Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-14
Enrntttg Gl1at

udy Ut the state CapltOl and at ho-
tells, where there have been gathered
an unusual number of men from alb
parts of the State because of the leg
| islatiye sessions showed how widely
ne was known and esteemed and
there were many stories told about
the famous educator. For years DIR.
Houck has lectured all over the State
and his visits have been reception cc- .
casions, He boasted or his friends
and 1t seems that they were number
less. The children whom he taught
Iare grandfathers now and those who
have youngsters of their own will tell
or the days when Uncle Henry
came to town. There will be mourn
ing all over Pennsylvania when he is
buried on Friday.
In the thirty-eight years that
Uncle Henry was connected with
the Department of Public Instruction,
his duties took him into every section
of the State, and it is doubtful If any
Fennsylvanian had a greater ac-
lquaintance. This acquaintance stood
him in good stead in the three cam
paigns he went before the electors as
Affairs
1t was natural that he could not
remember the names of the thousands
he had met but he did not forget
races: He was so frank with his old
friends when he went about the State
as a candidate that he was able to do
something no other aspirant for Of
flee would dare attempt. Day after
day those who campaigned with him
woud hear him greet school ac-
quaintance in this manner:
Howdy do. what's your name?"
When informed of the name of the
person he was shaking hands with,
uncle Henry" was almost invariably
capable of telling the friend where
and under what circumstances they
had originally met
In his work on the stump, Mr..
Houck devoted himself largely to the
telling of stories that illustrated the
points he wanted to bring out in the
campaign. His we'll of humor never
was exhausted. Almost every night a
new story was put. in circulation and
II was always good one. He liked
to close the meetings and his audi
ences always departed in a good
humor.
! Following the gubernatoriaI cam
paign of 1910 and before the inaugu-
raton, John X. Tener gave dinner
! in Philadelphia to his associates on
| the ticket, the orators and the news
paper correspondents who had toured
the State. The speakers of the even
ing were the reporters and Mr.. Tener
: introduced each one under the name
t of candidate or orator The cores
q pondent who was assigned to repre-
Z sent Mr.. Houck retold many of the
9 stories Uncle Henry" had used on
n the stump. The old campaigner ap-
peared to get more enjoyment out of
the recital than any one else at the
dinner
When DR.. Houck bought an auto
mobile last year there was consider
: able excitement on the Lebanon VAL
Q ley trains. The venerable educator
e was figure on the train that used to
e get into Harrisburg about o'clock
7. IN the morning and he always had to
1 hold reception when he got on the
y cars and he had crowd around him
n from the time he left Lebanon. He
It was the life of the ride, as some one
i put it, and the people who knew him
! used to step up and introduce their
e children to him. When the automo-
# bile arrived DR.. Houck did not ride
It in the trains any more and there waS}
It much speculation, it being the firm
|. opinion of the folks that he had been
e taken i'll. In fact, there were some
a inquiries made as to his health. But
Is when the weather turned bad and lie
n had to take to the train again there
e were hearty greetings for him and
: the story telling. rides were resumed.
d DIR. Houck's birthdays were great
h occasions at the Capitol. He had one
e in 1907 right after he had been elect
ed and before he was sworn in as sec
retary of internal affairs. Everyone
from Governor Stuart to the clerks in
: his office went to congratulate him
and there was not much business in
the Department of Public Instruction
that day. After he became secretary
of internal affairs the birthdays were
regular celebrations and Governor
Brumbaugh on the first occasion when
he was in Harrisburg called the tele-
phone number of the secretary's pri-
vate office and insisted upon talking
to young Houck." The person who
: got the message thought that the man
at the other end of the line was in
clined, to be dsrespectful and de-
manded to know the name. Tell
him." said the Governor, that his
oldest living pupil wants to talk to
him." DIR. HoucS was con" in Il
, minute and promptly took the tele.
phone with Hello. Marty Vas ist?"
1t was right after a Pardon Board
session that he made his famous re-
tort to M. Ham pton Todd, then Attor-
ney General. Mr.. Todd was a stick
Ter for the law and had pronounced
opinions. He is a very able lawyer
and looked at cases from a strictly
official and professional viewpoint al
though personally often inclined 10
mercy. On this occasion DR.. Houck
was discussing case and urging his
view.
"well. ] have to give them the law
said Mr.. Todd with an air of finality.
But" rejoined DR.. Houck, IT give
them the Gospel"
Adjutant General Stewart, an old
campaigner with DIR. Houck and a
warm personal friend of years stand
ing, was often pitted against the Leb-
anon man at dinners and they would
be presented in such a manner that
they had to reply to each other. Their
interchanges were always worth hear
ing because the two gladiators, went
after each other in style. For twenty
three years without a break they
spoke at Masonic banquets in Harris
burg and their speeches were talked
about for weeks afterwards. One
time when the general had used up
the secretary in a post prandial battle
DIR. Houck rose and said slowly: We'll,
Tom, you're entitled to 1t. You swiped
my speech in that brotherly talk we