The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-01-20
.arrakw llos
ar .A1rs rarros

There wRs a great deal Of sneeriaE
laughter among The ArissocEAls, 50 they
wsfs called. af Philadelphia Ia 'bt spr1ng
Of isss, whan lhe ness arrived that Mat
lbcw Lysn, Wild lrshman Of Vermont,
bad becn elected member OF ihe House
Of Representatives, aud was coming 10
June 10 take bis seat at the extra session
Of Congress. Nothing was alleged against
tho new member except that he msde bis
way from poor emigrani-boy TO wealth
and inhsepcs 10 bis adopted country. lie
wAs announced in one OF the Federalisis'
papers Of Philadelphia in the mauneF fol-
lowing
Tomorrow morning, At eleven O'Clock
will be exposed 10 view the Lyon Of Ner-
mont. This singular animal Is said 10
have been caught In the bogs Of lIibernia,
and when whelp transported to Ameri-
ca. lie differs considerably from the
African Lion; he is more elamorous snd
lees magnanlmous. Ills pelt resembles
more the wolf or tiger, and bis gestures
bear a remarkable affinity 20 the bear. lie
was brought 10 this city 10 wagon.
Many gentlemen " ho have seen him do
no, hesitate to declare they think him a
Most extraordinary beast.
A welcome like that was not likely TO
molly the irascible Irish blood that ran
In the veins of this Vermont democrat.
Il was true that Matthew Lyon had come
from Ireland, aehild nine years Of age,
without penny and without a friend,
aud that his time TIL he should be of age,
was sold TO pay his passage, according TO
the custom Of that early day. The price
paid for him was said TO be pair OF
'hree-year-old bull stags. His master
took him TO Vermont where he served
out his time faithfully, and by attending
winter schools obtained tolerabe edu-
cation.
When the war OF the Revolution began,
be Joined the army Is private, and was
promoted TO the rank of corporal al
most Immediately. But while be was on
post in Northern New York, under the
command Of General Gates, the men OF
the company became tired Of the idle life
OF the winter camp, and went home for
holiday. The officer followed them. AT
ter spending while at home most Of
them returned TO their posts; but nothing
would content General Gates short OF
cashiering the officers, our corporal
among them. Lyon not being man TO
stay cashered, he stated the facts TO Gen
eral ST. Clair, who reinstated him, and
be was appointed by General Schuyler to
a regimental paymastership.
The war over, be founded the village Of
Fairhaven, in Vermont, In which there
was an excellent water-power, and where
he became business man OF the true pi-
oneer type. There was iron in the neigh
borhood. He set men TO digging it; be
established a smelling furnace; he cast
hollow-ware; be made flat-irons, spiders,
kettles, bake-pans, dishes and griddles.
lie set up paper mill, and made types,
he established a weekly paper, called by
himself The Farmers Library, but quo
ted by his enemies as though be had
named it, The Scourge of Aristocracy
and Repository of Important Political
Truth. He built saw mill, the largest
10 the State, and near by it be manufac-
tured nails. Finding the material for
his paper.mill difficult to get, he invented
a process for making paper out OF bass.
wood bark. His labors were so valuable
to the community that the Legislature Of
Vermont gave him authority 10 raise six
hundred bushels OF wheat BY lottery, to
enable him TO enlarge his furnace and
produce greater variety Of iron-ware.
In short, he proved himself 10 be 10
that northern wilderness a true leader OF
men. lie married the Governors daugh.
ter, and was held in esteem and admira-
ton by the people among whom he
I
He showed intelligence, too, Of other
kinds. During the controversy which
then agitated the country between the
Old and New, between those who wanted
America 10 be a more spacious England,
aud those who wished America TO be
America, be embraced the principles
which posterity win probably decide to
have been the nearest right. What more
natural, what more proper, than that biz
neighbors who knew him, aud had been
served by him, should elect him to repre-.
sent them In Congress? They did so,
and he took his seat He was then fifty.
two years OF age, well-looking, Of decor.
Gus department, and competent to take
his share in national legislation. He was
most warmly attached to democratic prin.
ciples, and much embittered against the
aristocrats who detided him for The very
reasons that constituted his special claim
TO respect, must be conceded. II the
whole truth could be exhibited here, II
would be seen that be had experienced 9
good deal Of treatment similar TO that in-
dicated in the paragraph qnoted shove,
/, ln the course Of bis first regular session
he became suddenly the mosi noiOriously
] person on the Western continent. He
was standing outside the bar OF The house
Que day, surrounded by member, when
Roger Griswold, representative oi
, Cincinnati, almoss yonng enough 10 be
Lyon's son, made an insulting siiusiou "a
the esshiering by Gen. Gates, which Be
Estimated was for oowArdice on tbs field
Matthew Lyon unfortunately lost hi,
sstf-roatrof and enss fn T.vjswntsss fana