Milford chronicle., 1902-09-19
JNE OF GREELEY'S LETTERS
Il Could BE Read Upside Down as
Well as Right Side Up.

Il 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 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 YoSi1. Yours truly,
HORACE GREELEY.
The next day the puzzled subscriber
went to New York and called upon the
great editor.
'Well, who are you, and what do
you wantP' he asked in a high keyed
voice without looking up OF missing
u single pen stroke.
Il am Rev. Mr.. Van Dee of Duchess
! 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.
Il wrote to you a few days ago. and
don't just understand your letter in
reply"
'What'd you write about?"
"Hens. r.
"Hens! Certainly. My reply was
about hens. When you inquire about
hens, you get hens in answer. What'd
you eXpect-hippopotami?"
pardon me, Mr.. Greeley. but you
did not write one word about hens. ]
have the letter in my hand"
"Read it,! he snorted, beginning tC
let up little on the pen.
Every we'll" The letter was read.
''You blistering idiotr' he screamed
then whirled around and looked at the
visitor ferociously. GIVE me that let
terT'
Rev. Mr.. Van Dee stepped forward
and handed it to him. He snatched i
savagely, screwed up his eyes and be
gan to study it. Gradually his fac,
heightened and grew blank Then h,
read it in low, sQueaking voice as i
thinking aloud.
He paused. with his mouth half open
and looked at the Rev. Mr.. Van Dee 70
full minute. Then he suddenly recov
cred himself and struck a bell. A DO,
appeared. and he said:
GO up to the composing room ant
ask Mr.. Larl1way to come down here.
The boy disappeared. The visito
remembered having heard the nam
as that of the only compositor VIII
could read Greeley's copy.
In q minute or two Larkway sham
bled in, wearing carpet slippers an
carrying a blackened cob pipe in on
hand. He was short, thickset. yer
bald, and he looked at his chief bell
cOsely over pair of misshapen iro
spectacles, evidently expecting a ROY
about some mistake in his work
as that my writing, Larkway"
Eyes, sir"
"Read it."
e ''NEw YORK, Sept. g.
5 1.-THE war was a failure. hoped to Sc
! JEFF Davis in the White House. A youn
, man stands the best chance in Rhode l.
land. The Tribune is the poorest new
paper in New York. Yours truly.
HORACE GREELEY"
D As he finished Greeley sank back !
] his chair helplessly.
q Pm done fOrP he gasped feebly.
y Just then Larkway took a quick 70
y ward step, exclaiming:
n "HOld on! There's a mistake! I ha
+ it wrong end upw He seized the le
J. ter, gave it a quick turn and then rea
] "CHAPPAoUA Sept. 8.
S Dear Sir-You will find the Brahms
i. best for your purpose. Leghorns are go
layers, but they require a high fence.
y you decide on Leghorns, you can clip Oh
i wing. Please report how you succeed.
l. HORACE GREELEY
= As he finished Greeley sat up in
o chair as if made of tempered ste
r springs. He turned his blazing eyes
! the quaking visitor and in a vol
V which put his teeth on edge cried:
k GO back to Duchess county, you
f man! Go back to Duchess count
/ Stay there! Get down on your han
e and knees and see if you can lea
y from your hens how to pick gray,
5 Keep at ity'