The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
ANNIE ROYLE, The DREADED.
JOHN LANES "REMINISCENCES OF
HER WASHINGTON CAREER.
She Was the First Woman Journalist. He
Thinks Her Eccentric Ways Great
ness OF Lewis OF Alabama - stories
OF Thad stevens. Lincoln and Others.

Thinks Her Eccentric Ways Great
ness OF Lewis OF Alabama Storie
OF Thad stevens, Lincoln and Others
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-John Lane of
I4i2 Fifteenth street Ii a mighty entertain
ing old gentleman to spend an evening
with over a pipe OF tobacco. He has liveo
in Washington since the year 1888. He
was probably acquainted with more famous
Americans Of the last century than any
other living man.
"The other day when Mrs. Oroly, better
known as Jennie June, died. said Mr..
Lane, in narrating some Of his Tsminis-
cences OF old Washington the other night,
Il saw it set forth in quite a number OF
newspapers that she was the first woman
journalist. That statement will hardly do.
That distinction belongs to a woman
who practised the profession Of journalism
in Washington back In the 3Os. She was
Annie Royle-Editress Annie Royle, she
was then called.
she was al attenuated person, gaunt
and terrible in the eyes Of the gamins-I
was one Of them-who followed her In the
streets when abe made her initial appear
anoe In Washington. Well do I recall her
huge bonnet Of the cslAsh pattern, her
sharp. sour features and her long, i'm
perious stride.
Il grieve TO confess that she once stopped
In the street. removed one Of her shoes
and threw 1t at my head. Providentislly,
her aim was poor. With some other young
sters | had been following her, making
merry, perhaps, at the expen 20 Of her
weird ~headdress. Hence the hurled shoe,
which was thrown with such force that II
had surely removed my head from my
shoulders had 1t reached the mark.
Il don't know where Annie Royle oame
from, but she started a paper here hat
everybody knew as Annie Royle's news
paper. She did all Of the work herself
wrote the copy, set II up In type, ran the
press and did all Of the distributing.
Her paper was largely devoted to po-
litical matters and 1t is certain hat many
of the most eminent men at the Capitol
stood In fear Of Mistress Royle and her
newspaper. Indeed, she had many Of the
notables under her thumb In a way, for she
could write the most violent philippios,
and did frequently write them around
legislators and officials who incurred her
displeasure.
'On the other hand, she was quite as skilled
in the art Of lauding her approved friends
among the legislators to the skies, and
there was always a suspicion. I am bound
to say, that Mistress Annie welded her
newspaper chiefly as a newspaper club,
and that she profted immoderately upon
the passage OF sundry and divers bills in
the Congress.
1T was astonishing to note the whole
some fear In which she was held by many
notable men. At her pleasure she would
stop prominent men who had fallen out
Of her good graces and rate them soundly
In the most forceful IL not the most feminine
English. in the very corridors OF the Capitol.
In Annie Royle's day the mothers and
nurses Of querulous children were wont to
quiet them by saying, ~warningly, II you
do not mend your behavior you shall be
given to Annie Royle.' and the warning
never failed of It's effect. such a bugaboo
was Mistress Royle In the vision Of the little
ones.
Il am an old man, but I feel confident
that were n wag to come upon me sud-
denly at nightfall n cry out tho name
OF Annie Royle I should look around appre-
hensively. Washington may unquestionably
pretend TO the distinction OF having given
TO the first woman Journalist in this
country at any rate.
During his lifetime opinions may have
been expressed TO the contrary. but I feel
safe In maintaining that one Of the
most generous-hearted men that ever came
TO Washington was Thad Stevens Mr..
Lane continued. L myself was once a
Of his generosity unde peculiar
circumstances.
Stevens often spent whole nights at |
the gaming establishments on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. In that day, of course,
by public men was by no means
considered of color, and Washington was
decidedly wide open, to employ a modern
1T was a day Of high play. when men Of
would stand to be carried almost
10 the verge of ruin on the turn Of card at
faro table. Thad Stevens did not per-
out he often played heavily. as l say.
Az dawn one morning he came away from
Pendleton's famous gaming establishment
after a nights play at tho tables. He had
luit about even, and when he cashed In
he dealer passed him one large bill.
he walked along Pennsylvania ave.
lue toward his lodgings he came to an old
woman, nodding on a step. with a
jagged old shawl pulled tightly about her
'houlders. Tho old woman set up a plain
i've appeal for aims.
stevens came TO a halt and went through
MS clothing for metal money. Coins he
lad none. He thrust his hand into his
rousers pocket and drew forth the large
lill that had been given him by tho faro
ia its crumpled state, and without look
at it. Stevens handed the bill TO the
Iged crone. The friend with whom he was
demonstrated with him.
" Stevens said he. do you know the
proportions Of that bill?'
: Well, | recall them, now that you men
ion i. he said, passing on. Then he added.
aughingly; God moves in q mysterious
yay His wonders to perform" Beyond n
louht she needs the money more than ] do
Speaking Of great men, went on Mr..
.anc. with a humorous twinkle In his eye,
Let me recall Dixon H.. LOWS OF Alabama
5 | remember him"
Mr.. Lanes listener was compelled to ac-
nowledge that he didn't exactly recall the
.r%eatness of Dixon II. Lewis Of Alabama at
moment
"~Incrcdible!' exclaimed the old gentle
IAN with a wel-simulnted expression OF
"Why, Dixon II. lewis was the
man that ever entered the Capitol"
Still the listener was forced TO admit that
be name Of Mr.. Lewis had not lodged in
Is memory.
In what did the greatness Of Lewis Of
L bama consist" Mr.. Lane was asked.
In his Crib" was The amused rcplv.
In lia Eol.fatt 80 Ua...,.Vra,s IYulaaI