The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-03-08
He Alone Remains of That
Brilliant Circle of Writers
Riley, Fields, Twain.
BY HAROLD CROSS


Opie Reed newspaper reporter, au-
thor. lecturer, philosopher and the last
of the old school OF American humor-
lists is the most interesting literary
man l know and last night when | left
the Chicago Press Club where he
spends his evenings it occurred TO me
that it would be worth while TO write
his unique and reactionary views on
current topics.
Seeing opie Reed at the club is al
ways an event to and ] feel that
/ have been transported back to a day
and generation that is gone when he
was one Of the brilliant minds in
group of writer's including Eugene
Field. J. whitcomb Riley. Mark Twain
and Bill Nye. who spent many even
inEs together in the old Chicago Press
Club
PICTURESQUE FIGURE
Opie Reed was once very powerful
man physically we'll as mentally
Despite his advanced Gears, soon he
will be four score and seven. his shoul-
ders are very broud and his hair only
partially gray. He is a tall man,
little over six teet. AMI when he Is
comfortably seated in the easy chair
that the Club reserves for their most
distinguished member. Reeds long legs
block traffic on one side of the room.
He invariably smokes a curved stem
med. evil smelling pipe. and you Will
always see tobacco on his vest and in
his lap which he spills while filling the
old pipe. The noted humorist wears a.
flowing bow tie.
He reads less than was his habit
because his oversight is failing.
Ordinarily he speaks very slowly and
distinctly in modulated tone of voice
but when calling for Jeff" the old
colored waiter. he can be heard in any
part of the club.
Jefferson. where is that sandwhich?"
he viii below.
Your groceries are coming right up.
Mr. Reed" jeff viii answer.
What a picture he Is slouched down
in his chair beneath in the soft rays
OF the floor lamp. musing over a pas
sage of Shakespeare scanning the ev-
ening paper or engaged in dryly hui
morous. and perhaps somewhat profane
conversation with old Col. Will +. Wis
cher. The warmth OF Opie Reeds per-
sonality IS a comforting as the log fire
in the hearth
Prohibition came first in conversation
last night 1t has become a nightly
ritual with Reed and each time he
attacks the eighteenth amendment
from a new angle
SO MUCH FOR PROHIBITION
IF man be strong it is not on account
of temptation removed" he said sagely
but on account OF temptation over
come. Mohammed banished wine from
Turkey twenty-five hundred years ago
and the Turks haven't amounted to a
damn since. Prohibition is democrat
izing and a farce The theory is
wrong and the practice worse"
Next Mr. Reed paid his respects to
suffrage He said that Julius Caesar
would have calculated "Gcod-bye.
Rome" If he heard the women of that
capital discussing politics.
Suffrage is destroying mans gal
iantry toward woman said Mr.. Reed
! 1T gives q. certain freedom to women
and a certain freedom to girls that the
old-fashioned man and woman find tn
pleasant. II the Thoughtful women of
the United States had the power they
would recall suffrage"
Then / mentioned the disarmament
conference. knowing that once il was
disposed of the priliminaries would
have been dispensed with and some of
the quaint and sparkling philosophy of
the great humorist would be forth
coming.
The Bible says that there will ne
wars and rumors of wars al long as
man liveth upon the earth" he stated
regarding disarmament. only q few
years ago the Gear of Russia said that
| there should be no more war and the
flrst man to clap his hands in approval
was Emperor William The monarchs
went to the Hague and discovered each
! others weaknesses and then prepared
for war. / hope that some good comes
of the disarmament conference but II
Will not bring about lasting peace. Man
was born to fight"
| There was a long pause and then Mr.
Reed began to dip into the we'll OF
experience
| Life is wonderful, he said. land
| one experience with life is worth a