Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-02-08
ONE OF GREELEY'S LETTERS
1t Could Be Read Upside Down as
Well as Right Side Up.

II Could Be Read Upside Down as
Well as Right Side Up.
Horace Greeley was noted for his
unreadable handwriting, and only one
printer on The Tribune could decipher
it. The Philadelphia Saturday Even
ing Post tells how one of Mr.. Greeley's
subscribers wrote to him for some ad-
vice about hens, stating that he wished
to go into the poultry business. The re-
ply to the letter was as follows:
NEW YORK, Sept. s.
The war was a failure. hoped 20 see
Jeff Davis in the White House. A young
man stands the best chance in Rhode Is
land. The Tribune is the poorest news
paper In New York. Yours truly.
HORACE GREELEY.
The next day the puzzled subscriber
went to New York and called upon the
great editor.
swell, who are you, and what do
you want" he asked in a high keyed
voice without looking up or missing
q single pen stroke.
81 am Rev. Mr.. Van Dee Of Dutchess
county," the subscriber answered,
keeping one eye on the door in case he
should become violent.
"Never heard Of you," he returned.
jabbing and boring with the pen.
81 wrote to you a few days ago, and
/ don't just understand your letter in
reply"
"Whatd you write aboutT
"Hens. p
"Hens Certainly. Ny reply was
about hens. When you inquire about
hens, you get hens in answer. What'd
you expect-hippopotam
pardon me, Mr.. Greeley, but you
did not write one word about hens. /
have the letter in my hand"
"Read itw he snorted, beginning to
let up little on the pen.
every WELL" The letter was read.
"You blistering idiotw he screamed.
then whirled around and looked at the
visitor ferociousy. "Give me that let
terw
Rev. Mr.. Van Dee stepped forward
and handed it to him. He snatched it
savagely, screwed up his eyes and be-
gan to study it. Gradually his face
heightened and grew blank. Then he
read 1t in low, squeaking voice as If
thinking aloud.
He paused. with his mouth half open,
and looked at the Rev. Mr.. Van Dee for
full minute. Then he suddenly recOy-
cred himself and struck a bell A boy
appeared. and he said:
"Go up to the composing room and
ask Mr. Larkway to come down here"
The boy disappeared. The visitor
remembered having heard the name
as that Of the only compostor who
could read Greeley's copy.
In minute or two Larkway sham
bled in. wearing carpet slippers and
carrying a blackened cob pipe in one
hand He was short thcksct. very
bald, and he looked at his chief belli-
cosely over a pair Of msshapen iron
spectacles. evidently expecting a row
about some mistake in his work.
as that my writing, LarkwayT
"Yes, SIR"
"Read It,"
NEW YORK. Sept. s.
''rhe war was failure I hoped to see
Jeff Davis in the White House. A young
man stands the best chance in Rhode Is
land. The Tribune is the poorest news
paper in New York. Yours truly
HORACE GREELEY"
As he finished Greeley sank back in
his chair helplessly.
'I'm done forw he gasped feebly.
Just then Larkway took quick for
ward step. exclaiming:
Hold ont There's a mistake! | had
it wrong end up" He seized the let
ter, gave it quick turn and then read:
"CHAPPAoUA. Sept. s.
Dear Sir-You will find the Brahmas
best for your purpose. Leghorns are good
layers. but they require a high fence. II
you decide on Leghorns. you can clip one
wing Please report how you succeed.
HORACE GREELEY"
AS he finished Greeley sat up in his
chair as If made Of tempered steel
springs. He turned his blazing eyes on
the quaking visitor and in a voice
which put his teeth on edge cried:
"Go back to Dutchess county, young
man! Go back to Dutchess county!
Stay there! Get down on your hands
and knees and see if you can learn
from your hens how to pick gravel!