The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-14
SECURED GREELEY.
HOW THE GREAT EDITORS HAND
WRITING SERVED A TURN.


by the Manager of the Country Fair,
and the People Of Oswego Falls Saw
and Heard the Lion of the Day.
Every cop.rositor who ever put in
type any of Horace Greeley copy will
certify to the fact that his handwriting
was almost illegible 1t was the despair
of the composing room, and 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 ago that he
had good reason on one occasion to be
thankful that Mr.. Greeley's writing
was hard to decipher. This fact secured
| for him a star attraction at the fair
which he could not have obtained other
wise. The association of which he was
| president made great effort each year
| TO Guido rival associations in its fair,
and one of its regular attractions was
distinguished speaker who delivered an
| address to the crowd on any subject that
he might select.
"When | was made president, said
| the eX-officer of the association, Il 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 stirred up the farm
ers to raise big squashes and pumpkins,
and L prepared good schedule Of horse
races. | secured man to make ball
loon ascension, and all that was lacking
| in my programme was the speaker.
cat 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 very busy
man, however, and knew that we had
about one chance in ten of securing
him. | determined to take that chance.
After much preliminary thought and
many consultations with others l pre-
pared and sent to him very creditable
invitation to attend our fair and deliver
an address on any subject that he chose.
| assured him that he would find only
| friends in his audience, and I said that
we had long looked for such an oppor-
tunity to hear him. Two days later the
village postmaster told me that he had
letter that he thought was addressed
TO me. l had heard a good deal about
Greeley's handwriting, and 1 knew at
once that this was my reply from Mr..
Greeley. When opened the envelope, l
found a sheet of paper on which were
irregular scrawls that l couldn't de-
cipher. With several of my friends l
puzzled over it a long time, but 1 could
not read it. | remembered that the ed
itor of our paper had at one time been
| familiar with Mr.. Greeley's handwrit-
ing, and l took the letter to him. He
was little out of practice, but he de-
ciphered it after half an hours exami-
nation. NJ. 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 just
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 well
aware of the fact that his writing was
| almost illegible, and he was never
much surprised when his letters were
misconstrued L simply took advantage
/
thanked him for accepting our invita-
ton. TO leave him no loophole for es
cape, told him that we had begun to
distribute handbills announcing the
fact that he was going to deliver the
address at the fair, and ! added that l
had ordered the printers to place his
name in big letters on our three sheet
! posters. | knew that when he got my
| letter he would conclude that we had
read his letter declining the invitation
as a letter of acceptance, and | hoped
when he learned how far we had gone
with our printing that he would con-
| clude to come.
1--WE received no reply from Mr..
| 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 l knew
that if Mr.. Greeley didn't turn up /
should be blamed. When the day for
the great event arrived, / went to the
station to await the train. Sure enough,
| SIttity war VII DOdIu.
myself to him as the man who had sent
him the invitation and who had re-
ceived his very kind acceptance. Mr..
Greeley looked at me closely, and there
was suspicion of Il smile on his face.
"'You had no difficulty in reading
my letter. be said
"'Well, it was little hard 20 doci-
pher it at first, replied, and we were
in doubt for few minutes whether you
bad said YES CT No 20 oar invita-
ton. When we cid dciphcr ils letter,
we were very much p.tAs,d o. iiId that
you had agreed 90 oat.i-.
Hunrhl said "a ,.....o, ,Sitsss
lively Noa oi,ss,l e,.ia a.
once, didn't yc-"
"Yes, licp.iel, 'sc v.t3 sci,
| one TO know WIT M -.---.-. 80