Show REBUFF WAS CUTTING ONE pitting fitting retort of mad poet to an ungentlemanly remark many stories are told of 0 mcdonald clarke known fifty years sum in now new york as the mad poet which abow that lie he had a vein ot of great shrewdness suen such as Is often possessed by people who are counted insane inane ono one day he was seated at a table in a new york hotel quietly eating his bla simple dinner when young men took their seats at the same table mcdonald clarke was a well known figure aud and the young mm men at once recognized him though lie did not know them they were not gentlemen in the best sense ot of the word and it occurred to them that the they might have some sport with the lie poor poet consequently one ot of them said in a an n unnecessarily clear tone 1 I have seen been almost everything and ery everybody lody in now new york except mcdonald clarke 1 I have a great admiration tor for his poems and I 1 would ghe a great deal to see the man when he passed the mad poet le leaned in forward and said with evident gratification sir I 1 am mcdonald clarke whom 30 3 you 0 if say ou wish to see the young man stared at him A lih lell much rudeness for or a I 1 moment and then drawing a quarter from his big pocket ho he laid it on the poets plate saying lor for the eight clarke looked at the coin for an instant and then placing it in his rocket pocket he took out a york shilling cents this he handed to the young man saving gravely children halt half price |