Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1906 — A Poet’s Curious Compliment. [ARTICLE]

A Poet’s Curious Compliment.

It was the habit of Richard Henry Stoddard, the poet, to always speak well of everyone. No matter how bad the character of a person, the good gray poet Invariably found some trait to praise. One day in bls office on Park row some friend entered and asked him whether be knew So-and-So, and, if so, wbat was the man’s reputation. It happened that the man had a shady reputation and was well known as a “gold brick” operator. The aged poet lighted his pipe and answered: "Yes, I know him—He is the most energetic, progressive, irrepressible, good-natured, artistic kind of an unmitigated rascal that I ever met’—• Leslie's Weekly.