Evening journal., 1915-01-29
New News Of Yesterday
A Good Political Joke OF
the Last Century
BY Holland.

Many years ago. when William H..
Seward was serving his first term as
governor Of New York in the admin
istration Of Martin Van Buren-a
story wac told OF him which had
passed into tradition and even at this
day is sometimes narrated. because
il Is believed to contain the real spirit
Of humor. AS the story appeared in
print. Gov. Seward was riding beside
the driver of a stagecOach. He smoked
a great number of cigars. SO many
that the driver was a little astonishcd
and at last asked his companion what
his name was. Seward replied, Il
am Gov Seward"
The driver thought the passenger
was making fun of him. He was ac-
customod 10 associate great dignity
OF personal conduct with the governor
Of New York He did not believe that
a governor could be so undigniiied
as TO ride outside. smoking cigars
constantly and chatting in the most
informal way with the driver. He
therefore denied Stewards statement
that he was Gov Seward Where
upon the governor said that ho WAS
personally acquainted with the land
lCrd of the tavern which they were
approaching who would assure the
dOubter that his companion was in
fact Gov Seward.
When they reached The tavern, Gov.
Seward said 10 the landlord. "My
friend the coachman does not believe
me when I tell him that | am Gov.
Seward. You and I know one an
other and ] appeal to you TO assure
my friend that am, in fact, what 7
have claimed to be-
The landlord was a jolly man and
seeing the humor of tho situation, he
said: You Gov. Seward Nonsense!
You governor Of Now York State.
No siri"
"Who. then. is governor Of Now
York State?" Seward asked.
"Thurlow Weed was the instant
reply
Seward made no denial Of this
statement. but was, in fact. convulsed
with laughter The point of this
joke will not be appreciated by the
present generation. but in those early
days when every politician of New
York knew that the master of politi-
clans. Thurlow Weed. had secured
Stewards nomination and election rs
governor, although Seward was then
very young man. the gentle and
humorous sarcasm which was in the
landlords statement that ThurlOw
Weed was governor was universally
appreciated.
This anecdote was generally be-
| lieved to be absolutely true. especi-
ally as Gov. Seward made no attempt
tu deny II. In fact. as the anecdOtc
| became current he was accustomed
10 repeat il to his friends. always be-
/ ing careful to say that the story was
| without a foundation, bnt was 10
good a one to permit it TO die out.
Some years ago I asked Frederick
| ". Seward. Gov Stewards son and
As. istant Secretary OF state al
Washington under his father in Lin
coins administration. if there was
any foundation for this report.
"It is absolutely apocryphal," n,
replied There isn't the slightest
foundation for it, Il was made ou
Of whole cloth by a witty fellow a.
a passing joke. but it was immediatel!
taken up. put into print, and thus got
into general circulation. When my
father first read it in print II ticklel
him immensely He could see tho
humor, and although he in private
Conied it. nevertheless he would not
permit any public denial of it TO %,
made Many Of fathers friend.
thought the story did him moro good
than harm"
Copyright 1915. by T.. J. Edwards
All rights reserved.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
oi "Tho Favorite Exercise OF Some
Famous Men"