| Show THE GARLAND TIMES GARLAND UTAH 'Twas a Son of St Patrick Wtio Gave $ Us One of Our Most Familiar Lincoln GECSCRE VALE By VIRGINIA (Released by Weitern Newspaper Yarns— The Story of Grant's Whisky Union most extensive talent search ever conducted for a motion picture role is under way has sent scouts out to assemble candidates for the boy role of “Jody” for the filming of “The Yearling” The boy selected will appear with Spencer Tracy in Sidney Franklin’s production of the novel a story of THE early days in Florida The role calls for a boy between the ages of ten and twelve of slight build from four and to five feet tall It’s the chance of a for some lucky lad If Ronald Reagan hadn’t accom- panied the Chicago Cubs ta their training camp on Catalina island he woudn’t be a rapidly rising movie star today After leaving college By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Releaaed and Mrs Ronald Reagan he got a job writing a sports column for a newspaper That led to radio and he became a sports announcer for a large network While covering the Cubs’ spring training trip he was introduced to Warner Brothers’ casting director end his voice and appearance made auch an impression that he was given a screen test and then a contract His newest assignment is "An Angel From Texas” in which his bride Jane Wyman and Eddie Albert appear with him Incidentally Jane won’t part with her wedding ring for an instant But you won’t see it in this picture she had to tuck it under her belt so that it wouldn’t show — — It’s among the extras In Hollythat you hear the most stories bat few of them equal the true tale of What happened to Dona Dlx wbo’i now an extra on the Warner lot (She’s in the new Reagan picture but you probably won’t notice her) A few years ago she left the New York stage and took a boat to Hollywood When the ship stopped at Panama she bought some lottery tickets She won wood of Vicksburg in high com- mand In either case Lincoln’s reply is essentially the same and it has been quoted an endless number of times by banquet speakers lecturers and others more concerned with “getting a laugh” than with historical accuracy For the fact is that Lincoln never received any such protest against Grant’s appointment for the reason given in the story and therefore did not make the reply Moreover attributed to him several times after the yarn had been widely circulated he disclaimed authorship of the quip But he did so with such evident approval of its humor that his denial helped increase the popularity of the story The real author of this story which was entirely fictitious was a “son of St Patrick” Charles G Halpine a correspondent for the New York Herald during the Civil war who signed his dispatches with the typical Irish name of “Miles O’ReiUy" Halpine was born near Oldcastle County Meath Ireland November 20 1829 the son of an Episcopal clergyman 152000 She promptly abandoned her career and devoted herself to enjoying her wealth But one bad investment followed and the another money disappeared Today she’s an extra— and glad of it I Florence Gill who created the popular “Clara Cluck’ in the Walt cartoons Disney publicly confessed on the “It Hapin Hollpened ywood” program recently that it was all the result of bad luck— or she bo thought at the time the bad luck came She was along studying for an operatic career when a long Illness caused her to retire from singing When she recovered she worked on her barnyard imitation heard her ’and Disney promptly put “Clara Cluck” on the screen —i — Arthur Lake the “Dagwood" of the CBS “Blondie" senes m which Penny Singleton plays opposite him couldn’t possibly escape being an actor His parents were circus acrobats His cradle was a dressing room trunk And he went on the stage as soon as he could walk switched to the movies and now holds his own with the most popular radio stars ODDS AD FADS ITrner Director and John incenl Sherman Garfield could put on a pretty good billthry'rt both former Golding exhibition en Clotet fighlert Claudette Colbert hat a League of buttons dog kennel— a French poodle an English setter a and a If elsh terrier endy who's been appearing iiarrie in ihoig “Sami’ pictures made a tuily protest a hen the script railed for her death at lAf end of “Ike Saint Takes Oier" — put refused to die because a series like that means work for ages Charles Laughton hat beentteachmg his unit to drive the family automobile ULYSSES GRANT who was also editor of the Dublin Evening Mail Entering Trinity coUege in Dublin while still a boy young Hafpine soon gave evidence of the literary ability that ran in his family Although he began the study of mediciae after his graduation in 1816 he soon gave that up to enter the more congenial field of journal-- 1 ism He began contributing to newspapers m Ireland and England married young and believing that America offered better opportunities for success emigratHe ed to this country in 1849 went first to Boston where he obtained a position on the Boston Post Then he sent for his young wife whom he had left in Ireland until he established himself in his Soon after her adopted country arrival he became the leading a hueditor of the Carpet-Bamorous magazine which had been established by Benjamin Shilla