The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-02
SECURED GREELEY.
HOW THE GREAT EDITORS. HAND
WRITING SERVED. A. TURN.

Its Illegibiiity Was Taken Advantage Of
by tho Manager of tho Country Fair,
and the People of Oswego Falls Saw
and Heard the Lion OF the Day.
Every composition who ever put in
type any of Horace Greeley S copy will
certify to the fact that his handwriting
was almost illegible. 1t was the despair
Oh the composing room, aud even Gree
ley himself couldn't always decipher it,
"A man who was many years ago presi-
dent OF the Oswego County Agricultural
association said several days ugo that he
mad good reason on one occasion to be
thankful that Mr.. Greeley's writing
was hard to decipher. This fact secured
Tor him star attraction at the fair
which he could not have obtained other
wise. The association Of which he was
president mado great effort each year
to Guido rival associations in it's fair,
and one of its regular attractions was
distinguished speaker who delivered an
address to the crowd OH any subject that
he might select.
When was made president, said
the ex-ofticer of the association, 81 was
young and ambitious wanted to give
the best fair that ever had been held at
Oswego Falls, and was willing to
work hard to accomplish such result.
Long beforehand 1 stirred up the farm
ers to raise big squashes and pumpkins,
and prepared good schedule of horse
races. secured a man to make a bal
loon ascension, and all that was lacking
AT that time Mr. Greeley was the
most conspicuous man in the United
States. We all wanted to see him and
hear him speak. He was n very busy
man, however, and knew that We had
about one chance in ten of securing
him. l determined to take that chance.
After much preliminary thought and
many consultations with others I pre-
pared and sent to him very creditablo
invitation to attend our fair and deliver
an address on any subject that he chose.
L assured him that ho would find ONLY
friends i'll his audience, and I said that
we had long looked for such an oppor-
tunlty to hear him. Two days later the
village postmaster told mo that he had
letter that he thought was addressed
to me. l had heard good deal about
Greeley's handwriting, and knew ut
once that this was my reply from Mr..
Greeley. When opened tho envelopc, l
found sheet of paper OH which were
irregular scrawls that 1 couldn't de-
cipher. With several of my friends I
puzzled over it Il long time, but could
not read 1t. remembered that the cd
ltor OF our paper had ut one time been
familiar with Mr.. Greeley's handwrit-
ing, and took the letter to him. He
was little out of practice, but he de-
ciphered it after half an hours cxami-
nation. Mr.. Greeley regretted that he
was unable to accept our invitation.
That was great disappointment to me.
l thought it over, and suddenly it
dawned on me that there was lust a
chance that might by strategy get Mr..
Greeley to Oswego Falls after all.
sent him another letter that must have
staggered him. Mr.. Greeley was we'll
aware OF the fact that his writing was
almost illegible, and he was never
much surprised when his letters were
mlsconstrued. simply took advantage
OF that, and i'll my second letter l
thanked him for accepting our invita-
ton. 70 leave him no loophole for es
cape, told him that we had begun to
distribute handbils announcing the
TACT that ho was going to deliver the
address ut tho fair, and 1 added that
had ordered the printers to place his
name Ill big letters OH our three sheet
posters. knew that when he got nv
letter he would conclude that we had
read his letter declining the invitation
as Il letter of acceptance, and / hoped
when he learned how far we had gone
with our printing that he would CON
clude to come
I've received no reply from MI
Greeley, but from time to time we sent
him our posters and information about
the fair and the town. A week before
the day set for the address we sent him
time table and told him Oh what
train we should look for him. was
uneasy all this time, because 1 knew
that if Mr.. Greeley didn't turn IN
should be blamed. When the day for
the great event arrived, I went to the
station to await the train. Sure enough,
Mr. Greeley was Oh board. introduced
myself to him rs the man who had sent
him the invitation and who had re-
celved his very kind acceptance. Mr..
Greeley looked at me closely, and there
was suspicion of smile OIL his face.
You had no difficulty in reading
my letter. he said.
Well, it was a little hard to dcci-
pher it at first replied, and we were
III doubt for few minutes whether YOU
had said Eyes" or "No" to our invita-
ton. When we did decipher the letter,
we were very much pleased to find that