The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-17
SIMON CAMERON. PRINTER.
Interesting Autobiographical Sketch Of His
l.ltr Start I'm Lifss ...f

The Philadelphia Proof Sheet prints the
following letter from General Simon Cam
eron: H $50
HARRrsBuRa. April -, 1889.
DEAR SIR-Y0ur letter of the 18th inst, inclos-
ing the photo electrOtype OF my indentures, came
came duly TO hand, and / am much obliged to
you for il, and for the interest that inspired the
friendly words of your note. / very willingly
comply with your request for some memoranda
of that portion OF my life when l worked at my
trade lf.
was bound an apprentice to the printers
trade the indetures show, at the town OF
Northumberland, Penn, ON May ii, 1916. One
year after this my master, Andrew kennedy gave
up ms business ana was i2rcea 70 LOOK OUT LOT
employment, engaged with Mr.. James Peacock,
proprietor and editor of the Harrisburg Rcpub-
iican. and also Public Printer To serve with him
the remainder OF my apprenticeship to-wlt; three
years That did To fully learn the business, II
was then considered essential TO master the work.
ing OF the press. Old printers Will understand
better than those of this age OF steam the severity
Of this part of the trade, even to young men OF a
robust physique. But owing to my ill-health
and physical delicacy of constitution was almost
killed by this exaeting labor. That part of the
business which could do without this extreme
ant 10 me for il gave me all the opportunity a
lean purse then permitted to secure the rudi-
ments of education. Indeed. this was why chose
that trade.
After serving the term of my apprenticeship
with Mr. Peacock. worked journey-wOrk with
him. Considering Washington the center and
focus of political effort and information, and being
at an early age attracted TO politics, determined
tn try my chance for work where could see the
leading men and study the current OF politics at
the Capital Going there, found employment
in the Office of Gales & Seat0n. publishers OF the
National Intellieencer. Here worked AS did all
other journeymen, for $40 per week, laboring
eleven hours day. / noticed then. as have
since, that TIE men who got on best were those
who worked these long hours and then at "over-
work" at twenty cents an hour. The idlers and
discontented came TO nothing in the end. Here
found TillinghaSt \. Collins, who gave me the
benefit OF his friendship and aid; and, 10 this
uay, look back On the nifty or sixty workingmen
in that printing house as, perhaps, the most in
telligent ! ever saw in a workshop. Many
of them have since filled places OF honor and
trust.
While working Mt Washington heard that the
Harrisburg Republication which served the
greater part OF my apprenticeship-was for sale.
and concluded to buy il If could arrange to do
so This was accomplished. and became joint
editor and proprietor with Charles Mowry. / was
shortly afterward elected State Printer. and was
reelected for seven years consecutiyely. This
was the period OF my hardest labor. / do not
think that slept more than five hours of the
twenty-fOur on average during that time. and
then, utterly broken in health, / retired from the
case with what was thea comfortable fortune
After that I engaged in other pursuits. and
prospered well, and l have always attributed
er was anu whatever was able TO do, to
the warm aud intelligent friends made in the
Old days when was a jOurneyman printer and an
employer of printers. How deep this feeling 3
respect for my tradc was upon me appeared in
rather an amusing form when was on the way
70 Russia, in 1852 as the Minister OF the United
states to st. Petersburg. Waiting for few days
in London 10 recover from the effects of sea sick
ness on myself and my family, was invited TO
visit the Office of the London Times There
book is kept in which visitors are requested TO
register. giving their titles business etc, and
when came TO sign instinctively put down my
name, eSIMoS CAMERON, Printer"