Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-18
THE DEAD Ex.GovEExOB.

Eoratio Seymour as - PhuanthropiSt
To ne Editor Of TIE Rs7iEsr.
The recent death of this excellent mar
ana the REGISTER eloquent editUIlal u
his memory have called NJ from memory!
storehouse some of my earliest recollsc
tions Of the Ex-Governor, which bring VI
characteristics Of his life that made all re-
we're him who knew him in life aud mourn
him as he is carried to big last home.
Utica, \. Y, being my native town,
knew Governor Seymour well--that is
knew him as q school BOY knows full
grown man. His brother, John F. Sey'
mour was once my Sabbath school teach,
er, aud | frequently saw the Governor in
church assem- olage5 and often hesrl him
speak on the stump and before societies
and church meetings.
He was q practical a. we'll as q theoEe,j'
al CEg;sian gentleman. do uot think
the person ever lived who aver heard Gov,
-rror Seymour utter b'ssphamous or g
vulgar word He was the soul OF honor;
# be ever W5ongei peEson out OIL
dollar the fact was never made
public. In disposition be Was kind gentle
md and pleasant; iR manners courtly but
aimple and attractive; ilspeech, rapid and
courageous
veil remember that one Of tue charms
Of my schoolboy days was 10 hear Gov.
Seymour make e political speech. In
1850, think it was when he ran f,r Gov
ernor OF New York against Washington
Hunt his successful composition, | was
pursuing my academic studies in an iusti
tuion near Utica. Whenever Horatio
Seymour was to make speech the entire
academy would empty itself TO 60 and
hear him have known Z, oue time as
many as thirty Of NJ class 10 get permits
sion 10 attend his meetings, for the purpose
2l studying his manner, style ard dicuou,
although foar-Gtths of them would be OF
posed 10 him politically. | have repeat
.dly beard Inc g59d old professor OF elocu
ton, when ins,rucnng dull pupils in tone,
infection or manner, say. Mr. Seymour
you'll .pssk il thus, or Nr Seymour S
manner would be this liz cur rooms l
nav. Enown many pupils in elocution 0
practice speaking before a glass Tor the
purpose Of acquiring his style and man
aer.
Ia osatory Gov. Seymour hsd lev equals
and no super,ocs Nor so profund a res.
souer nor 90 great logicran as Cnoate
yuIhpPs, bGs - e'aar q thinker. With a
thorough knoSleige Of his ,teme, a iasci.
natu manner, great earnestness, a rich
AI5 llusiug voice and lofty iisrs cloth,d
With pure. charte and eloquent expression
he Was the peer OF any mag
He vas u very earu5s man. | never
voted for rim 10 ny lie aud have always
been his political Ru,ipo3e. Yet I do not
believe thai Hora'io Seymour ever uttered
4 political sentiment that was not founded
in hosest conviction Being honest with
81 others be NUT necessarily be honest
with himself
He was bal-yoleL. nat and being
possessed Of large fortune his charities
we're grest and continuous Oue incident
thst occurred in this lire l-lt al imp:es
sion on my mind that will never De faced
T. ue way back in the 6ities-a5out %
or I ] think The times wera exceed.
gly hard rns wsa'hsr unusually severe,
near =, all Jhe industries Of Utica suspend
Ell al the outlook Tor the workiOg classes
wa very gloomy indeed
Before the winter vas one.tourth spslt
organized charity h ID all it could do to
keep starvation IRON msny houses. Gov,
erner Seymour action at such time was
prompt, generous AMI characteristic of the
man. lie Owned q store building on
Genesee street, tee first door lf which hap,
pened to 90 vacant. Il run c partition
across the rear end Of the room, formi5g
kitchen, put IN 9 large cooking range
spread three tables the saGgth of the room
and gave he poor people OF Utica two
COOS, hearty meals day until the spring
opened BY this generous action he KEEP,
hunger and possibly starvation, tom
nsn7 hundred heartbsioues. | used 10 90
losn to the building occasionally TO See
he sight As many as Two hundred would
gather at the tables at time. Occasion,
ally Mr.. Seymour would call around TO see
hat nothing Was lacking, when strong
athsrs and mo'hers With babes in their
arms, sad gray haired grandisthers would
gather about him aud with fearful eyes i'm
olore the blessings Of God 10 follow him al
lis days No wonder that the working
1eople OF Utica aud Oneida county, as
We read in he papers gathered about his
,ier Oy thousands as their friend and bene.
Gctor was carried forever out OF their sight !
question i the Empire State ever pre-
llced q man, unless it be Horace Greedy, |
Vho left the impress upon his generation |
f noEler aspirations higher resolves and |
ofi.r deeds aud thoughts than did Hora,io |
'ey mour s. |
WHEEIIEG, v. Va Feb. II. 1886.