Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-10-15
"Reminiscences

fii "Reminiscences. hib
Mr.. Greeley's speeches during his late tou
have attracted great attention, and received
universal commendation for their good taste
and great ability. He seems to be great al
home in discussing abstruse questions of finance
politics, the mechanic arts and agriculture. Bu
at Erie, Pennsylvania, he turned aside from
these questions. and INDUCED in some persona
"reminiscences, which we are sure will prove o.
interest to the general reader. They will prove
peculiarly interesting to those who, like Mr..
Greeley, have had to cleave their way to sue
cess, and, at the same time, they will serve
as incentives to those just starting out on man.
hoods career. Mr.. Greeley says:
Felloao Citizens 1T was about forty-one and
a half years ago, that I, rather green country
boy, with all my worldly wealth done up in a
very small bundle, walked into this place one
winter morning, looking for work by which to
earn my bread. found employment and kind
ness in the service of Mr.. Stewart, in the Erie
Gazette Office, for six months, and those six
months are among the pleasantest of all the
months | now recall s9
lat this moment the noise of locomotives
blowing off steam compelled Mr.. Greeley to
Mr.. Allen, Chairman of the City Committee,
and Commodore Sim Stewart, the only Demo-
cratic negro in the State, who was wearing an
old white hat much the worse for wear and with
the words ssUncle Horace" printed on the
band, persisted in forcing his way through the
crowd and shaking hands with the Sage. The
trains having moved away Mr.. Greeley proceed
ed .a5:-a. + -.
tried to be, fellow citizens, while I lived
here, a diligent, faithful, correct, though not
very rapid, type setter, and hope that in my
humble sphere l made some friends and no
enemies. | was little given to political re-
putation, which seemed to me rather specially
of the place. for / never saw so many red-hot
than in Erie forty years ago. Still, trust |
gave no one just cause Of ofense. | am sure
no one who differed with me has laid up against
me anything which l said during my .sojourn
here. Well, the time came when there was 20
work here for me to do. ] would gladly have
remained for years, perhaps for all my lifetime,
but work failed, and like too many others, set
my face toward New York, thinking in that
great city, as so many others have mistakingly
thought, | could not fail to find employment.
went there, and though for some years my
hope was very slight, it often seemed that /
could find means to stop but few weeks only
gained footing there that is likely to abide.
have, fellow citizens, been at work there
these forty years as a printer and editor, the
trade which had learned, and the elevation to
which had always aspired. have been rea-
sonably successful there. Laughter. That
is to say, though | have not amassed wealth,
and probably never shall do so, have always
been generously sustained. My labors, which
have been constant and arduous. have been
fairly remunerated Now old age begins to
creep on. do not feel in spite of all the bit
terness, in spite of persecution, which l have
encountered by many old friends with whom I
certain that so long as my right hand shall not
forget its cunning, | shall be able to earn de-
cent existence without pulling up my stakes
and making the experiment of place of chance
to live.
Well, fellow citizens, feel deeply grateful to
many old friends whom l have met in Erie
these many years ago. The greater number of
those knew and loved then have passed away.
We, who remain. are few; we who loved each
other then are few; new generation has form
ed up here in Erie, so that probably four ffths
Of all whom knew and loved when l took up
my bundle and started out Of Erie forty one
generation, but know Erie; know her spirit,
know her lberality, / know her readiness to
afford generous appreciation to the motives and
purposes of those she has known and esteemed,
SO | feel sure that when the bitterness and pas
sions of the day shall have passed away may
return to Erie and reunite some of the ties of
friendship which later occurrences have some
what tried, but which / am sure they have not
totally separated.
have kind memories Of Erie, and [ trust
some that are here have gentle remembrances
of me. So that in the future, as iu the past,
shall come to them with open hand and hearty
smile. and be with them as was in the days
unna hv 'cr-