The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-21
For the Camden Journal.
ANECDOTE OF ROBERT HOE, INVENTOR
OF THE IMPROVED PRINTING PRESS. .
BY LAUE1E TODD.

ANECDOTE OF ROBERT HOE, INVENTOR
OF THE IMPROVED PRINTING PRESS.
BY LAURIE TODD.
In 1905 the yellow fever prevailed to fear
full extent IN the city of New York. FOR sixteen
summers never left the city when the yellow
fever prevailed One day in the month of Sep
tcmber of that year, young r'an stepped into
my store. Says he: MIR. H." (he got my
name from my signboard,) "Pm just landed
from ship from England. My name is Rob
ert Hoc-by trade carpenter, which lcarne!
from my father | a." ONLY eighteen years
old And can't find work on account OF the
fever. Can you," he continued, recommend
me to board. will pay us soon as get en-
ploymcnt,"' &c. In 1854 landed in n. York
with Only three cents in my pocket. l knew
the heart of stranger. Hc was thick-set, five
feet four inches in height, skin white rs the
SHOWS in Siberia, his checks crimsoE2d with
the flush OF youth and the heathliil gales Of the
Atlantic Ocean, and above al, around him was
such an air of t-4th and uavanishcd simplicity
that our hearts warmed towards him. My wife
had Joined lis. Says {: My dear wife, Cos.
has preserved us il six Eav1rs, anl il scvan.-
Disease or death has never yet entered our
this stranger in! II. has 10 money; but God
has pail US aforchand And shouEi he take the
fever, will thee help Inc to nurse hin?' "fll
nurse hiin myself" she excl&iacd. He brought
his trunk. He willingly pat himself under sur
vcillancc. | kept him much at ho?.e, fearing
infection. Before week he was seized by the
fever. got the best medical help. My wife
and nursel him. ti,i,!!i have nurstd soiac
scores in that disease, bat knew not one so had
as he to recover, himself excepted. On the
fourth day Qcw survived the iilt!) the fever
was coursiny through his veins and drinking up
his blood. lie WAS hpac-s;ch, heart-sici, an!
under the operation of powerful mcdicilc.
seldom left him; conversing with r and striv-
ing to keep up his spirits &c iastrucd lis eyes
on my face and exclaimed, "Mr. T., I will die,
/ will t;ic-l never can stand this "Dic," |
replied-"ycs,' says |, "Rob2rt, we mast Ill
die; but you are not going to Gle this week"
l srok, ul,a'ivise!ly with my lips; brt thou sht
the cnl would sancti!y the means. knew
when the medicine ceased operating tiler2
would be Il lull (as we say at sea) il tIl. fever.
felt his pulse. "Now," says |, Robert, You
arc fifty FER cent better already. iou are not
going 10 die this turn. Ihorc % sec yoa mas
tcr-builder, married to !, bonny American lass
and to hold your grand child in my arms y2t."
My words were prophetic. lie became mas
ter-buil'ler. aud married IL fair An2rican. In
lS45, just forty years thereafter, w:s sojourn-
ing in. New Jersey. When my trurl; WAS SIT
down from the stage, Il man Of respectable :;p-
pearancc was lookin:; on. Says l: "'Sr, am
a stranger. Iion't like to put up il tavern.
Can you direct nc to private boartIin,; for y
week (" Says he: 81 can, if YOU will III, with
me round the corner" Qle knew IVY man,c;'
knew not his.) The sun Was just sct!as, al
the close Of amid Summer day. On the piazza
of :, neat brick Building sat IL co,lcly nr;tron,
who from her appearance, might have seen
twenty Int summers. On her lap sat :, babe
of six months. GOOD wifi" says Mr.. G. "ths.
is Mr.. ThorlHirn, from New York. Il, wishes
private board fora week. Can you accpruno-
date hing eyes; for . month, year, :, life
tilne,'' she replied. al have heard from rny
father, and my mother has toll me- how Mr. I.
was the instrument, under God, Of preserving
his life. "What was yo;lr fathers namc~
says |. "Robert Hoc," says she "An1 is
that your child" "lt is" | raise! it G.o",
her lap-it smiled in my face-l kissed its
pouting lips. "Now, Madam" says |, this
day my prophecy is fulfilled in your eyes"
"Cast thy bread upon the waters tou shal;
find it after Inany days" Wt.cn batI,cd li-
burning; temples and pressed lis thro1'n, head,
little though, that there lay the germ of that
machine which was dcstined to rrv"utimrizc
the world of literature. "Bc not forgctil to
entertain strangers" saith the Apostle Peter
He died in pcace about ten years ago.
GRANT THORHURN.
Camden, March, 1850.