Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-10-09
New York Times, MIR. Field relates the

1
following instructive and amusing incl
dent relative to the desire and the effort
Of Samuel J. while in England to get up
aheraldic tree for his family. Consider.
ing that Mr.. Tilden was the candidate of
the American Democracy for the office
of president of the United States it is
certainly little singular that he should
be 10 anxious about his ancestral descent.
1t appears that Mr.. Tilden finds that his
family is descended from race of
'Squires in the county of Kent, Eng
land. This descent immensely delighted
Samuel j., rs he thought it proved that
he had blue blood in his veins, which, of
course, would render him more accept
able to the Democracy of the United
States; but after Mr.. Tilden had secured
this heraldic tree, Mr.. Field says he
acted Enthusiastically in squirming
around in order to free himself from the
payment of the proper fee. But the
story is so good, and will give Tilden
such additional claims on the American
Democracy, that it should be related in
Mr.. FIELDS own language:
As my tale may be long. it msy relieve
the dry discussion to relate, after the man.
ner of Mr.. Lincoln, "a little story" Mr..
Tilden is kind enough TO inform the public
that | went abroad from pure benevolence
-on kind of missionary enterprise
" contemplating the benefaction of the lords
of England by sparing to them most of my
stock. This is both witty and polite, and |
must needs return the compliment by say
ing that Mr.. Tilden was willing to spare to
the lords of England" not only his stock,
but also certain right and property in
himself by tracing back his lineage to an
ancient family of the realm. There ia a
story current in London which has caused
much amusement in diplomatic circles,
though little modification to our country
men. 1t seems that when MIR. Tilden went
to England in 1877 he was very curious
about his ancestry, lie wished to know
who could be the pgogenitors of so great II
man. He conceived the idea that he must
be descended from a race of eminent
Englishmen. He looked about him for
proofs of this, and accidentally hearing
a well known member of our diplomatic
corps alude to the rare genealogical
skill and knowledge of an American
gentlemen long resident in London, he
sought his acquaintance, and asked this
gentleman to investigate his pedigree, as a
professional matter, and to make out for him
handsome family tree, should he find any
golden English branch on which to hang
the descent of the American Tildens. In
due time the ancestral line was traced. A
branch gilded, il not golden, was found in
Kent, in a family of Kentish squircs and
the utilization having been established to
Mr.. Tilden's great delight, he pressed for
the emblazonment Of the discovery "with-
out regard to expense" Accordingly "A
noble parchment was prepared and sent to
him, accurately and beautifully filled out,
on which he saw with pride the family tree
| "a fine old English oak--hung with Til.
| denis great and small, with himself perched
upon the topmost bough. He received with
| rapture the precious charter OF his illustrious
origin, and lavished his praises upon the au-
thor of hishappiness, but omitted to inclose a
| check in his note of acknowledgment. The
genealogist had been at work month or
two making his researches, and rendered q
minute account of his expenses, which,
with reasonable charge for his own time
and labor amounted to about f100. After .
decent interval he ventured to call the at
tention of Mr.. Tilden to his slight omission;
and, finally, as the time drew near for the
latter's return to America, the former lost
patience, called upon the Democratic presi-
dent elect of the United States, and in
language more positive than polite, insisted
that he should pay for his progenitors. He
was finally compelled to do SO undera direct
threat IF proceedings, which are apt to be
less dIlatory in the courts of London than
of New York.