Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1870-03-11
/ From the Toledo Commercial. ..-t +
ANSON BURLINGAME.

ANSON BURLlNGAME. z-s.i
The Childhood of the Great Dip
lomat : Personal ReccOllec-
tions of Gen. VIM. III. Gibson
Anson Burlingame is deaW and
the world has lost its most efficient
worker iii the cause Of Christian
civilization. BY careful study and
patient research, he had become
familiar with the language, litera
ture, religion and civil institutions
of China, and was the first Chris
tian TO win the full confidence of
the jealous government Of that En-
pire. Entrusted with the most i'm
portant diplomatic duties ever COM
mitted to one man, he had nearly
completed the mission when he was
cut down. The world mourns his
death His career has levied a
tribute of gratitude upon future
ages. Others will testify as to the
great and conspicuous events of his
public life. s1T~5T -r7=--
AS the playmate Of his childhood.
l wish to speak of him rs a child
In 1928, Joel Burlinga.ne, his
faith er, removed to Seneca County,
Ohio, locating on an eighty acre
lot near Melmore. 'rhe father was
generous, kindly natured man,
with advantages for education and
culture above the average Of pion
eers. In disposition he was happy,
and he was devout Methodist and
earnest Free Mason. He taught
school, and had an ambition for
business, but was, in fact, impracti-
cable and unthrifty. He spent his
time attending 1.-TWO days meet
ings'' ssquarterly meetings" and
''camp meetings. and had little
love for the hard work required to
improve farm in the wilderness,
He was q. man of fine personal ap-
pearance, and his general knowl-
edge and fine conversational pow
ers gave him favor in every cabin ;
while his vehement prayers and ell
oquent exortations gave him noto-
riety among the Pioneer Christians.
Tie forest suffered little at his
hands, and the half cleared patches
around his rude cabin. were not in
dicative of thrift. I think he was
instrumental in building the first
school house, as I know he was &c.
tive in, the erection of The frst
church in Seneca County, a@
Mrs. Burlingame was religiousll
devout, but homely and in pool
health. I remember her as cross
and rather violent in disposition.
may he in error, but the seedlings
and cuttings of Anson and his litt It
sister are not forgotten. = 757 c
Anson was handsome, jolly ane
loveable in childhood, as he wa:
earnest, energetic and devoted il
manhood. The first ten years o
life general lly-determines future
character. Anson Burlingame, du
ring these years, was poor boy
surrounded by Christian influences
and guided by the spirit of a father
full of love toward God AMI a!
men. He was promising boy
Though little older than myself
we were associated as children, sit
ting in the same log school house
with its grease, soaked paper fol
window lights, and upon the same
backless bench, to study the same
monosyllables. We romped and
sported in the shadow of the same
forest, and were sschild friends"
In recurring to those days, I an
unlble to recall single act O.
meanness, unkindness or cruelty or
the part of little Anson. Gentle
sweet add amiable in disposition, hi
was afavorite with the ''little folks
Like myself he was a Sabbath
school scholar. In fact, we were
generous rivals for scholastic anc
theological distinction. Then Ii
braries were unknown in Sabbath
schools, and the memorizing o
Scripture was the chief business O
the scholars. l well remember :
lively contest maintained between
Anson and myself for weeks, an6
how 1 "threw up the sponge" when
+ one August Sabbath, he repeated :
whole chapter of t thirty-six verses
when / reached only twenty-seven
, From that moment, I entertained
boyish dislike to his father, whe
was superintendent, and who b.
smiles and words, appeared to glor,
in the victory of his sonsg Ansol
5 in recent years. recurred with inter
est to ''the days of our childhood,
: and he never failed to enquire afte
the old pioneers who had visite,
his fathers cabin in Ohio.
After leaving Seneca county,
never met him again, until wen
t t, his law office, in the "Old Stat
e House, in Boston, and renewe
: the friendship of childhood. Th
generous, ambitious, kind boy
q grew to a noble manhood, and hi
4 career Of goodness and usefilnes
e was assured by infant training an
i early Christian impressions.
{ The NosE.-J'he nose acts like
Custom house officer to the system