Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-02-06
STEDMAN THE POET.
Anecdotes Told About the Bank
er and Man of Letters.
INCIDENT OF HIS EARLY DAYS.

Visiting a Southern Famiiy-Biessins
He Invoked at Dinner In Absence of
Minister-odd Experience In France
Few who are familiar with the con-
ventional severity of Edmund Clarence
Stedman, the banker, poet, critic, lit
terateur and man of letters, who died
recently in New York, would imag
inc that the faculty of Yale ono.
found it necessary to "rusticate" him,
says the New York Press. Remorse for
his youthful depravity seemed not to
have imbittered him, however, for he
told with reminiscent glee of his adven-
lures in that memorable time of his
withdrawal from his alma mater.
To fill the leisure thus imposed on
him he took trip to the south a region
with whose social customs he was
largely unfamiliar, to visit chum.
On the first morning of his stay as
he arose to dress he was surprised by
the entrance of an old darky, who
brought in large pitcher containing
liquid of strange but seductive odor.
MARS Tom," the aged servitor ex-
planned, "he reckoned dat Mars Ed
mund might want some mint julep be-
foh breakfas'," with which invitation
he set his burden ON the table and with
drew.
Mr.. Stedman was prepared for any
household ceremonial which might be
in order. He took an inquiring sip.
The drink was delicious, and only the
canponH onnoIIincp c no
ceeded with the operation of dressing,
however, he frequently required to it.
1t was a large pitcher, and it was pref
ty full, but gradually there came over
him sense of the duty imposed on
him and an appreciation of the fact
that the reputation of the north was at
stake
He found each sip more refreshing
than the last, however and as he saw
the bottom of the pitcher he became
convinced that no form of hospitality
could be more pleasant and no social
and family customs more delightful
than those found in the southern home.
As he finished his toilet with growing
difficulty the darky again made his ap-
pearance. He gazed at the empty
pitcher, then the visitor, then at the
pitcher and at the visitor once more,
with rolling eyes and departed with
shaking shoulders.
Somewhat mystifed, yet happy, Mr..
Stedman descended to breakfast with
a surprising sense of difficulty in nav
igation. As he steered to his place the
family-a large one, containing several
girls-looked at him with glances star
tied, amused, Mortified.
The meal and the remainder of the
day, which he passed in close retire
ment, he confessed remain as vague
dream in his mind. 1t was not until
few days later that he discovered he
had consumed the entire family's morn
ing allowance of mint julep, which, ac-
cording to the southern custom, had
been carried first to the guest
When Mr. Stedman was visiting In
New England a few years ago he was
called upon by the head of the house
while at dinner to invoke the divine
blessing says the Boston Herald.
81 was rather surprised and for half
a minute sorely tempted" said Mr..
Stedman in relating the incident; "then
rose to the occasion and asked
grace which l remembered"
But, Mr. Stedman'' demanded the
young woman of the party eagerly,
''what were you sorely tempted to
do?'
''As Charles Lamb did under similar
circumstances. He looked about the
hnp r1 and oclaH in leo 10
no clergyman presentY The hostess
shook her head. Then Lamb prayed,
For this and all other mercies, o Lord.
make us truly thankful
While on visit to France Mr.. Sted
man stopped one day on country
road to admire the surrounding coun
try, says Harper's Weekly. AS ht
stood gazing meditativey over the
helds he noticed that several peasants
who passed him on the road bowed |
and took off their hats to him.
Mr.. Stedman was at first surprised |
at their salutes in his honor and won
dered for whom these polite peasants |
misstook him, but as they were repeat !
ed by peasant after peasant he finally |
concluded that his reputation had pen |
etrated farther than he bad venturee |
to suppose. AS he moved away from
the spot he happened to glance behind
him. He had been standing in front
of statue of the Virgin.
Time did not diminish the dislike |
Edmund Clarence Stedman felt for the |
designation "banker-poet," says the |
New York Mail. 1t was hurled at him
one night when he was present at q
banquet to friend whose ideals, like
his own, have always been two dec
ades in advance of his age, and, Sc
the story goes, he was provoked to OBJ
serve in his genial manner:
"Call me banker If you will and poet
III you must, but banker-poet has nc
scientific position. The terms are mu
tually exclusive, except on the princi
pie that a right hand knows not what
a left doeth-a happy anomaly existing
only in benevolent imagination"