The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-07-26

other. Yes" was the wits tart re-
joinder, and possessing neither"
Such. in a measure, was the fate of
our genial old friend, Major Pond
without title to fame. he sat always
in the shadow Of celebrity. Without
distinguished gifts. he was constantly
in the society Of the gifted. Success for
him lay in promoting the success Of
his betters, and his name will be writ
ten in a hundred biograDhies-of other
men.
And yet it was a pleasant life out OF
which the major has lately slipped.
Nature had made a nice adjustment OF
the man to his niche. Major Pond was
big-souled enough to play second fid-
die with enthusiasm. He was innocent
Of envy. His best genius was a genius
for hero worship; he was great in ca
.sacity for admiration. He loved his
lions and rejoiced generously in their
triumphs. He basked in reflected glory
as comfortably as though 1t were his
own. He was the prince Of pro
motors"
If bespeaks a certain nobility in the
major, much tact, much courage, much
force. that his personally conducted
lions, loved him. For when a man is
being rushed about the country as 4
.'talking-piece of baggage. to be wound
up every day at the same hour" it is /
some thing Of an art to keep his affec- I
ton. That the majors celebrities did
love him is abundantIy proved by his I
letter files. Writes Bill Nye: IT'S 4
funny that little cuss like you should /
make such a cavity in New York when l
away from it." And each in his own .
peculiar way. Ian Maclaren. Conan
Doyle. Hall Game. Mark Twain and I
other lions. expresses the same emo
ton. Major Pond not only had bust
ness relations with practically all the
distinguished folk of his day-he knew
them intimately, dined with them,
travelled in their private cars, saw
them with the mask off, learned all
their individual oddities.
Major Ponds acquaintance was as
varied as ii was wide 1t included
Josh Billings and Walt Whitman, Ly-
man Abbott and p. T. Barnum. Sir
Henry Irving and Booker T. Washing
ton. He sometimes travelled with them
in wonderful combinations. Think, for
instance, Of a season spent with Mark
Twain and George Cablei These
twins of genius" as the Major called
them. beguiled the tedium of the road
by letting themselves OUT in song
and caper.
Another time It was Bill Nye and
James whitcomb Riley who united to
cheer the managers fun-loving soul.
BY way of advertisement Of the COM
bination Nye wrote Riley's auto
and Riley wrote Nye's. a
sample will show the unique style:
'Of the poets present personality we
need speak but briefly. His dress is
at once elegant and paid for. 1t is !;
even less picturesque than all-wool.
Not liking hair particularly. he wears
hut little. and that of the mildest =,
shade. He is a good talker-when spok-
en- to-but a much better listener, and /.
often longs to change places with his
audience so that he also may retire :,
The happy Major was present 1T
many a notable meeting of literary folk :
from both sides of the sea. 1t was he :,
who arranged that Edwin Arnold. :.
whose first visit to this country was :
made expressly to see Walt Whitman, !,
should surprise the aged poet in his -
nome. Pond sat by while the two
friends discussed their literary loves. >,
each reciting freely from the others =
poems. Again. the major made one at -
, little supper at which Joe Jefferson !,
and Anthony Hope first met and talked =
lin the small hours OF the morning. !,
L was he who introduced Henry Irv- -
ng to his thereafter close friend, Henry {;
Ward Beecher. II
Among Major Ponds warm friends -
he reckoned Henry Ward Beecher hrst- 9,
During the eleven years of their ac- o
a1afntance they travelled together some :,
inc wi
nd New Mexico. there was not State Y
r Territory in the Union which they
i'd not visit Being friends with Beech
r during the black days Of his trial ,
nd disgrace meant stirring expert u
aces. Pond said:
Il was near him at the time OF his -
reatest sorrow, when he was reviled T,
nd snat upon. / saw the majestic -
ourage with which he passed through =
apin< crowds at railroad stations ana =,
Z the entrances OF hotels and pubic =
alIs-a courage which had not con- ~
efved mere humanity could possess
The post of manager to Beecher was
OF without its actual physical peril
n Richmond hostility ran so high that
eecher was urged not TO risk attempt
* to sneak. Even the police detail
4 TO protect him sympathized with
he mob. No dOorkeeper could be got
D the Major collected the dollars him
sIf. riskiug the eggs. The Legislature
al passed an informal vote to boycott
he lecture. and then each memocr,
scure I'm his knowledge that none ot
he others would be there. took me
ppOrtunity TO hear Beecher. Ihey
let. and. in view Of the Joke on them
elves. prepared for mischief. MT.
secher faced the jeering mob and
Densd with an ar1dacious drive at the
legislature in special session assem-
led He captured his crowd The
vening ended iE cheers and demon
.rations
Again. when Beecher's private car
as attacked by mob. IT was Major
Ond who heated n poker in the car
,Ove and went for them" Il jaboea