Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-11-17
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Proctor Knott Died a Greatly
Disappointed Man.
Won Fame as a Humorist by His
Speech About Duluth, but Never
Thereafter Was Taken Seri-
ously In Congress.
BY (. J. EDWARDS.

1t was in 1867 that Proctor Knott,
who died recently at the ripe age of
eighty-one years, won sudden nation.
al fame by humorous speech, deliv-
cred in congress, in which he apps.
trophized Duluth, MINI, as the zen
it'll city of the unsalted seas" Four.
teen years later l came to know him
well, man Of medium height, broad
shouldered and deep chested, with
dark eyes, surmounted by heavy eye
brows, and a somewhat grizzly iron
gray mustache. He was still a mem
Der of congress, and his manner was
that of the most serious-minded man
in the house of representatives. He
seldom spoke, although had it been
announced that Proctor Knott was to
speak the galleries would have been
filed and senators would have run
over from their side OF the capitol to
listen TO the man who had given Du-
luth Its first and greatest fame"
One day, when l boarded horse
car for the national capitol, found
fellow passenger in Proctor Knott.
He vas engaged in studiously reading
a small volume, Latin classic, and
the contrast between the popular con-
ception of him and my horse-car view
of him was striking. Yet venture to
say that in that car l had a good
glimpse at the real Proctor Knott.
We fell into pleasant conversation.
Il suppose, Mr.. Knott" remarked,
that there is no member of the lower
house Of congress whose name is bet
ter known than your own"
He smiled and shook his head sad
iy. What Is reputation Of that kind
WORTH" he asked. Il sometimes see
people come into the gallery; | am
pointed Que by some one who is with
these strangers, and see them look
ing at me intently. j know what they
are saying to one another. They are
saying, That is Proctor Knott, who
made the Duluth speech They don't
give thought to my serious work in
congress; / am not known an iota by
it; / am simply, Proctor Knott, who
made the Duluth Speech and will be
to the day of my death"
II take 1t, then, Mr.. Knott" l ven.
tured to say, that you believe a gift
of humorous expression and the use
of it by man in public life constitute
a detriment to his career?"
"The most successful men in public
life," Mr.. Knott replied, "are those
who are either intensely serious or
who maintain that appearance. / am
n very serious man, but sometimes
OF h. oil
were, and have been told that that is
the essence OF humor-forced like
nesses between things that are unlike.
This is my weakness, and because
once made a humorous speech that
attracted attention have never there
after been taken seriously. Except
In my committee room, am without
much influence in congress.
IF were going to give any advice
to young man who desired to make
a public career" Mr.. Knott continued,
81 should say to him: Never make
humorous speech. Cultivate wit, If
you have a gift for it. That helps
Cultivate irony. That helps. You
may tell a funny story to illustrate
a point-but always be serious in your
speech. Shun humor as you would
the plague. Bear always in mind that
If you make a successful humorous
speech you never will be taken seri
ously thereafter
1t was plain that Proctor Knott
looked upon the Duluth speech as the
fatal mistake of his public career, al
though it gave him national reputa
ton, something that he might other
wise not have attained
Copyright, 1911. by E. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)