ber of “Mrs Partington” fame and Dr Shepley But the Carpet-Baproved to be a failure and in 1852 Halpine moved to New York where he wrote for the New York Tribune worked for a few months on the New York Herald arid then joined Henry Raymond on the New York After a short stay on the Times Times he became a partner of John Clancy In the publication of the New York Leader for which t St his drinking if he was addicted Waatern Nawipaper Union) rals” There are several versions of the Inspiration for this reply One is that it was “a member of his cabinet” who uttered the protest against Grant’s appointment because of his alleged intemperate habits Another is that “a delegation of cfergymen” called on the President and asked him not to put the vic- tor Mr by F ALL the stories told about Abraham Lincoln few are more familiar to the average American than the famous “Grant’s whisky” yarn Yet none of them has less basis of fact than this one According to it the Great Emancipator in response to a protest that the general whom he was about to appoint commander-in-chie- f of the Union armies was too much given to drinking whisky is supposed to have replied “Well I wish you irould tell me the brand of I Whisky that Grant drinks would like to send a barrel of it to each of my other gene- rtre rs As the story it occurred to friends to ask it was true that to liquor gained currency some of Lincoln’s him if the story were true Among them were the war department telegraphers his “boys” whom he saw nearly every day when he called at the telegraph office to get the latest One of news from the front these was Albert B Chandler later president of the Postal Telegraph company Lincoln Denies Authorship In 1895 Chandler attempted dispel the myth by making his best work Both his articles and humorous were so popular that the circulation of the Leader in creased tremendously and it soon became a political power in New he did political writings York Joins Union Army By this time the young Irish immigrant was enjoying a large income but at the outbreak of the Civil war he gave this up to accept a commission as a lieutenant in the New York regiment commanded by Colonel Cortroran So rapidly did he master the details of military life that he was promoted to major and became adjutant on the staff of Gen David Hunter When Maj Gen Henry W became commander-in-chie- f of the Union armies Halpine was transferred to his staff and stationed in Washington In addition to preparing all of HaUeck’s official correspondence Halpine began writmg again for the New York Herald Under the nom de plume of “Miles O’Reilly” he assumed the character of a private in the New York regiment and began writing a series of amusing articles which became instantly popular It was in one of these articles that Halpine “whisstarted the t ky myth” which has persisted to this day In its issue of November 26 1863 the New York Herald carried a article signed Miles by “Private O’Reilly” which was given almost as much prominence in the paper as the news story of the victories near It was captioned Chattanooga “Miles O’Reilly at the White House” and was a wholly fictibetious account of O’Reilly’s ing made a guest of honor at a large function at the White House attended by all the WashPresiington notables including dent Lincoln Secretary Stanton General Halleck and Lord Lyons the British ambassador A Party at the White House A part of Haipine’s dispatch describing the festivities at the White House reads as follows: “ ‘Colonel Bell please touch the bell’ said Mr Lincoln ‘and my- - messenger — send us up the decanters and I have some French things wines sent me from Paris by Sec- retary of Legation ‘Pennington whose tongue is so completely occupied in the business of tasting vintages that he has never had time to teach it French though a resident in Paris many years If you prefer whisky I have some that can be relied upon— a pres1 ent from Mr Leslie Combs eall it “Grant’s Particular” and Halleck is about issuing an order that all his generals shall use it ” ’With the hews we have tosaid day from Chattanooga General Halleck gayly ‘I think the country will indorse the order to which Mr Lincoln has referred! For my own part I’ll take some of that whisky — just enough to drown a mosquito and with the Presidept’s permi4sion our first toast will be the health of Ulysses Grant of the Missisthe sippi’ “Secretary Stanton seconded and spirited neat a todst the in address Mr Lincoln frequently applauding The health was received with all the honors every one present standing up while the liquor went down and the comthree cheers for giving pany General Grant and then three more and then three after that to top off with” The story spread all over the country and eventually “Private Miles O’Reilly’s” part in it and his authorship of it were forgotten People began telling it as “another good Abe Lincoln the friends of yarn" Naturally who had been General Grant troubled by rumors of his intemperance were glad to spread the story since Lincoln’s alleged remark provided a good excuse for to this statement: “Major Eckert asked Mr Lincoln if the story of his interview with the complainants against General Grant was true viz that he had inquired solicitously where the