The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-23

VlOCus
Nye endured the disturbance for
some time; then he said politely. but
icily:
This is a large auditorium and a diff
ficult n in which to hear, but for
tunately we are provided with a speak
er at each end of the house." 1t is
needless to say which speaker received
attention after that.
Mr.. Nye was engaged to speak at
Columbus. o., in a newly finished
church with which the minister and
his flock were as we'll pleased As a
small boy with his first pair of trou-
sers. So in a short preliminary and
self congratulatory address the minis
ter referred to the church edi1ce, call
ed attention to its many details of
architectural beauty and convenience
and laid special stress on its new and
improved system of exits.
Ladies' and gentlemen drawled
Nye Il moment later. Il have appeared
In n great many cities, but this is the
first time l have been preceded by any
instructing the audience how to
get out"
Pen Name His Own.
Every man has his special trouble,
but Nye had two. One was the reluc-
lance Of the public to believe that his
pen name vas his real name, md the
other was the persistency of some peo-
pie in installing him for another fine
fellow in Il rather different public po-
cifinO tho Pow Nforrou I;v n II ~
D.. rector of Trinity parish, New York.
Mr.. DiX's stories are as good rs his
sermons. which is saying Il great deal.
and Nyc's face when in rcpose suggest
ed Il MAJ who could preach Il strong
sermon of his own. Nevertheless it is
awkward to be mistaken for II one
but yourself. AS to his name, every
n who heard of Bill Nye associated
him mentally with the oft quoted per-
son of the same name who first appear
cd in Bret ~llurtc's poem 1.-The Heather
Chince," and assumed that the humor-
lists professional name was assumed.
The poor chap explained at length
through Il popular magazine that he
came honestly by his name. having
been chriStened Edgar Wilson Nye
and nicknamel Bill from his cradle.
but to his latest days he was besieged
by autograph hunters who asked for
his signature-"your real name, too.
please"
The Paterson Tragedy.
This genial man of clcanly life and
good habits was brutally slaughtered
by the public to whom for years he
had given laughter and sunshine.
People throughout the country turned
against him when they heard the first
breath of calumny. Without waiting
to hear whether the story told OF him
was true or false, 1.-THE dear public"
treated him so meanly that it crushed
his spirit, sturdy, honest man though
he was. broke his heart and caused his
death within II year.
1t came about ut Paterson, n. j.,
where he had been engaged to deliver
a lecture. He had been suffering
greatly from insomnia, for which by
expert medical direction he had taken Il
certain %anOdyne (nonalcoholic). Be-
fore his evening nap preceding the lee
ture he may have taken an overdose
or it may have worked slower than
usual. Whatever the medical cause
for he had taken nothing else he
was drowsy and slow OF speech on the
platform. To make matters worse
from the start, he tumbled over a loose
edge of carpet as he came before the
audience. Although very nearsighted.
he had good professional presidents
for disliking to wear glasses on the
platform; otherwise his eyes might
have saved his feet, but the success
sion of accident and manner impressed
the audience wrongly. When the lee
turc was over. some rough characters
who had been in the audience followed
Nyc's carriage to the railway, throw
ing eggs ut it and whOoping like de-.
mons.
Killed by a Falsehood.
Next morning almost all the New
York papers published the report that
MI. Nye had appeared before an audi
ence the night before in an outrageous
~ Intoxicated condition and had been
cgged of the platform! Newspapers
are entirely at the mercy of the men
whom they employ to collect news for
them. Some which used the Paterson
story were honest enough to publish
corrections afterward, but no correc-
ton is ever strong and swift enough
to catch up with Il lie. What l have
said regarding the causeless cause Of
the Untime!y death OF Il humorist who
can never be replaced Is Of my own
knowledge. l was very close to Mr..
Nye in the last year Of his life and
know what he thought ana said.
l also had Il strange reminder of the
night on which the story started. Some
of the audience had complained to the
lecture committee that they had not
received their moneys worth, SO it was
decided to give another lecture with
out charge to make amends for the