The Baltimore County union., 1875-03-20
Communicated.
JViLLi07ll Matthews.
AN INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.


WASHINGTON, D. c., March 4th, 1875.
Inasmuch as their interest in the little poem
Of mine for which they were kind enough to find
room, last week, has prompted the editors of the
Union to ask who civilian Matthew'S was,
shall endeavor to answer.
William Matthews was an unpre,ending mem
ber of the Gunpowder meeting of the Society Of
Friends, who died, couple of years ago, at the
advanced age of niuety-six. He resided and died
on a farm opposite Glencoe, which is nowowned
by his son, Evan Matthews. He has left snmefs
Gus descendants who might we'll be excr sSur
cherishing his memory as Of "priceless WORTH
as they doubtless do. His photograph is among
the most precious Of the personal momentoes
which wondrously available modern art has en-
abled me to possess. 1t represents him in the
peculiar garb of the Quaker and as leaning upon
a cane which had been his indispensable compan.
ion for the greater part of his life time believe,
for the reason that hip disease had shortened
one of his limbs. His inseperable drab fur hat
with its broad brim, donned careessly, as if COM
fort was before appearances ia bis mind, as it
ought to be with more of as, and his plainly cut
drab coat, pants and vest, all Of which are repre-
sented in his very properly unlimited picture, well
recall his appearance as used to look upon him
in life. With habits almost as invariabe as the
rising and setting of the sun, his attitude in the
meeting-house was the exact counterpart of that
assumed in the domestic or social circle. And |
can we'll appreciate, therefore, remark with
reference to it, which have heard attributed to
the venerable Benjamin Hallowel, Of Sandy
Spring. Maryland, viz: that, as he observed
William Matthews, sitting in his accustomed place
in his own meeting, as silent worshipper, he
impressed him as the most striking lfe-picture o!
happy old age that it had ever been his good for
tune to look upon.
William Matthews 'tLame Billy or "Smiling
Billy" as he was called by turns, not in the toe
ordinary spirit of nick naming, but in order to
distinguish him, and then it was pronounced
with reverence and affectiop,) was descended
from long-lived family. Oliver Matthews, to
whose day and no further my traditional kfiowl-
edge allows me to trace it, to whom William held
the relationship of nephew, | am informed, lived
to the very uncommon age of 103. He resided
not far from Cockeysville in house last occupied
by William Whitelock Matthews, son of Thomas
H. Matthews, which was burned to the ground a
year or two ago.-which last occupant is great.
great-grandson Of Oliver Matthews.
As further touching the longevity of the stock
from which the subject of this sketch was de-
scended, his cousin, William Matthews, son o
Oliver, who succeeded to the possession ofthe an
cestral farm, lived to &c or 81, after having mar
ried three wives, all of whom he survived | re-
member to have seen him mount his horse in Bal
timore, the twenty miles whereto he had ridden
unattended, not long before his death. He did
it with boyish spring that would shame me,
am sure, unaccnstomed to that oldfdshioned mode
of travel as l am now, there being scarcely any
thing but his perfectly white flowing locks to dis
,inguish him from much younger rider. There
is family tradition which represents Oliver Mat
thews as mounting and dismounting, unassisted
ba &c a1 hot
point his remarkable activity suddenly com
menced TO decline.
AS to the age at which the father of the deal
old man to whose memory pay tribute died,
am not informed. But be lived long enough tc
become the father Of seven sons and TWO daugh
tiers of at least average vigor, according to the
standard of their day. Assuming that reple
tien of vital force is the best warranty Of longev
ity, other things being equal, and that multi
plicty of offspring born to a man Of one wife
when they are healthy, indicated good share o
that force in the father it is pretty safe to assume
that if the possessor of it died young, it was th(
result of acute disease accident, Or unfavorabl'
and unavoidable Surroundings. AS for his son
whose history is under notice. his activity in ole
age, manifested in spite of the ply sical disability
already named was noticeable TO a remarkable
degree. 1t carried with il an equally remarkable
degree of cheerfulness as well as OF vivacity.-
This indeed partook more of the characteristic:
of youth than of age, and ii was memorably dis
played on an occasion which recall. The foxes
having become unusually and unwelcomely nu
meroas along the Gunpowder, a hunt was ar
ranged for. 1t was amusing TO see him, old anC
decrepit though be was, actually leading th'
chase. In doing so, he would jump his hors'
over fences, bitches, or whatever other obstacles
presenting themselves, which did not dare Il
4 L..
mount TO remove such obstacles or safely avoiC
them, he would express good natured surprise a
my hesitation and indulge in CHEEKY laugh a
my expense, he having already caused his horse
to clear them ia regular fox-hunting style, al
though had never known Of opportaHitiss fol
the training of either horse rider therefor
Those who knew his characteristics will readily
imagine how be enjoyed the occasion described
never knew OF more striking exempli6ca
tisn of that light -heartedness, which is born, no
of recklessness, but Of the Christian virtues, thar
was uniformly given by Friend Matthews. Con
tentment with his lot and a loving sympathy
with all about him, were stamped upon his face
His was a happy character, in word-one wei
justfying the expression of Friend Hallowel
above quoted. And he was a good representa-
tive OF the Quaker virtues of the olden time--tha
is, before that excellent people suffered the more
primative characteristics OF their society to b.
mod6ed for the worse rather than for the better
(they will allow friendly outsider to say thi
with regret) by reason of too many of their mem
bers OF late years. especially OF the younger class
falling more or less into the habits and customs
of "the worlds people" So George Fox wa;
wont to classify all people outside the Quaker
fold, and the phrase was not inappropriate in al
age given over TO pomp and vain show, as was
the case in England in the great Quaker founder
day, not excepting many of those who held thu
places of public teachers in the "steeple houses
Of the church establishment to quote another
saying of George Fox
If there ever lived a genuine Friend--one a
unostentatious as genuine-such was William
Matthews. Treasured be his memory j inI s. -
Teachers Salaries.
BALTIMORE, Nd, March l4th, 1875.
1KeSSrS Editors Being a true friend of pub
lie school teachers, ask short space in the eel
umls Of your valuable paper in their behalf
The time has come when voices should be raised
throughout the county inquiring into the way il
which the county funds are used. The excuse o
officials that the attendance in schools has Sc
alarmingly increased, new buildings erected, etc
is too fimsy. Has not the wealth of the county
also increased, or is it deprecisting in value p
They took pretty good care aot to mention the
times, until now be receives So, 500 or So, 800 q
year, and he does not do in one month the hard
ceaseless work faithful teacher does in one week
Now does he propose to work for half pay quit
as he desires the poor over worked, half-payed
lat best) teacher to do? No; and yet the man
whose whole yearly salary is not one fourth OF
the Examiners, with, perhaps, large family de-
pendent on him, is politely requested 10 work fol
half pay or starve. Then comes the summer
months with nothing TO do. say it is disgrace
full, and am glad to see the differeat Farmers
Clubs rousing to the CALL and the taxpayers,
who work hard with shovel and plow for ,hei,
money, are just rubbing their eyes open to inquire
into this matter This band OF faithful, hard
working, half-payed teachers deserve the FFEaPa'
thy of the whole people. Thank Heaven am
not county teacher, Messrs. Editors, but have
a heart that can feel for them and feeble voice
to advocate their cause FRIEND
[The salary of the Secretary. Treasurer and
Examiner of the County School Board is ST. 300,
and not 'S2, 500 or So, 300" as stated above
EDS. UNION
TDffop froan fba 4 1fL District.