general got his liquor and on being told that the information could not be given the President replied that he would very much like to find out so that he might get enough to send a barrel to each of his generals Mr Lincoln said that he had heard the story before and that it would have been very good if he had said it but that he didn’t He supposed it was ’charged to him’ to give it currency “He then said the original of the story was in King George’s Bitter complaints were time made to the king against his Gen-eral Wolfe (victor over Montcalm Battle which at the of Quebec and Indian ended the French war) in which it was charged that he was mad The king replied angrily ‘I wish he would bite some of my other generals then’ “He then mentioned a bright saying which he had recently heard during the draft riots in New York in which the Irish figured most conspicuously— ‘It is said that General Kilpatrick is going to New York to quell the riot but his name has nothing to do with it’ ” Similar testimony is given by Chaplain James B Merwin who was commissioned by Lincoln to talk temperance to the soldiers ’? T Reference has been made previously to Halpine’s part in enrolling the' first regiment of Negro soldiers This was a subject which caused a great deal of discussion early in the Civil war Of course the Confederates were horrified and threatened all sorts of reprisals against Union officers who enlisted or commanded Negroes Even in the North there was considerable opposition to the idea since it was held that “only white men should be allowed to fight for the Union” Halpine in took notice of this discussion one of his most famous poems : Sambo’s Right to B Kilt Some tell us ’tis a burnin’ shame To make the naygers fight An’ that the thrade of bein’ kilt Belongs but to the white: But as for me upon my sowll So liberal are we here I’ll let Sambo be murthered instead of myself On every day of the year On every day of the year boys And in every hour of the day The right to be kilt I’ll divide wid him An’ divil a word I’ll say In battle’s wild commotion I shouldn't at all object If Sambo’s body should stop a baU That was cornin’ for me direct And the prod of a Southern bagnet So ginerous are we here I’ll resign and let Sambo take it On every day in the year On every day in the year boys And wid none o’ your nasty pride’ right in a southern bagnet prod Wid Sambo I’ll divide! The men who object to Sambo Should take his place and fight And it’s betther to have a hue Than a liver that’s wake an’ white Though Sambo’s black as the ace of spades His finger a thrigger can pull And his eye runs sthraight on the All my undher its thatch of wool me all boys darlin’ think I’m tippin’ you chaff The right to be kilt we’ll divide wid him And give him the largest half! From So hear Don’t Among Halpine’s published works after the war were "Lyrics by the Letter H” "Life and Ad ventures and Songs Services Speeches of Private Miles O’Reilly 47th Regiment New York Volunteers” and “Baked Meats of the Funeral: a Collection of Essays Poems Speeches and Banquets by Private Miles O’Reilly” Among the poems in the latter volume is one which has often In some rebeen reprinted its theme was curiously spects prophetic of the "Last Man” banCivil held war veterans quets by It reads as during recent years follows: The Thousand and 1864 20 ) (April Three years ago today We raised our hands to Heaven And on the rolls of muster Our names were There were just a thousand And bayonets the swords were n the oath of service right hands raised to Heaven Oh ’twas a gallant day In memory still adored That day of our nuptials With the musket and the sword! Shrill rang the fifes the bugles blared a And cloudless beneath heaven Far flashed a thousand bayonets And the swords were As we took With our ABRAHAM LINCOLN Merwin stated that Lincoln denied authorship of the quip about Grant and said that the joke was a hundred years old when he first heard it attributed to him Athough Halpine's chief claim to fame seems to rest upon his authorship of this story which became a favorite “Lincoln myth” he had other distinctions which should make his name memorable For as the popularity of his "Private Miles O’Reilly at the he White House" demonstrated had a genius for imaginative writHe had proved that early ing in his career as a New York journalist To win a bet he produced a long account of the resuscitation of a pirate named Hicks who had been executed on Bedloe’s island and this hoax which was believed by many people caused a great deal of excitement In New York Upon his return to New York he served on the staff of Gen John A Dix and during that time wrote a series of articles exposing the corruption of the city government which attracted the attention of the Citizens’ association As a result he was offered the editorship of the Citizen the organ of the reform movement at that was inaugurated which Soon he aftertvards tune bought the paper and plunged into politics to fight “Boss” Tweed He scored his first victory when a coalition of Demelected ocrats and Republicans him to county register by a large majority and this was followed by other political triumphs During kll this time Halpine had continued with his literary labors and his