Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-01-01


The comforting of the honor OF chap
lain OF the United States senate upon
| the Rev. DIR. Edward Everett Hale OF
Boston has resulted in Il deluge of com
| plimcntary letters and telegrams. at
testing his popularity on the two hemi-
spheres. says the New York Tribune.
Perhaps no person was more sur
prised at the magnitude of this testl-
monial than the aged preacher, and il
is related that with the reception of
the first batch of congratulations he eX-
pressed his great pleasure.
A man of the prominence of DIR. Hale
cannot avoid the association of many
humorous and pathetic incidents that
mark different epochs in the clerical
life, and frequently they meet criticism
of themselves and methods that are far
from cheering or productive of mental
exhilaration.
DR.. Hale had this point forcibly illus
| trated TO him OIL journey to small
town in the western part of Massa-
chusetts where he was scheduled to de-
liver lecture. The train bowled along
to point one station distant from his
destination and there stopped to take on
board a small party evidently bound TO
the lecture hall. This was made known
by their frequent reference to the doc
tor and their criticisms were hurled
about with freedom calculated to
make less sensitive person than the
learned doctor mentally refer to the
profundity of Gray's "Elegy." Finally
the party. which consisted of four men,
bers, took decided stands upon the abii-
ties of the victim, who was in easy ear
shot behind, and, while one side upheld
him with vigor the opposing faction
picked good sized flaws in him.
1t was a novel and interesting eXpe-
rience, whatever the painfulncss of the
situation brought forth. One side de-
| clared that he was IA temporary idol
and that his sayings would perish.
They even declared vehemently that,
though his works were copous. they
lost in strength what they made up in
bulk. Then the question that interested
the doctor most of all was raised.
But what about the book, his book
The Man Without a CountryT" ask
ed his defender triumphantly.
"Oh. WELL" answered the destroyer of
air castles, that's the only thing that
lets him out"
There is one tale touching upon his
editorial career in which the irrepress-
BILE Office boy figures. The doctor had
occasion to send the boy on an errand
to firm which for the sake of con-
venience will be called Black, White &
Co. The hour was late, and on the way
the boy tarried so long that when he
finally arrived at the offices of Black,
White & Co. he found, much to his dis
may, the place closed up. How to an
nounce his failure to perform the er-
rand as directed in a satisfactory man.
ner was evidently the problem that
confronted the boy, and when he en-
tered the doctors office he had his lie
prepared.
"The firm was out" said the boy as
he laid the note he had failed to deliver
on the desk
every WELL" replied the doctor. "You
may take 1t in the morning. You are
excused for the day"
1t would have sufficed the boy had
he left the office at that point; but,
finding that his falsehood worked ad-
mirably and with a conscience working
guiltily within him, he could not avoid
saying:
Neither Mr.. Black nor Mr. White
was in Fact is, | went to both their
places and was disappointed"
The doctor wheeled about in his
chair.
"What is that you say?' he demand
ed
81 went to both places, and neither of
the men was in"
DR.. Hale looked the youthful pre-
varicator over.
"Um-m-mv' he mused. $50 you went
to both places, eh? Quite interesting,
my boy; quite interesting. Mr. Black
has been dead ten years and Mr.. White
eight years. Er-er-by the way, which
place did you go to first?'
There is still another story that has
the credit of originating with DR.. Hale,
which, according to the narrative,
pleased the doctor nightly. 1t seems
that he had occasion to enter bank to
make a deposit and was well acquaint-
ed with the cashier, who greeted him
heartily. Previously to this special
day the weather had been miserable
for a period Of two weeks-so bad, in
fact, that not beam of sunshine had
rested on Mother Earth. The morning
the doctor went to the bank Old Sol
had cheered damp population for a
short period of ten minutes, and this
thought was upon the doctors mind
when he was sauted by the bank Off
cial
Had little sun this morning. care
lessly remarked the doctor after the
exchange of compliments.
The cashier pricked up his ears and
looked incredulous.
Indeed! Allow me to congratulate
YOU" he said.
1t was the doctors turn to be amazed.
"Why-er-congratu me? What !
do you mean? Why congratulate me?"
he asked, wondering what was coming
next.
"Why, DOCTOR" said the cashier, !
"most assuredly on the birth of little
son."
Mutual explanations were then in or
der.
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