Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-10-25
ELL NYE In BOSTON.
An Account offs Visit to His Birthplace In the
state of Maine.

years for the public to visit it, and as
there didn't seem to be much of a
rush this spring, 1 thought L would
go and visit it myself. | was telling
friend the other day that the public
did not seem to manifest the interest
In my birthplace that l thought it
ought to, and he said / ought not to
mind that. Just watt" said he, .'till
the people of the United States have
an opportunity TO visit your tomb, and
you will be surprised to see how they
will run excursion trains up there to
Moosehead lake, or wherever you
plant yourself. 1t will be a perfect
picnic. Your hold on the American
people, William, is wonderful, but
your death would seem to assure it,
and kind of crystallze the affection
now existing, but still in nebulous
and gummy state"
A man ought not to criticise his
birthplace, L presume, and yet, If l
were to do it all over again, do not
know whether would select that par
ticular spot or not. Sometimes | think
/ would not. And yet, what memories
cluster about that old house! There
was the place where / first met my
parents. 1t was at that time that an
acquaintance spraDg up which has
rlpened In late years into mutual re-
spect and esteem. 1t was there that
what might be termed casual meet
ing took place that has, under the al
chemy of resistless years, turned to
golden links, forming a pleasant but
powerful bond of union between my
parents and myself. For that reason |
hope that l may be spared to my
parents for many years to come.
Many old memories now cluster
about that old home, as have said.
There is, also, other old bric-a- brac
born there. | took small stone from
the front yard as a kind of ''memento"
of the occasion and the place. l do
not think it has been detected vet.
There was another stone in the yard,
SO it may be weeks before anyone finds
out that 1 took one of them.
How humble the home, and yet
what a lesson it should teach the boys
of America! Here, amid the barren
and the inhospitable waste of rocks
and cold, the last place in the world
that a man would naturally select to
be born in, began the life of one who,
by his own unaided effort, in after
years rose to the proud height of
postmaster at Laramie City, Wyom-
ing, and, with an estimate of the fu-
ture that was almost prophetic, re-
signed before he could be character
lied as an offensive partisan.
Here on the banks of the raging
fnn yhnv
the lap of sprng till it occasions a
good deal of talk, there began ca
reer which has been the wonder and
admiration of every vigilance COM
mittee west of the turbulent Missouri.
There on that spot, with no inherit
ance but a predispOsition to prema-
ture badness and Il bitter hatred of
rum, with no personal property but a
mistit suspender and stone -bruise,
began life history which has never
ceased to be warning to people who
sell groceries on credit.
1t should teach the youth of this
young land what glorious possibilities
may lie concealed in the rough and
tough bosom of the reluctant present.
1t shows how steady perseverance and
a good appetite will always win in the
end. 1t teaches MS that wealth is not
Indispensable, and that if we live as
we should, draw out of politics at tine
proper time, and die few days be-
fore the public absolutely demand it,
the matter of our birthplace will not
be considered.
Still, my birthplace is all right as a
birthplace 1t was a good, quiet place
in which to be born. Ali the old
neighbors said that Shirley was very
quiet place up to the time was born
there, and when / took my parents by
the hands and gently led fham awau