The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-05-15
In Dealing -Witif-a-Pers
sOnak Matter.
RECOUATS COMPLIMENTS PAID
Him as a TreEchant Writer,
In Which The Herald
Joins Heartily.
"sUGGs" SPEAKS GRATITUDE

My Very Dear Readers :-Reluc
tant to speak of self and mindful OF
the luxury in self dispraise," yet
so touched by the many handsome
things that have been said, from
time to time, in my praise, feel
that some measure of acknowledge
ment should be rendered lest | be
Justly charged with that meanest OF
offenses, callous ingratitude. AT
least | shall rely upon this to some
what justify a most wanton tres
pass upon the readers patience and
the space of The Herald-The Hart
ford Herald, that vigilant and trus-
ty old sentinel ever in the watch
tower. scanning the horizon for the
common good, and for whose faith
ful service we give all too grudg-
ingly the share of credit so justly
due and the need of praise so rich
ly earned. Reader, your best pos
sible investment is in your county
paper. But see I've skidded here,
so back 10 my mutton, the unsav-
curry dish of ego, and let's have
done as soon as may be. | say |
shall rely upon this to somewhat
mitigate this dreadful outbreak of
a most grievous egotism.
My chiefest pleasure, and amp
lest reward for all | have written to
the public, has been it's uniform toll
erance and sympathy and its sing
ular appreciation, Ito my faults a
little blind and to my merit so very
kind" generously maximizing the
latter and minimizing the former
why should | not be most grateful?
Nay, why should | not be as loyal
to so regal, gracious clientele as
the gladiator, who, on entering the
arena, said to his Emperor: He
who is about to die salutes you?"
1t were indeed a triumph to be
able, in ever so small a way, to en-
terrain the average reader with all
his store of practical knowledge,
but my pleasure has been somewhat
augmented by the encomiums of
the more cultured. Not that the !
genii themselves could Jingle my |
blood with more genuine pleasure |
than the hearty. ingenious and |
spontaneous approval of the noble
common people, who after all, are !
the true critics Of the arts-the |
courts of last resort, from whose
judgment there can be no appeal.
Knowing this, a great sculptor
once exposed his masterpiece on the
street and hid himself to hear the
criticisms OF the people. 1t was an
humble cobbler who pointed out to
his companion a defect in it's shape
ly foot. 1t was a freckTed-faced
ragamufFin who set all Louisville
agog as to whether the old guy"
Jeffersons statue, standing in
court square, was "bowlegged" But
the more cultured, being in a tech
meal sense, more critical, put ones
literary attainment to severer
test, thus lending additional, though
different, if subordinate pleasure.
In this way, albeit | have never
posed as a scholar my labor has
been rewarded by many of the pro-
fessions, among whom were law
yers, doctors, editors, divines, poll
ticians and educators, especially
Hayward and AleXander-peace to
their ashes-who have gone out of
their way to say pretty things. A
Congressman once told me, even af-
ter his election, that letter of
mine TO The Herald on the Tariff
was of great service to him in pre-
pairing a speech on that subject,
and two of our best citizens have
assured me they owed their cleo
ton TO the Offices of County Clerk
and County Superintendent, several
years ago. to a single letter to the
same paper. One of the wealthiest
and most prominent citizens of
Louisville, himself an accomplished
writer and fluent speaker, who rep
his city in the last Legis-
lature, and whose name appeared
almost daily in the public print dur
ing the session, said to DR.. Maddox
and myself, several years ago, after
a political issue for sew
eral hours land he was not a can
Gentlemen, must own
! have never been called upon to
discuss finance upon so high plane ,
and congratulate Rockport on
having at least two citizens so we'll !
!
But perhaps the most distin- {
yuished compliment was by Senator