Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-11-25
lew News OF YESTERDAY
Incident of Thackeray's Second
Visit to America.
dow the Great Novelist Was Invited
to Exchange Professional courte-
sizes by the Exhibitor Of the
Giant Rat.
Nv (, j, EDWARDS.

One hundred years ago July IS last
William Makepeace Thackeray was
,orn. Fffty-five years later he made
lis second successful lecture tour OF
b he United States.
During his second visit to this coun.
ry Thackeray made the editorial Of
| ices OF Putnams Magazine his New
York headquarters" said the late
Parke Goodwin, publicist and son-in-law
If William Cullen Bryant, to me
ew years ago, land We became accus
omed 10 daily visits from him which
ne made in the most unceremonious
manner. George William Curtis and
were then the editors of the maya
zine. We took great delight in show
.ng Thackeray about the town, and he
took equal delight in telling us OF
some OF his queer experiences i'll the
cities of the country he had visited.
One day Thackeray came into the
office in his usual unconventional mall
ner He had upon his countenance a
puzzled look, that, | felt sure, was as.
sumed. He took from a pocket wal.
let in which he kept cards and Valll'
able papers, and after tossing the con.
tents upon the editorial table and fish.
ing around among the cards for
space he finally picked up one and
handed it to me with the statement
that he had received it from gentle
man whom he had met when he was
in Boston, delivering his lecture on the
four Georges. read what was on the
card and then /. too, assumed a puz.
zled look and glanced inquiringly al
Thackeray.
IL am afraid that have sighted the
gentleman said he most solemnly.
Everywhere have been in the
United States l have received moth.
ing but courtesy. | have been royalty
entertained. / have been the guest
of honor at many delightful dinners.
formal and informal. But after all
do not know of anything that has ap
pealed to me exactly as did the pre-
sentation Of that card you hold in yol:
hands-and yet, fear most mortally
that I have sighted the gentleman
who presented it,
1.-The gentleman continued Thack'
cray grayely, called upon me at my
hotel. When he handed me his card
he told ME that since lie, as we'll as /.
was professionally engaged, | as a
lecturer and he as u public entertainer
in the manner explained by his card.
he was anxious to exchange cards
with me and in that way observe the
courtesies of the profession OF public
entertainer aud lecturer. He also de.
clared that he was most anxious 10 al
tend my lecture and equally anxious
that | should witness his entertain.
ment.
My professional brother was en-
tirely sincere, and was very glad tc
give him. in exchange for his card, my
own with All order for q seat al my
lecture. | particularly observed that
he was present at my lecture. and
that he listened to me intently from
beginning TO end Of what had 20 say
He paid me that great courtesy. |.
however, went away from Boston with
out making use OF his card. fear that
have been discourteous 10 the gentle.
man. 1t worries me. If ] should 60
back to Boston before my return to
England shall certainly make it a
point to be As polite 10 him as he was
to me. shall be visitor at his en-.
tertainment.'
"Thackeray gravely took back the
card and carefully put it back in his
wallet" continued Mr. Goodwin. Il
kept my face straight and said moth
Ing. On the card were printed these
words:
Exhibition Of the Giant Rat. Ad-
mission. % cents"
Copyright. 1911. by L. ). Edwards. Al
Rights RcScrvcd)