rubber shoes. II was a
pathetic moment. There were very Few
dry eyes or palates In the room II was
Just before Christmas. We hated to lose
his kindly, yet impetuous. countenahce
from our midst: we regretted the taking
away fror- our sanctum OF his spiendld
wit and humor. He was always good
hearted. true to his friends. honest 10
ward his focs--if he had any Of the laIlrr
have been unable. to find them anu
am therefore safe in the remark. lie
aprreciate1 the solemnIty Of the &C.
caslon and arose to the emer-
eency. Standing like mighty ant
from Cary street, who was soon 10 lock
arms with the Chief from the valley IN
the administration Of the Executive De-
partr1ent OF the grand old Common
wealth. he said: "Grieve not, my COM
rades: If any Of you ever get IN tne
penitentiary shall use my influence 70
get you pardoned."
Not many years ago man. Iroii'ii IN.
in business and social circles here. was
travelling through the northern S'steS
and Canada. lie was n courtly, dignifled
| representative OF Virginia aristocracy'
His wife was accompanying him upon 'he
occasion 10 which l have reference. lhey
were then en- route 20 Toronto, ana han
not quite reached the Canada line wheh
n strange-lOoking man passed through the
car and eyed closely the travellers IRON
Richmond No espccial attention was paid
| TO this incident; but presently the new
conner again passed through the coach ana
scrutinized with severity the virginia
ouple. This caused apprehension 10 arise IN
the breasts Of the Richmond tourists; their
curiosity was thoroughly aroused; in TACT
the lady was frightened and her husband
| waS-not much less.
| A third time the mysterious individual
| began his course down the aisle. Cold
| chills began to creep down the backs OF
| the party from the quiet city by ire
James. They could feel the gaze OF the
cold gray eyes upon them. Presently a
hand tapped the Richmond man on the
shoulder. The good wife almost tainted.
The husband looked up in n painfully In
| quisitive way, and the stranger asked po-
| litely IL he could speak with the gentle
nan a moment. Certainly he could, was th'
response. and he led the Richmonder TO tho
end Of the car. The suspense was fearful
| to the wife
what ls you name?" queried the
| stranger laconically
THAT H. none of your business was
| the rejolnder OF the courageous south
rner who had cotton tired Of the insolenee
on the part Of his accoster.
III you do not give me your name and
] prove 10 me that 1t is your name, Ill
! have 10 arrest you," declared the stranger
| In tones that chilled the gentleman from
| the capital of the Old Dominion, and al
the same time showing Il detectives badge
that had been hidden beneath the lapel
| OF his coat.
from Richmond. Va" responded In
other with degree Of pride that wa
plainly manifest.
"You will have TO prove that, ST.
| declared the officer
But how can ~
"IIave you no letters or papers abou
you substantiating what you say
! NO; not one. Yes, i have one, TOO
| Only one" Here the Richmonder drew
from his inside breast pocket missiV
bearing In a business-like hand his name
and following It CT had been put Their
as n ioke) NJ. G. This was as far as tn
| detective read. He thought his man Wa
a member OF Congress, and immediatel!
| apologiZed, and explained the matter II
n way that WAS entirely satisfactory Il
the traveller from this city.
"You see," said the officer, 81 am look
ing for an absconding bank cashier iron
Boston. and thought you were he. ma
no idea Of offending you And the de
| teciIye was as pleasant and accommo
| dating after that as possible, 10 IN
great amusement and delight or IN
Rchmonders.
"An honest man gathers no moss;
a rolling stone is the noblest work o
Cod"
Tbusly mixed was the time-worT
maxim as Il was uttered in our sa"ciun
not long since by a veteran JouIhai's
! who had been in hard luck and VAS with
ont food or shelter. lie was tattere'
and torn, and his whiskers were hkene'
unto the frosts Of autumn. There was
| look Of gloom about the intelligent FAC
| tbat indicated that its wearer was upol
the verge Of despair. But little attention
was paid TO the newcomer, for sucn n
was. Not one OF us had ever seen Mn
before, and his remark caused but monlen
| tarv attention. lie was not long IN TEL
ing why he had called. He was hungry
| cold and desolate. lie had served 10
| rftv wears upon the stats OF some
the best daily newspapers in this county
but was, unfortunately, imbued WIN
restless dispOsitiOn-one Whlcn mthe
almost impossible for him TO remain lon
in any place. In that snow-crested hea
was stored volumes OF information. IN
no,var of that brain had made eminen
a score or more Of men, who would haidI
now contribute to an evening meal 10
The weary scribe. He had done much I
elevate the morals OF man, and in b.
present predicament would hardly b
given a seat in a middle pew in church
HIS Imagination had evolved Gigani
schemes, and his suggestions had cause
the naturalization of enterprises tina
( are colossal, and he would not dare I
appeal 20 one for the smallest mte o
succor. He was a rolling stone. ana II
had gathered no moss. He was an hohes
man. but he bore no semblance 10 ina
description so unequivocally gwen In Tn
bible. Three days he sojour1ed amen
the members Of the press Of Richmond
p 81 their expense. then he fitted from thei
midst for other scenes-passing Ike
vision. TO be remembered while 1t lasted
He was a living exemplifica'ion Of tn
inequality Of things in this life.
Almost every fellow has somewher
seen or been told OF some other man VIII
in some respect bore resemblance 10 MIN
SELF. People have addressed absolul
strangers as Old friends, because OF stril
ing similiarities in countenance or fet
ture. I once knew man who was
much like me that I would forget NJ
own parsonage and call him 10y my oT'
name. He would receive my bills frol
collectors-not that l cared about that
and l would in turn be dunned for hin
These things frequently are heard o
hut Louis Rich. who was born and reare
here. and Rev. Louis Rich, who recent
moved here from Chicago, are the mo-
unfortunate men in this respect that
have ever known. AS IS we'll remembers
Louis. the native. moved 10 the Wind
CITY about nine months ago TO engage
the hotel business with the then deiigh
full prospect OF making fortune viii
the Worlds Fair lasted. While there j
called upon fellow hotel-1eeper by III
name OF Rich. During a discussion
some business a brother OF propriete
NO 2 came in and was introduced 10 n
Young man from Richmond. Cards wei
exchanged. Our Louis handed his:
LOUIS RICH,
IT Y.