|SOME time ago the Cheyenne _Sun_ noticed that Judge Crosby, known to
Colorado and Wyoming people quite well, was making strenuous efforts,
with some show of success, to obtain the appointment of Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of Wyoming. Since that, I have noticed with
great sorrow that the President, in his youthful thoughtlessness and
juvenile independence, has appointed another man for the position.
I speak of this because so many Colorado and Wyoming people knew Mr.
Crosby and had an interest in him, as I might say. Some of us only knew
him fifty cents worth, while others knew him for various amounts up to
$5 and $10. He was an earnest, unflagging and industrious borrower. When
times were dull he used to borrow of me. Then I would throw up my hands
and let him go through me. It was not a hazardous act at all on my part.
The Judge knew everybody, and everybody knew him, and seemed nervous
when they saw him, for fear that the regular assessment was about to be
made. Every few days he wanted "to buy a pair of socks," but he never
bought them. Forty or fifty of us got together and compared notes the
other day. We ascertained that not less than $100 had been contributed
to the Crosby Sock Fund during his stay here, and yet the old man wore
the same socks to Washington that he had worn in the San Juan country.
A like amount was also contributed to the Wash Bill Fund, and still
he never had any washing done. We often wondered why so much money was
squandered on laundry expenses, and yet, that he should have the general
perspective and spicy fragrance of a Mormon emigrant train. He used to
come into my office and be sociable with me because he was a journalist.
It surprised me at first to meet a journalist who never changed his
shirt. I thought that journalists, as a rule, wore diamond studs and
had to be looked at through smoked glass.
He liked me. He told me so one day when we were alone, and after I had
promised to tell no one. Then he asked me for a quarter. I told him I
had nothing less than a fifty-cent piece. He said he would go and get it
changed. I said it would be a shame for an old man, and lame at that, to
go out and get it changed; so I said I would go. I went out and played
thirteen of my eternal revolving games of billiards, and about dusk
went back to the office whistling a merry roundelay, knowing that he had
starved out and gone away. I found him at my desk, where he had written
to every Senator and Representative in Congress, and every man who had
ever been a Senator or Representative in Congress; likewise every man,
woman and child who ever expected to be a Senator or a Representative
in Congress; also, to every superintendent and passenger agent of every
known line of railway, for a pass to every known point of the civilized
world, and this correspondence he had used my letter heads, and
envelopes and stamps, and he wasn't done either. He was just getting
animated and warming up to his work, and perspiring so that I had
to open the hall door and burn some old gum overshoes and other
disinfectants before I could breathe.
A large society is being formed here and in Cheyenne, called the "Crosby
Sufferer Aid Association." It is for the purpose of furnishing speedy
relief to the sufferers from the Crosby outbreak. We desire the
cooperation and assistance of Colorado philanthropists, and will, so
far as possible, furnish relief to Colorado sufferers from the great
scourge.
Later.--Henry Rothschild Crosby, Esq., passed through here a few
evenings since, on his way to Evanston, Wyoming, where he takes charge
of his office as receiver of public moneys for the western land office.
Henry seems to feel as though I had not stood by him through his
political struggle at Washington. At least I learn from other parties
that he does not seem to hunger and thirst after my genial society, and
thinks that what little influence I may have had, has not been used in
his interest.
That is where Henry hit the nail on the head, with that far-sighted
statesmanship and clear, unerring logic for which he is so remarkable.
I do not blame those who were instrumental in securing his appointment,
remember. Not at all. No doubt I would have done the same thing if I
had been in Washington all winter, and Henry had hovered around me
for breakfast, and for lunch, and for dinner, and for supper, and
for between meals, and for picnics, and had borrowed my money, and my
overcoat, and my meal ticket, and my bath ticket, and my pool checks,
and my socks, and my _robs de nuit_, and my tooth brush, and my gas and
writing materials and stationery; but it should be born in mind that I
am a resident of Wyoming. I have property here and it behooves me to do
and say what I can for the interests of our people. I may have to borrow
some things myself some day and I don't want to find, then, that they
have all been borrowed.
Let Hank stand back a little while and give the other boys a chance.
[Note.--In order to give the gentle reader an idea of Mr. Crosby's
personal appearance, I have consented to draw a picture of him myself.
It isn't very pretty, but it is horribly accurate. It is so life-like,
that it seems as though I could almost detect his maroon-colored
breath.--B. N]
[Illustration: 0122]