The record-union., 1895-03-08
HORACE GREBLBY's BROTHER
Preached Moderation In Using Water
and Got Drunk Once.

Preached Moderation In Using Water
and Got Drunk Once.
Nathan Barnes Greeley, Horace Gree
ley's brother, who died at the old Greeley
homestead, near Cory, Pa, on Monday,
was enc of the most eccentric OF men,"
said S. G. Williams of that city. His
farm in Wayne Township was one Of the
finest III Western Pennsylvania. For
many years he lived alone there and was
simply content to make a living on it. L
used to like to go out to his place and
hear him talk. l saw him last about five
years ago. He was then rs years old and
he was rs hale and hearty as he had ever
been. He attributed his excellent physi-
cal and mental condition to habitual
economy in the use of water, both as q
beverage and for lavatory purposes.
Although l am Prohibitionist,' he
once said to me, Il believe that too much
water, either taken internally or used eX-
ternally, is as bad as too much rum. But
there is only one excuse for a man to get
drunk he went Oh. The only time that
a man is excusable for getting drunk,
and he is fool if he doesn't do it then,
is when he has felon on his finger. To
get good and drunk is the quickest way
In the world to cure felon. | have tried
it and know what [ am talking about.
The only time l over tasted liquor in
my life was when l had felon on my
finger. l hadn't had wink of sleep for
three nights. Someone said that a good
drunk would cure me. / Thought | would
try it. l told my daughter what l in
tended doing, and then went to Cory
and filed up with the kind of stuff they
sell in Cory. After loading myself I
had 'em fill me quart bottle of the best
they had, and took that and the load | had
to my daughters. l didn't like the
whisky, but the prescription called for
good drunk. and l got it. For awhile. al
L found out afterward, | made things
lively at my daughters house, carrying
on alter the most approved manner OF
old tOperS. Then | sank into oblivion,
and Tor time 1t was question whether
L would come out of 1t again. But | did,
and, although the pain and swelling had
gone from my finger TO my head, the
change was great relief and | was all
right III q day or two, and my felon
troubled me no more. 1t was an heroic
remedy, but if l ever get another felon
pll go off on my second drunk, don't
care il I'm as OLD as q century,
"One summer day | thought would
drive out and have a chat with old
Barnes, as every body called him-he
called himself the old gray-headed crank
and when l got 10 the lonely farm
house l saw pair Of big bare Ieet stick
ing out of the open front door. l got out
of the wagon and found that the ieet be-
3
rest of the easy-going old farmers per-
son was stretched on the bare floor. y
newspaper covered his face, presumably
to keep of the flies, and a sonorous snOre
made 1t rattle, indicating that the inde-
pendent brother OF the great Horace was
very much asleep. Chickens were peck
ing about on the floor OF the room, and
several contented pigs were grunting and
roofing about the threshold. l didn't
have the heart to disturb the old gentIe-
mans slumbers, and went back home
One Of Barnes GreeIey's weaknesses was
his love for hogs and chickens. They
roamed at will anywhere about the
premises, not excepting the best room in
the old mans house.
This eccentric brother of the TbTbulle's
founder used to tell many funny things
about Horace. y hen the latter had made
himself and his paper famous he sent for
Barnes to come to New ork. Barnes
did so, and Horace gave him place OF
some kind in the Tribune office, but he
didn't remain long.
l couldn't fill any place I would ac-
cept,' the old farmer delighted in saving.
and wouldn't accept any place | could
fill. So / came back home I would
rather be a king among hogs than to be
hog among kings
I'm his younger days Barnes Greeley
was d great hunter and fisherman He
was fond OF telling amusing stories of
Horace's attempts to hunt and fish on his
occasional visits to the old Pennsylvania
homestead.
If deer had run by Horace in droyes,'
Barnes would say, 'he couldn't have shot
one. don't believe he'd have woke up
to the situation until the deer had been
gone an hour or two. AS for catching
nsh, he never got even SO much as bite
IN trout stream, while l would be fish
ing right by his side and pulling 'em out
by the Dozen New York Sun.