The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-20

Former 81 al @ Sena or Frederick 8. Gibbs,
now believed TO be dying at Asbury fark'
is a born humorist In seizing the right
moment for a pracl ical Joke he has at times
shown almost genius.
The la,e Sunset Cox said that too much
humor ard the repu, alton of being funny
man seriously handicapped any one In
public life, but Mr. Gibbs is, doubtless
the exception to prove the rule. he 10
now rich and has collection OF paintings
valued AT more than 100000. Strange
to say there is not genre sketch depic''
ing the humorous side Of life in it.
Yet his reputation has had its enect
In some ways Born in town OF strait la'eo
tradit ions, Glens Falls, N. Y, his former
townsmen are said to have looked at him
asksnce since he gained the nickname
If the wicked Gibbs" The coed people
there refused 10 accept the adjective az
Pickwickian and wondered how he climbed
so high in New York. the city that nrst
called him Wicked"
Then, when Senate Hanna, as chairman OF
the Republican National Committee, came
to New York in 1895 to take charge OF the
campaign, he was prepared TO admire tne
political sagacity of Mr.. Gibbs, who was
Republcan National Commit eeman from
New York State. but he feared his prac-
teal Jokes. 1t was necessary for some
of Mr.. Gibhss friends to explain to Mr..
Hanna that the ex-senator was making
q sincere effort to reform.
Senator 7. c. Plat, in particular. re-
assured Mr.. Hanna and said that the famous
Joker read Omar Khayyam and Burton's
ANATOMY of Melancholy" daily to divert
his mind from things humorous.
Thereafter Mr.. Hanna and MIR. Gibbs
became fast friends and all the political
cart oons for posting purposes were turned
over to the New York National Committee
man to inspect. During the entire cam
paign Mr. Gibbs never even attempted
to play practical Joke on any member
of the campaign committee. but gave
them able advice and assistance. To
this day Senator Hanna thinks that the
stories Of the practical Jokes played by
Mr.. Gibbs are apocryphal and the result
of a syndicate Of humorists.
Nevertheless, Senator Chauncey M. De-
pew's diplomacy was sorely tried once,
20 placate a carful Of passengers who were
the victims OF one OF Mr.. Gibbs's most sue
cessful practical jokes. Mr.. Gibbs was
then a State Senator, known everywhere
"a the .WIcked,' and was at the zenith OF
his career as Joker.
He was coming from Albany to New
York and as he started to enter car at
tached to a train that had arrived from
BUFFALO, he heard a brakeman say that
something was the matter with ono OF
the wheels and that the car would have
70 be cut out that Is left In Albany. 1t
was handsomely uphols' cred car. and whom
he entered he noticed that the passengers
were enjoying it's comforts to the fullest
extent so much so that they made no move
ment to make room for any one else.
Slowly he passed through the aisle.
He Jaw several seats for two occupied
by one. but these passengers sat 80 az 10
fill the seats and never moved. AT tho
end of the car the Senator turned and spoke
substantially as follows
-There is no such thing a. politeness
in this world. I have been treated rudely
No one in this car has offered me a seat;
and for this objectionable rudenese in
tend to have this car cut out and left here
mean it.
The passengers not only laughed. but
booted at him.
Il will laugh last. he cried, as he slammed
the door and went TO another car
The car was duly cut out and the pas
senpers we're furious. They trooped Into
the front car and saw Mr. Gibbs taking his
ease in a good seat. They shook theiI
fists at him and said he was too mean FOL
ANYTHING. They imagined that he wa
either director or an officer OF the roae
and. spitef,Illy, had had the car cut out.
All the way to New York they hurlec
unpleasant epithets at him, but he sale
nothing and laughed immoderately. Wher
the train arrived in New York COMMITTEES
of angry passengers waited upon Mr.
Depew, then president Of the Central roas
and protested against the outrage The.
wanted revenge.
Mr.. Depew declared that no officer o
the company, no director, not even tn
elder Mr. Vanderbilt. would be guilty o
such conduct. They described the per
sonal appearance Of Mr.. Gibbs. and MI
Depew said the laugh was on them.
you are the victims" he added, 1of
powerful hulnorist and practical joker
Soon he read them a message from al
bany saying that the car was disabled an
had to be left and that Senator Gibbs wa
on the train. Since this incident when
car il cut out on the Central road the brake
man always tells the passengers why 1t
done.
Henry Clinton Backus, upon whom tn
title of 1the Great Constitutional Lawyer
was once bestowed, turned the tables o
Mr. Gibbs. Several years ago the RI
publican State Convention was held
Rochester and Mr.. Gibbs and Mr.. Back,
were delegates The former saw the nan
sBack,s" on sign In front OF big stol
and going in asked il he could write moi
there.
He was invited to seat himself at des
and on the firms stationery he penned
cordial invitation to Henry Clinton Bacltl
to call at the store and meet his long 10