Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1898 — Stories By the Way. [ARTICLE]

Stories By the Way.

Few Impromtu Speeches. A group of literary meo were dissussing the other div the rarity of spontaneous el quince of wit. “1 was at a dinner once in New York,” said one, "and was seated next to Col. Hay, who, you know, had been Lincoln’s secretary... Somebody making a speech ex* claimed: “ ‘ln genuine eloquence the words came hot from the heart. No n - ) bier speech was ever uttered in America than Lincoln’s address at Gettysburg, and I am assumed it was wholly spontaneous. He had not given it a thought before ho rose to speak.’ ” “ ‘While he was delivering it,’ said Gol Hay to me, aside, J‘l had the sis th copy of it in my pocket.’ ” “I, too, remember a dinner m New York,” said another, “at which all the foremost men in journalism and literature were present. The speech of tb© evening was made by George William Curtis. It sparkled with wit and a,pt allusions to tbfe men present, evidently inspired by the moment. Once he stopped, interrupting himself, and exclaimed. T see my friend, Judge D., looking at me doubtfu ly, but I must remind him that he too. .gung on with some brilliant raillery that brought down peals of laughter. As we lose to go out 1 said to the editor of a Boston paper: “ ‘ Who but Cui tis could pour out impromptu wit like that?’ “ ‘lmpromptu?’ said the newspa* per man, T nad proofs of all the speeches given to me this afternoon to send to Boston tonight. Let us look at his.’ We looked, and there it was, word for word, even to the T see my fiiend, Judge D., looking at me doutfully,* ete.”j^ “I fen jw Artemus Wa:d,” said a third man, “when he was a reporter on a Cleveland paper. One evening in tie office ha tola a story, apparently a mere trifle, the flash of a moment. “Browne,’ said the chief, ‘how can you say such clever things offhand?’ “‘Off-hand!’ muttered Browra. T told that to mvself fifteen tim|s this afternoon!’ Yen yea.s afterward I heard him tell the s*me sto* ry to a brilliant JLondon audience, without the alter at on of a comma.” “Even to make a good joke,” re marked a listener, ‘‘work apparently is needed as well as genius.” [Youth’s Companion. D. M. CeetiDg superintendent of public instruction, is planning for a general observation of Arbor Day October 28, by the public schools of the state ■ The governor, too, is interested, in ti e g neral ob-> servance ot the day. In his pioc lamation designating the date men tioned as Arbor Day, he refers to the destruction of the forests and requests not only the school chil dren, but the public generally to plnrft trees on that occasion and thus beautify their homes. A plea for the biids is also made in the proclamation. The schoolchildren are requested not only to plant trees, but 10 see to it that ichool premises are beautified in every way possible. The day will be a sort of holiday in the publie schools of the state, aud the planting of trees, the superintendent of public instruction believes, will be more moie general than ever before. The Republican ;;repe ts ro its reiders what it claims to be an exti act from a late speech of a fellow by the name of Beverid e. If corresily reported the author sim ply proclaims himself an idioti .‘dtmphool!” The Journal announces that it 10 going to dig into the management of a Democratic auditor and raise a stink Yon can’t do it, ‘Lei’— The admininistrations of ra w Yeoman, the very worthy Democratic candidate for Prosecutor* and the late H A Barkley were 0 k lfvoumeanE CNowels..he was a Greenbacker, You’re out!

I Historic Epigrams. “Remember ths M»ine.”.. Commodore Schley's signal to flying squadron. “You may fire when you are rea<* dy, Gridlev.”—Commodore Dewey at Manila. “Don’t cheer, boys, the poor devils are dying.”.. Captain Phillip of the Texas. “The Maine is avenged.”—Lieutenant Wainw ight, after the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. “Don’t mind me, boys; go on fighting.”.. Captain Allyn K. Capron, of the rou~h riders. “To hell with breakfast; let’s finish ’em now.”—Yankee gunner to Commodore Dewey. “Don’t get between my guns and the enemy.”—Commodore Dewey to Prince Henry, of Germany. “There mast be no more recalls; iron will break at last.”- Lieutenant Hobson to Admiral Sampson. “Take that for the Maine.”— Captain Sigsbee, as he fired a shot through the Spanish tor, edo boat Terror.

“We will make Spanish the court language of hades ”. .“Fighting Bob” Evans when war was declared “I’ve got them now, and they will never get home.”—Commodore Schley en guard at Santiago harbor. “The battle of Manila killed me, but I woul ido it again.”.. Captain Gridley, of the Olvmnia, on his deathbed. “Excuse me, sir; 1 have to report that the ship has been blown up and is sinking Bill Anthony, of the Maine. “Shafter isfightingjnct writing.” ..AdjutantGeneral OorbiD to Secretary Alger, when the latter asked for news from the front. “Afraid I’ll strain my guns at Jong range; I’ll close in.”.. Lieutenant Wainwright, of the Gloucester, in the flight with Cervera’s squadron. “Don’t hauj-per me with instructions; I am no r . afraid of the Spanish“fleet with my ship.”. .Captain Clark, of the Oregon, to the board of strategy. “Don’t swear, boys: shoot.”.. Colonel Wood to the rough riders. “My first duty to God and my country was to sink that Spanish battleship.”. .Captain Evans, of the lowa “War cannot be mads a safe business Lieutenant Commander Wainwright. “I preferred to clothe the nabjd, feed the hungry and succor tbs sick.”.. Capt. Evans, of the lowa. “This is the time for knowing, not thinking.”..Captain Sigsbee. . .St. Louis Republic.