New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-19
REMINDED HIM OF "OLD BILL"

He suddenly laid his paper down and broke
into what they used to call during the siege OF
Troy "inextinguishable laughter" He was from
the extreme West "Well, that" said he, SIS
too funny for anything. 1t reminds me so
much Of old Bill Buncoe, whom l knew years
"ago In Oalaveras County. It's just his style
Interrogated more particularly as 10 "Old
BILL" the Californian said: Everybody knew
"'Old Bill He was the smartest blackleg on
"the coast. There wasn't much going on. from
"plucking tenderfoot at tnree-card monte to
holding up q stage, that BIZ wasn't in It. He
kept a sort Of harumscarum summer resort
'in Sandy Hollow one year. and had everything
running wide open twenty-four hours of the
day 1t got to be such nuisance that the
Church members in the neighborhood went for
him and shut him up for a time 1t happened,
though, that BIZ WAS In with one of the most
influential members-regular pillar of the
"church-with whom on the sly he divided the
profits Of the bar, card-tables and other de
"partments.
After Bits place was closed the church peo-
"ple had what they called protracted meeting
"a sort Of revival, you know. After 1t had
"got we'll under way this pillar Of the church
surprised everybody by bringing Old BIZ Into
zone of the evening meetings and planting him
right down alongside Of the minister"
"Had Bill been converted"
Converted? Bless you, no! He never had
so much as risen for prayers, let alone sitting
ION the anxious seat Well, the religious peo-
pile seeing what was going on, began to get up
"and 20 out and finally the minister himself
slid out Then the church pillar called mp a
| CLERK Of his-a smart little cuss-to take charge
"of the meeting, and said; We would now Ike
ITO hear from Brother Buncoe' Well you
fought to have heard BIZ go It."
'Did he express any penitenceT
"Penltencel Well. ! should say not He did
SAY that his church-pillar friend was the only
real practical Christian he ever knew, and that
che had done more toward shutting up Bills
"old place than all the kid glove and silk stock
| ling professors in the whole county, but he
omitted TO say that he was sorry he ever ran
such q ranch or that he wouldn't resume bust
mess at the old stand as soon ms the revival
twas over. But you should have heard him
| "go for the notwithstanding the people who
chad gone out disguised. He Just raked 'em
fore and aft said they wera traitors, l'ars,
"forgers, vainglorious self-seekers, holier-than-
Chou Pharisees, Mugwumps and malefactors.
"Oh, but didn't he give It to 'em Voice Ike
"a megaphone. You could hear him through
1.-TWO counties. Great command Of language,
too You never heard a Teller talk So"
"Wel how did It come outT'
ooh, Bill talked the church empty until there
was no one left but him md the church pillar
| land the little cuss OF a clerk Then the pillar
"and the little cuss began talking about throw
ling open the doors and letting the backsdcrs
come back But Bill' said 1t couldn't be done
without a sacrifice Of principle, and went back
| Ito resume business at the old stand. l saw
him there few days later rinsing tumbers
behind the bar Bill said !, 7 thought you'd
experienced religion Yes, did for little
while said he but I've gone back into the
world"
ITS an interesting story; but what put you
In mind OF itT'
"Oh, nothing. only that article IN the news
paper"-and he pointed TO the following in "The
New-York Sum- Of November Is:
The two former Republican newspapers OF
this city which withdrew from the party at the
| last election, and opened vicious assault on
! IL, are now talking about the means proper fol-
a restoration Of harmony. They want a change
in the party mechanism which will serve as
justification for their desertion. NO change ol
the sort will be made and change Of any
sort is necessary for Republicans OF principle
and conviction. If these newspapers want tc
get back into the Republican party. all they
have to do Is to support 1t and not seek TO de-
feat II. If they are really Republican in prin
cpe, or II they wish 10 pretend to be such, they
will only have to prove their faith by then
works in standing by the party. If they are
without that principle and make up their mind!
that their late treachery precludes the posi-
binty OF their ever regaining the confidence o.
Republicans by pretending 10 have 1t. the only
refuge for them Is in fiat Mugwumpery.
"You see, Pve known The Sun great many
"years. This is the funniest thing ever saw
ain It. And It's so like that dear, wicked, bu
"smart Old BIZ Buncoe"