Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-09-06
bob"
NGERS0LL'S LOAN

said young attorney at the Lawyers
club. In addition to the regular par
asites that prey upon him continually,
are occasional needy ones that appeal
to him at every opportunity.
In this respect the late Col. Robert
G. Ingersoll was probably the most
annoyed man of his time. Generous
| to a fault toward his friends, his big
heart was touched by appeals from
| the most casual stranger. / doubt If
there was a city In which he lectured
where he did not leave behind part of
| the money that he had earned upon
| the platform. / ought TO know some
thing of this. for | myself made
touch on the colonel. and he respond
| ed to 1t like the gentleman that he
was
1T was down in Memphis about ten
years ago. How | happened to be
there is nobody's business. 1t is
enough 10 say that was stone broke
friendless and desperate. 1 even en-
Wed the swearing, half-naked steve
dores down at the river wharves. as
they stood in line to receive their pay,
only to hustle off and lose their money
in crap game. My hotel bill at the
Peabody was worrying me lot. 1t
wasn't big, but l had nothing with
which to pay it. ] scarcely had nerve
enough to go in and eat my meals, and
| never would have stepped up to the
desk if / 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 Autograph likeness of Col. In
gersoll. l had seen it before, an
nouncing a lecture on The Mistakes
of Moses But this time it furnished
an inspiration. ] hated to confess il.
had met Col. Ingersoll in the days of
my prosperity, year or so before.
But the meeting had been of the most
casual sort and gave me not the
slightest claim upon his friendship.
doubted if he even remembered me.
Such was my necessity, and so low
had my self-respect ebbed that l de-
termined to join the vast army of
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 | was a |
friend of the famous orator. A stage |
hand gave me seat in the wings, and |
at the close of the lecture handed my |
note to Col. Ingersoll.
Il can see the noble old chap as he
came out into the wings to meet me.
He evidently had met my kind before,
but he was patient and courteous.
q don't remember you,' he said.
but tell me what can do for you
Tell him, l Embossed the tongue of
my woe and let fly. l told him | had
to have $40.
That is pretty large sum for one
man to ask of a stranger he remons-
trated gently.
81 admitted it, but pleaded the
harder.
livery 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. l can't give them all twenty
dollar bills. Some day l may need
this. so if you have any luck hereafter
send it to me. l may have to pass it
on to some other poor devil
THAT loan of the colonels helped
me over the rough hill of my hard
luck. Inside of year was in Wash
ington with good job. One day, and
it happened to be pay day for me,
was coming down the elevator of the
DID building formerly occupied by the
department of justice on Pennsylva-
MIA avenue. not far from the White
House The elevator shaft was dark.
and | did not recognize two men that
foor below the one at which l had |
stepped in. When the passengers got
)ut at the ground floor | noticed one
If the men stop and hand quarter to
IN old apple woman who was sitting !
IN the stoop outside the door beside s
Ter basket
The giver of the coin was Col. In 9
,ersoll. A feeling of shame swept I
'ver me. l had not returned the 1
money that had been of such benefit
o me in the crisis of my life. had &
25 in my pocket. and knew my land q
ady would be lenient with me. so q
rev bold. The colonel was just get Z
ing into his carriage at the curb. q
Col. Ingersoll, | said, stepping up |
o him. I don't suppose you remem-
er me?'
No. he replied, just trifle sus- /
iciously, I don't believe / do c
well | replied. I believe you 8
aid that once before. but this time | y
ont think you will regret having me a
efresh your recollection. First take y
his $40. and I'll explain myself
Il did. and ] don't think ] ever felt
lore proud of having pulled myself ?
1gether than / did then, for was d
cling the story to the one man who +
ad seen how nearly down and out | a
ad been. u
My boy he said. laying a big. y
.;opd1v hand on my cbotr1dar |