The daily tribune., 1907-09-09
ssboB''
lNaERs0LL'S LOAN

with moderate amount of wealth is
pestered by horde Of pensioners,
said young attorney at the Lawyers
club. In addition to the regular par.
asltes that prey upon him continually.
are occasional needy ones that appeal
10 him at every opportunity.
IN this respect the late Col. Robert
@. Ingersoll was probably the most
annoyed man Of his time. Generous
to fault toward his friends. his big
heart was touched By appeals from
the most casual stranger. doubt II
there was city In which he lectured
where he did nut leave behind part OF
the money that he had earned upon
the platform. ought to know some
thing OF this. for Enmyself made
touch on the colonel, and he respond
ed to II like the gentleman that he
was.
1T was down In Memphis about ten
years ago. How Happened to be
there is nobody's business. I. Is
enough to say that Twas stone broke.
friendless and desperate even en-
We'd the swearing. halfnaked steve
dores down at the river wharves. as
they stood in line to receive their pay.
only to hustle of and lose their money
in a crap game. My hotel bill at the
Peabody was worrying me lot. 1t
wasn't big, but L had nothing with
which to pay 1t. ] scarcely had nerve
enough to 60 in and eat my meals, and
I never would have stepped up to the
desk II hadn't been compelled to ask
| the clerk for my mail In the hope
that letter might contain check
that would relieve my misery.
| "One day noticed in the hotel
lobby lithograph likeness Of Col. In
gersoll. had seen 1t before. an
nouncing lecture on The Mistakes
| of Moses But this time 1t furnished
an Inspiration. 1 hated to confess it.
+ had met Col. Ingersoli in the days Of
my prosperity. a year or 80 before.
But the meeting had been of the most
casual sort and gave me not the
| slightest claim upon his friendship. l
| doubted II he even remembered me.
! Such was my necessity. and SO low
had my self-respect ebbed that l de-
/
leeches that followed him.
"On the night Of the lecture. which
| was given the next evening. went
\ around to the stage door and gained
admission by stating that I was a
friend Of the famous orator. A stage
hand gave me seat in the wings, and
at tho close OF the lecture handed my
| rota 4o Col vpUorcnJI
II can see the noble cid chap as he
came out into the wings to meet me.
He evidently had met my kind before,
but he was patient and courteous.
~ don't remember YOU he said.
but tell me what can do for you
Tell him: unloosed the tongue OF
my woe and let fly. ] told him had
to have $50.
"'That Is a pretty large sum for one
man to ask OF a stranger he remons.
trated gently.
Il admitted 1t. but pleaded the
harder.
VERY WE'LL he weakened. handing
me the bill! Only remember that
am not so rich as many think ] am
Hundreds Of persons ask me for
money. can't give them all twenty
dollar bills. Some day ! may need
this. SO n YOU have any luck hereafter
send 1t to me. I may have to pass II
on to some other poor devil
"That loan OF tho colonel's helped
me over the rough hill Of my hard
luck. Inside of year was in Wash
ington with good Job. One day. ant
It happened to be pay day for me.
was coming down the elevator OF the
old building formerly occupied by ths
department of justice on Pennsylva
mia avenue. not far from the White
, House. The elevator shaft was dark
and did not recognize two men tha
entered the car as It stopped at thu
floor below the one at which hal
stepped In. When the passengers go
OF the men stop and hand quarter t
an old apple woman who was sittini
on the stoop outside the door besid,
her basket.
THE giver of the coin was Col In
gersoll. A feeling OF shame swep
I over me- had not returned tn,
money that had been Of such benefi
to me In the crisis OF my lie. ha,
, $25 In my pocket. and knew my land
lady would be lenicnt with me. SO
grew bold. The colonel was Just get
ting into his carriage Mt the curb.
"'Coi. Ingersoll."I said, stepping III
TO him. ! don't suppose you remem
Der me?'
NO he replied. Just n trine sus
piciously, ! don't believe I do
"'Well.' replied, ! believe yo,
said that once before. but this time
don't think You viii regret having m
refresh your recollection. First tax
this SEQ. and III explain myself
- did. and don't think ever fel
more proud Of having pulled mysel