Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-26
Early Days OF the Late Speaker
Kerr.

A"xsy Doys Oh the Late speaker
A correspondent writing from Erie, Pa,
10 the Graphic, gives the following interest
Ing "reminiscences Of the early career OF Mr..
Kerr:
IN the fall of 1874, after the harvesting was
over and the fruit from the orchards gath
cred 10. long, lean, lank, awkward boy
came from the scattered village OF Titus
Vile for winters "schoolin'" At the Erie
academy. He wore brown homespun and
tional handkerchief suspended nom a cane
over his shoulder. His manners were gaw-
kyish; his demeanor oashful aud excessively
retiring; mis- face was unattractive. and his
ngure as ungsinly as q healthy figure could
be. His voice is remembered as the most
attractive characteristic OF bis person, for it
was iicn and musical, aud he spoke with a
broad Irish brogue. That boys name was
Michael c. Kerr.
THE FUTURE sPEAKER's SCHOOLING.
as be grew rapidly In inteilectual develop
meDf, as plant from q cellar bursts with
life when the sunshine strikes Ii, and they
over he was the frst boy in the schon,. He
went back 10 Titusville In the sprlag AID
worked TIL fall On his fathers farm, return
Ing 10 Erie again after harvest. He spent
three winters In the academy, graduated
and entered the Office of Judge john g al
hraith, prominent jurist of that day and
man promiL emily Identified with early Penn
sylvanis politics, 10 study law. 1t was an
honor many young men sought-to study
law with Judge Galbraith, aud the best In "
yers In western Pennsylvania were MS stu
dtnts. For two Years young Kerr p-tS n
student In Galbrstth's office, and althou n
obscure. was becoming noticeable for q bril-
liant intellect and the persistent devotion TO
duty that became his Characteristic In after
life. Re was seclusive In his habits, never
sought society, and never seemed 10 en-
courage people who sought hun. His busi-
ness was the study of Judge Gaibraith,s law
books; mis- recreation q debating society at
the academy Of which he was the Leading
member.
THE FUTURE MRS. KERR.
be was very poor, and clothed himself
with homespcn from his mothers loom. He
eaIned scant snSta Hooset H. his aunt, VINO
ana "kept company" with Polly CoOver, his
cousin, who taught q private school in a
Wright's block now stands, near the PARK in
Erie. Polly Covers school was attended
by all OF the more aristocratic children In
the village; her pupils did not need 20 work
summers so as To earn enough to buy a
winters leisure for study, and she kept her
school In constant session. One summer she
was standing in the window OF her school
room, lacking up curtain with q large
hammer, when she slipped and fell headlong
| to the ground below. Her hammer in some
strange way got under her chin, and in the
concussion Its claws were forced through her
| jaw. That is the way Mrs. Kerr received
the scar wi ich disfgures her neck to-day.
Both arms were broken in her fall from the
WIDOW, and she lay Ill for long time.
This story was told me by those who nursed
her. Polly Coover was very popular, es-
pecially with the children. The class OF
were her pupils say Sine was the best teacher
they ever knew. She was npe looking, at
tractive In feature and manner, spirited and
witty.
MR.. KERR's SECRET MARRIAGE.
Michael Kerr read law here two years, was
admitted 10 the bar, taught school for year
diana, where be Commenced practice. After
he had been there several years he returned
TO Erie, and when he came Polly Coover In
s.cpstiS a1r as he b nas6 pa They had been
| ing law. That explained why Polly Cooyer
had refused attentions from other young
men, ard gave the gossips an interesting
topic. They (Mr. Kerr and his wife) went
back to Indiana and took their mother with
them; but they all have frequently visited
| Erie TO notice the changes that time has
MADE In the scene OF their courtship and
early struggles.
THE SPEAKERS MORAL COURAGE.
Mr.. kerr's chief characteristic was bis
moral courage. IL amounted TO doggedness.
No force OF opposition could bulge him the
thickness OF shadow. 1t snone out In his
last days. He met death as he would meet
an opponent; death would have conquered
| him long before had he not fought death
with stubborn courage. The last six months
OF bis life were prolonged struggle between
ms force OF will and the genius OF dissolu-
ton. Death never overeame q Drawer man.
A friend OF his once told me an anecdote that
| Illustrates this moral courage. Some years
4 years OctOIC WdI uc was travelling III LQ0
lower part Of Indiana attending to some la W
| business, and stopped at country inn TO
spend the night. After he had retired a mob
| from Kentucky surrounded the house with
| the intention of lynching the proprietor, who
| was suspected OF assisting fugitive slaves to
4 escape. Kerr was awakened by the demon
STATIONS, dressed himself hastily and went
| down 70 discover the ca9se Of the disturb
ance The proprietor anu one OF bis servants
| were busy barricading the windows, loading
tbeir sbot guns, and preparing TO make 9
4 deieI 40. Kerr was informed OF the difficulty
| "Hold ON. - he said, "let me go Out add talk
| to those men, AS he left the door one OF
| the mob fired at him and the bullet lodged
In his clothing. He called {" that ne wanted
70 talk with them. but they ST. ~eu oim and
| tiled bis arms and legs. He told tuSrn VINO
ne was and how he came there, and hue :,
| nnally released him. He argued the sItua-
ton over with them, told them OF the stat
utes In regard to assisting fugitive slaves,
| and Advised that they wait until morning
| ana call on the law to deal with the sus-
pected man. He agreed to become surety for
the mans appearance in the morning and
the mob went of.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF MR.. KERR.
| Mr.. Kerr was not In any way social man;
| he was domestic In his tastes and loved his
family, but TO outsiders he was as frigid as
an iceberg, and 1t took a long and ultimate
acquaintance to thaw him into any degree
OF social warmth. He never sought COM
paDtODs; he often avoided them. He was a
very positive man; q slow thinker, but logi-
| cal in his reasoning.
ARE WE TO HAVE No BIG SrAruE?-A
A telegram from Paris, August 8, says:-I
h0 I'd nh<n fVrAN. ~