Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-11-09
MADE A LIFELONG ENEMY.
An Incident Suggesting the Necessity Of
Reading Letters Before Sending Them.

An Incident Suggesting the Necessity OF
Reading Letters Before Sending Them.
Speaking of stenographers," said
gentleman well known in Washington
who for a number of years represented
a Louisiana district in congress to
Star reporter the other day, 81 once
had secretary, an unusually careful
and competent fellow, too, whose
slight slip in typewriter letter to a
constituent of mine cost me that gen
tleman's friendship, friendship valued
more highly than / can express.
This is the way it came about: At
time when 1 was well-nigh submerged
with committee duties 1 received let
ter from the head of one of the most
influential and widely respected fami,
lies of the state. His residence had
just burned down, he wrote me, the
loss coming at moment when it at,
fected his financial matters to no in
considerable extent. Could he not pre-
sumo upon our many years of friend'
ship to the extent of asking loan of
two hundred and fifty dollars, until the
insurance companies should settle his
claim? was deeply moved to learn OF
his misfortune, and Immediately die
tated, along with number of other
letters, the following lines to him:
My dear sir: l am greatly panied
to hear of the calamity which has come
upon you. 1 regret have not two
hundred and fifty dollars in available
funds at present; will send check in a
day or two
Promptly enough the check went,
but with equal promptness it was re-
turned to me, with no word of explana-
tion. l own 1 was surprised, but con-
cluded he must have received his in-
surance money, and the circumstance
was gradually forgotten. But it was
very forcibly recalled to my mind
when next L paid a visit to my home,
for he did not call upon me, as he had
always been won't to do. On the con-
trary, he Stunned a meeting with me.
Imagine my dismay upon finding
the letter had sent him in the most
kindly spirit possible contained these
words: L regret L have two hundred
and fifty dollars in available funds
will send check in day or two In
vain / explained, apologized, implored
To his dying day he never forgave
what he termed my studied and un
warranted affront.
For years l have never mailed let
ter, either long or short, without sub
jecting it to the most rigid scrutiny.
tell you, sir, it pays to be watchful IL
this respect. t."-Washington Star.
She Was the First Star.
Every now and then an anecdot'
comes to the front showing that oul
first president liked the theater as wei
as do his followers of to-day. TIL,
point is mentioned in one of the man!
theatrical stories narrated in that nev
book, "Shakespeare's Heroines on th
Stage" Says the author of the book
"a Philadelphia Portia of this sam
season of 1884 comes of noted family
being none other than Mrs. Eliz
Whitlock, the sister of Mrs. Siddon
and of the Kembles In England, a
the age of twenty-five, she had mad
her London debut as the heroine o
'Shylock,' on the 22d of February
1888, and, though somewhat masculin
in face and figure, yet displayed so AM
mated a countenance and so graceful
bearing as TO WIN moderate degree O
favor. A few years after coming t
this land she enjoyed the distinction c
playing the first star engagement o
the American stage, being engaged fo
$3.50 and benefit, to play at the Bos
ton theater in October, 1896. Their
she repeated her Portia, contendin
with the remembrance of Mrs. Powell
impersonation of previous season
She also had the honor of playing be
fore George Washington in Philade
phia. IN. Y. Times.