The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-11-29
BELOVED .nILLn GIBSON.

An Aaecdote OF the Grand Old Soldier Or.
ator-How He Emptisd m Opera House
OF It's Audience Cato the Sidewalk,
Where He Had Been slightinEly Placed.
Cincinnati Tmes.S,ar.
When Gen. William Fl. Gibson died
one Of the grandest men that ever lived
died. He was a nobleman in every
sense, pure minded, a fearless patriot, a
wonderful orator. a faithful Christian, a
gentleman and statesman. Withat he
was modest, too much so. He possess
cd a breadth OF mind that fitted him for
any dignity, but his worth was OF that
unobtrusive kind which ofttimes sees
less worthy aggressiveness take promi-
nence.
Many stories are told OF the wonder.
fulinfuence that the brave old soldier
had over his audiences. He was abso-
lutely peerless. He was OF an intensely
emotional nature to whom all the poetry
and romance OF life was an open book,
and he had a wonderful faculty OF al
ternately bringing laughter and tears
from his audiences. One Of the remin:
iscences which the dear old general
used to recall with evident delight was
one OF visit which he made years ago
10 Rochester, N. Y. He told 1t to the
writer not long ago while seated on the
porch OF his beautiful home at Tftin.
The Republicans OF Rochester had
heard OF Gen. Gibson and they asked
him to 90 to their city and make pc.
litical speech. None OF them knew him
personally but had heard OF his great
powers as public speaker. In RESPONSE
to the invitation, the general packed
small hand bag and set out. He con-
fessed that he had not attired in any
thing OF an imposing manner, naiveiy
saving that at the time he was too poor
to spend any money on fine ratment.
When he got to Rochester he found no
one ut the depot to meet him and so he
walked up town to hotel and regis
tered.
The clerk, entirely ignorant OF who
William H. Gibson, Of riGn, Ohio, was,
and not favorably impressed with his
somewhat seedy appearance, gave him
a back room on the top floor and neg
lected those little courtesies that hotel
clerks usually show to distinguished
guests. The general BACKED up his
boots, brushed the dust off his clothes,
and after breakfast went up town to the
Republican headquarters to report
When he introduced himself he was
received with very cold chill. The
committee was surprised to find that
the man OF whom they had heard 80
much was very plain and unpromising
looking person. and they at once con-
cluded that they had made a mistake.
However, there was no help for it, and
they decided to let the general speak in
the afternoon. A famous New York
politician had been engaged to make an
address at the same time, and il was ar
ranged that Gen. Gibson should adj
dress an overflow meeting-if there
should be any-while the famous man
should have the opera house to speak
in. The general said he saw right away
that the committee was disappointed
with him, but instead OF showing any
resentment he accepted their arrange
ments aud agreed to address the over
flow.
Afternoon came. The famous man
was escorted from the hotel to the opera
house in a carriage accompanied by
bands OF music and parade, and after
lie had gone solitary committeeman
came to the hotel at which the general
was stopping and escorted him TO the
outside OF the building, where less than
ahundred men were congreCated. The
famous man began his address inside
and General Gibson began his on the
outside. In less than five minutes the
crowd on the outside had become in
terested. in few more minutes it be-
came enthusiastic and then uproarous.
Great bursts Of laughter and tremend-
GUS rounds OF applause and prolonged
cheers gave evidence that the plain
looking stranger had made hit. Some
OF the audience In the opera house
came out to see what was the matter.
They stayed out aud joined in the
cheering. Then others came out, and
inside OF fifteen minutes the famous
man within was without an audience.
Then he came out and the commit
tee came with him. They listened and
we're amazed. They found themselves
laughing and yelling like all the rest,
and they concluded that such wonder
full oratory must be recognized. They
made the general get down off his dry
goods box and goinside the opera house.
where he spoke for two hours to as
many men as could pack themselves in
the place.
After the speech was over another
procession was formed and this time
Gen. Gibson was at the head OF it He
was taken to his hotel in state and
when the committee found what kind
OF room he had they suddenly became
very indignant and engaged fine suite
OF apartments for him and said mean
things to the clerk. A night meeting
was decided upon and it was held out
OF doors and very few people in Roches-