Evening journal., 1912-08-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Two Stories Of Horace
Greeley
By Holland

Horace Greeley, the centenary of
whose birth occurs next month, was
man who hated hypocrisy.
For some time Greeley's favorite
hotel at Albany, n. y, when he was
called there on political errands as
member of the famous political firm
of Seward, Weed g. Greeley, was the
Delavan House Suddenly, one day,
he changed his headquarters to the
Stanwix Hall Hotel Said the pro-
prietor of that hotel at a time when
Greeley was his guest.
you observe that the great Horace
is a patron of my hostelry? Well, I
got him as a guest in this way. The
Delavan House was started a temper
ance house But Greeley. during one
of his visits there, discovered that no
guest need go thirsty, provided he
could make the right signal to the
proprietor.
"One day Greeley came in here ana
asked me II I was the proprietor Of
this hotel, and when told him l was
he asked DO you keep whiskeyT
Yes, / have very good whiskey,'
I replied
do you also keep brandyT
Yes, have very choice stock
of brandy.
"'Well. do you keep champagneT
Yes, ! have champagne. | replied.
Well said Mr.. Greeley, and there
was an unusual twang in his voice, 1
don't want any of these things my
self, but 7 have made up my mind
would rather stay with a hotel pro-
prietor who is honest enough to say
that he keeps liquors than to stay
with one who pretends to be a tenn
perance man, and who sells strong
drink on the sly"
Greeley was a great lover of the
opera.
In 1854. Grisi, in her day the most
! famous of operatic sopranos, and her
husband. Maria. who probably was
the greatest tenor that ever sang in
Italian opera, made a tour of the
United States They appeared first in
New York at the original Academy
of Music. but prior to their debut
they were told that It was of the ut
most Importance to the success of
their American tour that they secure,
If possible. a favorable criticism of
their debut in the columns of the New
York Tribune AS a preliminary to
that end the performance of the great
singers saw to II that a seat for the
performance was assigned to Mr..
Greeley in one Of the stage boxes.
Greeley has been in the box but a
few moments when, apparently, he
fell sound asleep, to the great distress
OF both Grisi and Mario. whose sing
ing, so far as they could see, made
not the slightest impression upon the
sense of the Tribune's editor And Il
was noticed that not even the ap-
plause which followed Crisis first
song, nor subsequent outbursts, ser
we'd to arouse him from his somnoleni
attitude.
BY the time the opera was over
poor Grisi and Mario were almost be-
side themselves with disappointment
and despair-they had failed to make
an impression upon the great Horace
Greeley-there would be no favorabl,
word Of their initial performance In
the Tribune, the front of praise mos
sought for by operate singers of the
time Yet. what was their great de
light when, upon picking up the
Tribune in the morning. they saw
therein a glowing criticism Of theii
performance, and what was more. f,
most favorable editorial comment
thereon. containing a graceful wore
of congratulation for the great sing
ers.
They wondered, of course, how III,
editor Of the Tribune could have writ
ten anything at all about them sine
he slept at the opera. They were no
acquainted with one of Greeley
peculiar characteristics In the hors
cars, in hotel lobbies. in church, h
dozed soundly. apparently. yet hi
friends always noted that nothing es
capped him The better to listen o
to think, It was a habit with him 4
close his eyes as II in slumber-an
when Il came time for him to be car
ried beyond his destination.
Copyright, 1912 by E. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved).