Day in the Life

Jul 16, 1859

Journal Entry

July 16, 1859 ~ Saturday

16th I spent the day hoeing sugar cane & corn. I attended
a meeting of the Typhographical Society at the Counceil House
Mr Horace Greely was present the meeting was got up for his
specil Benefit there was quite a room full of Brethren
& sisters, and a Band of music. after a few tunes by the
Band & a short Prayer By Gilbert Clements we herd
a speech from Mr Horace Greely & I must say that
I was entirely disappointed in the man I was asstonished
at his speech, &language, & appearance. he appeared far more
like a clown of the lowest grade than he did like a
man of letters, ability, & extensive influence & a
conducter of one of the most popular Journals in the Nation
I was at a losts to know whether he was playing the possum
or had lost his senses. He appeared to me like a man
who had accidentelly stumbled into notiriety popularity
& wealth, for neither his head, Phisiognomy, looks,
acts, or speech indicated indicated in the least a man
of knowledge, refinement talent, influence or abilitey
sufficient to edit a Tribune his speech was reported by
G. D. Watt I did not take Minutes it is true there was
some sense in what He said but the language he used
& his manner of speaking nearly destroyed all interest
in the sentiments advanced. He commenced in a whine-
ing drawing out of his words in a vary flat manner in
a babiyish stile as though he had neither a knowledge of
language or Grammar while at the same time we must
be fully aware that he is vary proficient in both for
He has Edited & conducted the Tribune the most popular
& widest circulated paper in America for more than


thirty years. He commenced by saying Mr President Gent-
lemen & Ladies I am happy to meet with you here to night
esspecially to see so many females I havent seen a woman
before since I have come into this ere place not that belong to
this people & I dident expect to see one while I was here
well I do declair I am glad to see so many women here
to night I thought I was ownly going to meet a few poor
printers. I dident expect to see any women at all But I
expect you are connected in the printing business in some
way or other. The printers talked of gitting me up a dinner
well I declair I thought it was to hot to eat dinners
much I could get along without any dinner & with
but a poor Breakfast if I could ownly in the morning
take up a News paper & read what all the world had
done the day before & gess what they would do today
I could get along with the loss of all the luxeries that
you are deprived of if I could have a telegraph wire
that would tell me all that was going on in all the world
He confined his speech to the printing business telegraph
wire & the improvements of the day told how long he had
been in the printing business the improvements that had been
made in that art since He commenced He know had a stea[m]
press that could print 20000 sheets per hour & should not
be satisfied untill he could put on one ton of paper in one
continues rooll onto his cilender & print 40000 sheets per hour
& fold, cut, & direct them by steam which improvement
he was sure would soon come in use He was followed by
Elder O Hyde who spoke upon a variety of subjects & belie-
ved in a telegraph wire which would reach from heaven
to Earth so we could get revelation of God from heaven &
other worlds. Elder John Taylor followed & spoke of many
things & of the conduct of the Judges in this Territory
Gilbert Clements spoke also John Banks. James MCknight
red to Mr Greely a poem from Mr Lions welcomeing
Mr Greely He flourished a candle with such velosity
around Mr Greely's head that I think he left a sprink-
ling of [spearm] upon his close Brother Dunbar sun a
song Brother Mabyan sung a song about the man that could
never get warm and at 11 oclok they adjourned to the
Globe to take Ice cream &c but I returned home & did
not attend.

People

Browse people Wilford Woodruff mentioned on this day in his journal. Click on the person's name to view a short bio and other pages they are mentioned on or click on "View in Family Search" to view their FamilySearch profile.

Young, Brigham
1 Jun 1801 - 29 Aug 1877
3448 mentions
Apostle, Family
125 mentions
32 mentions
8 mentions
Missionary
13 mentions
McKnight, James
8 Jun 1830 - 4 Oct 1908
19 mentions
Banks, John
6 Feb 1806 - 15 Jun 1862
48 mentions
Lyon, John
1803-1889
9 mentions
Taylor, John, b. 1808
1 Nov 1808 - 25 Jul 1887
1955 mentions
Apostle
Hyde, Orson
8 Jan 1805 - 28 Nov 1878
694 mentions
Apostle
22 mentions

Events

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Jul 16, 1859