The Greeley tribune., 1911-09-28
Story OF Greeley's Desk

--f.sr he had the courage OF MS
-,,,rtious even when they ciasheu
I'm fhose OF others; he desplseu
s,TIatug and time-servins, ne Mas
.r5snuiuaea and generous. 1et' Win
nj his mobility OF character MS Po-
|'I-rr.1I career showed some OIL those
,raric moves which deiy analysis
-rd seem inseparabie from genius
'T,a tll-advlsed Liberal Republic
ramuaigu OF 1872 wrecked Cree
-. wrecked him body and MIND
.rdlv thirty days did he survive
49,, ,srdict OF the people at the poIis.
~ mis- devoted friends never wa'-
- in their ndelity even III ms
I,rrast hour; and when the olh OF
'HIiTIcal STRIFE was hushed. many Oh
tHnsa who had been Temporarily
ranged from him did homage 10
M nprightness OF his intention ana
9nnored the memory OF one VINO
L Ted always been nrst IN the iists,
rSn never refused battle, and hao
Yer shown the white leather.
.Ihen Horace Greeley began the
srst l-cent daily i'll iS4l, among
hose who worked with him We're
Thomas n. Rocker. father OF the
lPight Rev. +. Z. Rocker, Bishop OF
IaTo p l.. as composltor, and Fat
Yirl O'Rourke as engineer. Both
these gentlemen remained MIS- as
sis,ants during the thirty-one years
mat he was editor OF the tribune,
ma continued on its stan after his
death. SO many long years OF daily
intercourse developed strong ties Oh
lriandship founded on intimate ac-
1uaintance. .Ar. O'Rourke, though
nj different faith and blood, enter
taiued a respect which amounted al
most TO veneration LOT the rugged
Wv Hampshire Yankee who
thought strongly ana felt strongly
and spoke strongly in his editorial
messages TO his readers.
Greeley was plain and his inten-
ton was to be practical, though
sometimes his feelings led him away
from his ideal The desk which he
caused to be made for his o1hce
brought out thesetwo characteristics
o the great journalist, Tor 1t was
plain and practical. 1t was SIM
Die affair of pine boards. Three feet
ten incnes high, and taree feet seven
inches long, with width of eighteen
inches, it was strong and service
able. While the war clouds were
lust gathering, while the awful con-
Bict ragged, and during the trying
days OF reconstruction, Greeley had
stood day after day at his old pine
desk and poured forth his very soul
TO the readers OF the Tribune. Then
came the crash.
After Horace Greeley's death, the
"old men" who had served him long
and faithfully were not a little hurt
to see the scant regard paid to those
objects which had been SO long
identified with his editorial life. The
old desk was pushed out of the way
aud consigned to the rubbish pile,
but was saved from such . fate. Mr..
O'Rourke asked for 1t as . souvenir
of the founder OF the Tribune, and
his request was readily granted. He
'triumphantly carted OF the old box,
and for the seventeen years that he
survived Greeley's death. 1t was one
Of his cherished possessions.
With one slight difference. the
desk IL as Mr.. Greeley left it. 1t
seems that during Mr.. O'Rourke's
lifetime = great admirer of Greeley
called on him and begged for a small
piece which he wished to form into
Q penholder His request was
granted, but all other corners begged
in vain.
The desk is now the property of
two surviving daughters of Mr..
O'Rourke, who treasure 1t rather
because it was 30 dear to their
father than through any personal
regard for Horace Greeley whom
they had no occasion to know and
esteem.
HENRY j. SWIFT, 8. ].
Note.-Father Swift has recently
communicated with Rev. A. B.
Casey, rector of St. Peters church,
Greeley, and arrangements have
been made whereby the city of Gree
ley will secure the desk The pres
ent owner makes the presentation
and Father Casey will pay the
freight from New York. The desk
will be on exhibition at Father Ca
sey's fair early in December, and
Immediately afterwards will be
turned over to Hon. William May
her. Mayor or Greeley, to be held in
precious remembrance by citizens of
Greeley today and those of years to
come.
RnWlps Its = & u 10 Kaapas