Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-08-27
sam J. TILDEN.
RecOllectiOns Of One OF his SchOOlmates
His Early 0raiOrical Efforts
The Boy Father Of the
Man.
The Governor at HOme-His Inilexi-
bllity as an Executive-His Sur
rOuDdings-GOssip in Re-
gard to his Family.

Mr.. Charles NJ. Hall, s lawyer Of this
city, says the New York World, who
was bort and brought up in the town Of
New Lebanon, Columbia county, New
YORK, and whose early home was with
in a quarter of q mile of Mr.. Tilden's,
gives the following "reminiscences OF The
bovhood OF our next President: Mr.. Hall
and Mr., Tilden lived in the same school
district, and cor ssquently attended the
same school. Mr.. Tilden's father was
one of the weelthiest men in the town.
He had acquired his fortune by his own
exertions, and had Interpolation OF be-
ing an UPRIGHT, shrewd ana able business
man. Mr. Tilden's mother was an est
mable woman, and was celebrated Tor
her charity, being particularly kind to
the Door and sick OF the neighborhood. |
Young Tilden was q student, his fathers
wealth enabling him to avail himself OF |
every educational advantage. At school |
he was exces dinghy atudious, seeming to |
prefer his books to the sports and pas
times of his schoolmates. he rarely |
Joined in outdoor games, aEd was gen.
orally considered retiring youth. HIS
schoclfeliows, while acknowledging his
superior abilities, had no feelings OF
ieaiousy or envy toward him, for the
reason that he was never b0astful nor
ever evinced 8 consciousness Of his su'
periority. He was invariably kind
sad courteous, yet always digni'
fed. He spent nearly every moment
Of his school hours in reading or
s'uiging. At one time what was known
"a a HhighD school was kept in house
in which one OF Mr.. Tilden's brothers
now lives. "Sam" TlIden, as he was
famiIiarly called by the boys, did not at
tend the sessions of this school, but took
private Lessons with the principals, and
studied at home. At this time Mr.. Til
den was fifteen or sixteen years old. AT
the close of one of the sessions OF this
school q public exhibition was given.
The exercises consisted OF rea1lngI de-
elsnstion, etc. It was privately arranged
hetween the principals and young Etlden
that the latter should tske part lac dty
came and the exercises passed OH accord
ing to the programme until "Sam" Ill
| den advanced to the platform ana began
tho delivery of the well known piece,
| entitled s'L0rd Marmion." Every one
| present wss breathless with sstonish-
| ment, for it was young Tilden's first at
| tempt at Iublic speaking, and his retir-
| ing dispositiOn had caused those who
| knew him to have doubts as to his even
| tuaI success as an orator. His declsma'
| ton proved to be the feature OF the Occa'
sion, and was the Cjsct Of conversation
round about. His repu alton as en- elo-
cuconist was established among his
friends, and ever after On such occasions
"Ssmu Tilden was required to take q
prominent part. Young Fildsn next at
tended q private school or academy IN
The town of LennOx, Berkahire county,
where his IS 3ociates soon acknowledged
that he was far ahead OF them IN learn
ing and ability, and made the admls-
sion without the least envy. Two or
three years afterward he joined a debst'
ing society or sc uo" which met IN
| building about q mile distant from Mr..
Tilden's home. Seml-politlcal ana So
! ciaI subj acts and topics Gf the day were
| discussed, Mcss of Mr.. Tildsn's fellow
| debAters were older than he, but many
of them were worsted hy him in the
FREQUENT contests. In fact, he was the
principal attraction OF the debates, as
| eyery one far and near had great cuilos.
| itv to know "what Sam TIlden had to
saw on the subj c." Bis originsl Ideas,
and logical, direct aud practical manner
| of presenting them, Wsrs remarked by
| all who listened TO him. Among his
fellow contestants were s. Milton Skin
ner, q prominent Wing, and AfteTWard
Republican, who, in after years, moved
to Illinois, and became recorder OF the
! county n which he lived; Henry Wood,
of New Lebanon; the Gilbsrt brothers,
one of whom, Nj ION Gilbert, became a
prominent Wing and Republican. aud
who now lives in Washington City, and
DR.. Stephen D. Hand, OF BiDghsmLon,
New YORK, who was member OF the con-
sIitutional convention of 1855. Oae win
ter alternate debates were held &C the
district schoolhCuae and the rooms Ofthe
debating club, when the interest IN the
contests became widespread, greatly
owing to Mr.. Tilden's popularity as q
debster. His voice was excellent in
those days, better, il Anything, than ii
has been In later years. The debating
club is still in existence. During the
wears I845 and IS46 Mr.. Hall lived in
Albany, and was quite intimately &C
euainted with Governor Silas Wright.
They had many conversations in which
the sui jet Of Mr.. TIden's public &C
tons was frequently introduced. Gov
ernor w right always expressed the
greatest faith and admiration for Mr..
Tildep, and laid particular stress upon
the conviction that Mr.. Tilden was q
was mau of extraordinary ability and
of the strictest integrity and honesty 81
character-alWays pound to serve the
best interests of the people without re-
gard to personal or party considerations.
In proof of this Governor Wright re
lated The following incident, which &C.
CURED when Mr.. Tnden was member
OF the legislature and Mr.. Wright YVES
governor: A prominent Democratic
member drew up bill which ne pro-
posed to introduce. He showed the
bill to his Democratic col
Iescues, come cf whom expressed the
opinion thai il passed it would be
beneficial in its effects to the Democratic
party. The bill was shown to Mt III.
den, who examined it closely. He told
It's Trainer that the bill was wrong In
principle, and il passed would wrong
the people at large. He urged thst no
steps be taken for its introduction, and
firmly de Ilred that if it should be in
troduced he would oppose its passage
with all his might. This was the end OF
the bill. 1t was killed simply by the op-
position of Mr.. Tilden. Governor
Wright after relating this incident prs
dicted that Mr.. Tilden was destined 70
"make his msrkn in the world. Mr..
Hall was ia Albany during the session
of the constitutional convention, and
listened to many OF Mr.. Tilden's sTgu.
ments. In bis opinion the amendments
to the constitution in reference to the
canals would never have been adopted il
it had not been for the efforts OF Mr..
Tilden and M. Michael Hoffman. He
aso thought that Mr.. Tilden's efforts
prevented the adoption OF unjust and op'
Iressive amendments REQUESTING the
right Of suffrage.
| GOVERNOR TILDEN AT HOME.
Albany Correspondent n. Y. Graphic.l
Access to the pTincely home OF the
governor is very easy. A servant an
swers your ring at the b,il, and in reply
to your Inquiry shows you into the par
lor if tbs governor is ergaged, and il
not let's you walk right into his pre- sence
in his work.room. The eight built MAI
at the table usually rises, and without 8
word extends bis hand 10 you. He dis
Germs at once, probably from study 0.
your features, whether you have called
upon business or curiosity, and whether
that business is slight or important, anC
ne disposes of you in an instsnt. If thai
business is slight he has one formula
See FELTON," and he motions you pos.
sibiy toward the inner work room,
NH ara tha noIoDaI ia aOUaOed II tbs