Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-27

THE cuEcKERED CAREER OF SAMUEL DOUG
LASS wYErH.


LASS wYErH.
W,suNerox. January 23.-"The Man
i'm the Dome is dead. lie had ma.
tional reputation, and thousands OF
people throughout the United States
who have stopped at his stand, Just be.
low the large picture in the dome OF
the Capitol, will remember him. Samuel
Douglass Wyeth was no ordinary man.
Few of his visitors knew his name, and
fewer still were aware of his checkered
career.
Wyeth came from Harrisburg where
his. father had aprinting Office, in which
General Simon Cameron learned how
to "setn type and become printer.
Samuel and his brothers found their
way to Philadelphia, where he set up
stereotypinF establishment on Pear
street, near Third but soon failed, and
was ruined financially. About this time
his domestic relations became inhar.
monious, and the result was that his
wife left him, went to her home in
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and
there she still remains. From 1862 up
to the time of his death this peculiar
man never saw his wife, although he
was visited at times 10y his children.
Wyeth was known by all the old
printers Of Philadelphia, and when he
came here he sought out 4. J. Donald
son. now in the Government Printing
Office, and secured a position in the
stereotyping rooms, where he remained
hut short time, and his restless dispos.
ition took him into the devious path of
journalism. He became correspond
ent of the Sunday Dispatch. Then he
wrote IA book on the "Ins and Outs of
Washington" and latterly took TO sell.
ing photographs in the Capitol. Along
IN G5 Congress cleared all the booths
out OF the building, but Wycth, sipgu.
larlv enough, was not included in the
exodus, and was given stand up in the
dome. Here 1t was that he became
famous and earned the title of The
Man IN the Dome" Wyeth was of ex.
cellent education, naturally bright, of
reteutiye memory and an inquirlng turn
of mind. lie wrote a book on the
bronze doors. and had studied closely
all the features OF the Capitol building
and OF the city. He was human
directory and encyclopedia. His stand
proved lucrative one. and he cleared
as high as $500 to $1,000 per year from
the sales OF photographs and knick.
knacks.
Now comes the strange part OF
Wyeth's life. He developed a taste for
oddities and entered upon a career OF
extravaganza. 4 suite Of rooms only
satisfied him, and receptions twice a
week were his hobby. Here gathered
the choice spirits among the men and
women of culture about Washington,
and wit and wisdom marked the mo
mcnts of their minglIng. His earnings
were spent in rare pictures, articles OF
ycrtu. and bric.a bTac. 4 few years ago.
however, he found that he was living
beyond his income, and then forsook
his expensive habits dlstr!bdtcd his tro.
phies among friends - save storage, and
betook himself to quiet abode. Three
weeks ago he was afflicted with pncu-
monia, aud after weeks illness the
earthly career Of The Man in the
Dome had ended, and he had been
called up higher. lie left no will, but
had prepared q statement Of his eiieCtz.
Among the many articles is an allegor.
ical picture named "Catholicity." which
u valued at $1,000. lnnumerable bills
have appeared against his estate, and
weeks will be required to adjust the
differences. At the present time he has
book in press entitled The Federal
City" which may never see the light Of
day.
Samuel y. Wyeth was a brother Of
John Wyeth, the we'll known PhiIadcl.
phla druggist, on Walnut street near
Broad, and a close friend Of the Gamer.
on family. 1t has always been believed
that the influence OF General Simon
Cameron placed him in the dome as
the Cemerons never forget friend.
There was a scramble for Wyeth's
stand soon after his death and one man
had the signatures Of ten Senators to
his petition. but 1t did not avail. 4
widow named Barnes has become The
Woman in the Dome for The present
generation. y. :. {.