constant writing made him subject to insomnia for which he took opiates The result was a tragic- end to his career— through the mistake of a druggist he took an overdose of chloroform when attacked by a severe pain in his head and died on August 3 1368 Of the thousand stalwart bayonets Two hundred march today Hundreds lie in Virginia swamps And hundreds in Maryland clay While other hundreds —less happy— drag Their mangled limbs around And envy the deep calm blessed sleep Of the battlefield’s holy ground the swords — one night a week ago The remnant just eleven— Gathered around a banqueting board With seats for There were two came in on For crutches And two had each but a hand pour the wme and raise the cup As we toasted “Our Flag and To Land!” room seemed filled with whispers As we looked at the vacant seats And with choking throats we pushed aside The rich but un tasted meats Then in silence we brimmed our glasses As we stood up— just eleven— And bowed as we drank to the Loved and the Dead Who had made us ! After Halpine’s death which Robert B Roosevelt uncle of the President - called '"a national calamity” Mr Roosevelt edited a volume of his poems and issued them as “The Poetical Works of Charles G Halpine” And the Houston Jones the comparatively young who toppled the Huey Long in Louisiana is a corporation lawyer representing 43 corpora- David Goliath tions and says he is He never took his coat proud of it of! while he was campaigning never talked swamp talk kept his shoes shined dishes good grammap and never tore his hair Defeatmg Gov Earl K Long brother of the in the f primary he gets the Democratic gubernatorial nomination which means election in Louisiana However he fought like a wildcat made a half dozen and two radio adspeeches dresses a day swarmed all over the state and developed a caref- ully organized state parish and precinct organization lie is 42 years old good looking He is and convincing a political newcomer little known when the Kingfish called him “High-Ha- t Sambo” lie replied that he had no high hat but would not hesitate to get one if he needed it and would dress as he pleased So he did and he made them like it Born in a lpg cabin in the deep piney woods of southwestern Louisiana he worked in a sawmill until he was 17 with sketchy education He entered the University of Louisiana waited on table to help went into the World pay his way war as a private but never reached France and returned to continue his education in a country law office He has been on both sides of corporation law practice winning the for fight the rice farmers against the millers and has engaged in some stiff fights with public utilities On several occasions he defended cases for labor organizations ''PR0UBLED observers of world A disaster seeing no light or hope might do well to compare Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s children’s crusade Popular Author ren s crusades of the Thirteenth In century the latter about 50000 children went from France and Germany to fight the Saracens thousands Many died and many others were captured and sold into slavery at Alex- child andria seems to have hapSomething pened in the centuries between Miss Fisher (the novelist finds eager throughout the country as she launches a campaign gather a penny a year from each the 30000000 American school children for child refugees in all countries of the world of all races and beliefs The pledge will cover the entire life of the child The fund totaling $300000 a year will all go to the children with private pledges covering the cost of admini- to of stration Miss Fished author of about books including novels educational and social studies has been engaged in such humane 25 — enterprises all her adult life During and after the World war she spent three years in France In relief work In 1934 she became chairman of the Advisory Conference of Jews and Christians to Oppose Race Prejudice and Religious Intolerance Her battle has been unceasing against a standardized and materialized society A native of Lawrence Kan she could call herself Dr Fisher but never does Her doctorate in philosophy came from Columbia university in 1904 after her graduation from Ohio State university She probably wears more academic garlands than any other American woman with honorary degrees from Middlebury coUege Dartmouth the of Vermont Ohio State University Northwestern and Williams Her home is in Arlington Vt Noting that heriqrusade is much more human and sensible than that of Etienne the shepherd boy of Cloyes who led the ragged hungry children to crush the Saracens one might also note the upsurge of “Snow White” and "Pinocchio” as a new adult entente with revealing the child world Miss Fisher do well to make Walt Disneymight one of the generals of her new crusade U HEN this writer was in Paris few years ago style boot leggers were through plots and stratagemsmoving as melodramatic as my spy bus mess It was an old story then Currently Lucien the Judge Landis of the Paris dressmakers pegs a new outbreak of the old established custom of sneaking & camera shot of a gown— perhaps bribing a delivery boy— and making the model a dime a dozen all over Europe before the buyer can wear it That’s just one device There are dozens |
