Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-08
Pleasant "Reminiscences.

The recent death of Maj. Furber,
brings to III, mind of l.. A. Taylor.
Esq the following pleasant "reminiscences
of Pres oil aud tIree of her oldest citi
zens, which We take from The LA Cross,
Leader. After eIoqaentIy eulogiz ~
the Major, Mr.. Taylor says:
Our ,nrmory recalls many pleasan: 50
ciai gatherings. aud interviews, where
he was an honored guest. and one of
| these we ins.aDce-one ri least there h I'll
the merit of novelty, aud interested me,t
/ y may not interest the reader.
In the summer OF 1868 Mr. David
Stiles came To live with granddaughter;
1 at Prescott lie was then l02 years Of
age. Like Maj lr Furbrr. tie WAS aud Is
a member of the Christian Church, aud
"a devoted Mason. We have written of
him in these colu mus before, and accor
ding to Robert Morris. he is nov the
oldest Mason in the world.
Well, learning OF his arrival in town,
and wishing to pay our resI~cs To one
su worthy To receive them. We determined
to make ''sliver gray" partv-a par
~ of the very aged men,-where We
could not only formally make Mr.. Stiles
acquaintance. but enjoy snc.ai visit
We consulted with NJ or Furbsr AMI
with Mr. II ,ssa b. Bates. another ag d
neighbor. an in company with the lat
ter called upon Mr.. Stiles and Invred
hi,n To spend The afternoon nj oar hnn>e.
That party, Though Mt exactly tie
gayest. was the most Pheasant one IN
which we ever participated. There were
TX guests VIII se ages averaged about
eighty wears. Mr SuI-s leading the col.
u,nn WIKI three figures. Be,rl's these
there was bul Que other. "a ueighpn.,
who coming from California slopes, had
n humM which blo>somed as Iuxuriant,
as does the vegetation of that fayoriie
climate which h. praised So highly, and
To which he has since retur0ed
There was no fornaIty about that
party. Ancc,lotes AMI personal recnl-
icctions AMI incidents of HE times two
or three generations ago, formed the
staple of CONVERSATION, InIerspersed with
witty remarks and pleasant reparte..-
1t was pIea'aut party of genial ''old
boys" Remembering that IN the tIm-s
Of which they were taking, the temper
anc. theory and s,rac ice WAS somewhat
different from IIbW, w. Thought Ia make
their r"cnIIrctions more real 10y pr"tf''r-
! lug taste of that, " hch though II @en-
orally fires the brain IF youth, quite ot-
ten warns With kindly glow the h4a
of age. Some ciloice oil brandy and
EXCELLENT VINE was all TINT our cellar
would yield. Bearing The tray 10 Air.
Stiles, We asked him If he would taste
the brandy.
"No, Mr.. Taylor, thank you. have
never used branls. | ID not think j; q
heathv. If YOU put piece of fresh
meat into brandy. the liqnor will eat up
the meat. but if sou put ii milo rum, tie
rum will preserve j.. | will try some Of
the rum If ynu have it
We would have pPid HIGH price for
some run Just then, bu, We did no; have
| /, aud he took wine in>tea.!.
Major Furb~r sat mex, hum.
"WeII Mj'r. will YOU help Yourself
To your ch ice?
Yes. Lutte. and | think II! take
little bran ~. don't beIove vii
ne up"
A hearty laugh followed, anil
most of the others followed the Mai RS
example. Thy were not 5, psrl.cnirr
about their health as was Nr. Sides. Who
hal run his age up to - loo and begun
back NJ one again.
Tea time arrived 1t was the most
mpmorahie meal we have ever eaten =
With that comppnv. under th",e CIR
cumstanc"s. it won d haze been sacff
Irye To have partaken of GIRLS bounty
with ut a<kin. HIS blessing upon il aud
% rseIvcs Mr.. Sites asked that bles-
sing. 1t was the most solemn mnm-nt
| ever knrw. seq him noW--his high
forehead, his clear eyes his sunken cheek.
his Tim. silver, scattered halr. anal hear
hts steady voice. Over century old
lie seemed {" he sian,iinI isolatsl and
alone. on some far reaching pronnntorv
of Time which put out until almost lost
in riernuy Ills petition was no stero-
typed "grace, buI brief earnest. and
fi;,ei TO the tim" anil place. Il hal M,
far Ia 90. tie was ~ near Ia God. that
the words could scarcely leave his lips
before they were registered III Heaven.
/ Through the Inng. warm summer twI
light we clIattel, anl then they went to-
their h"mes. Major Furber and SIR. Stiles
going to- ether.
"One shal! be takpE aud the other
left" Mr. Stiles vet fingers 10 the Iwi
hight Of iif,-; to Major Furber the night
of death has Come.
And am glad that he has lived thus long
And glad that he has gone to his reward:
Nor deem that kindly Nature did him wrong,
Soft to dsengtge the vital cord
I When his weak handg ew pasIed, and his eye
Dim with the mi.ts of age, his time to die
GREEN BAY & LAKE PEPIN r. R.
Mr.. Curtis bIlI Introduced IN the assam
bly last week. amen ling the get author
izinr the c.untics and towns through
which the Green Bay & Lake Prpu
Railway ;, to pass to al in us coas rue
ton provides Tor the elect On of fruters,
AMI the placing of town aud c,ua'y
4 4 ~. l.. 4. ii