Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-04-20
MOTHER or HEROES.
Nons Woman Who Governed m Wei, -.
Loved Her Children.

mr., Acseo k1ef Children.
"hen the news Of Captain Perry,
victory on Lake Erie reached his moth
ers home In Newport, an old farme,
on the island said: 1T was Mrs PR,
VINO licked the British" Living n a,
same village with the Perrys, he had
observed the excellent discipline main.
famed by their mother during the alb
sence OF their father on the sea. Tber.
We're I'VE boys Of them, all goyernel
WIN hrmness and good sense, tempered
win tender affection, by one of the bes,
OF mothers, and all five became officers
OF the United States navy.
Sarah Alexander was the ma;der
name OF their wise mother. She was an
irish girl. twelve years Of age, living
~ Newry in County Down, when she
iirst saw young Christopher Perry, an
american prisoner of war auartered
/ at Newry. He was a boy. Of fifteen
when the American revolution hogan
and enlisted at once in the littIe Col.
onial navy. Captured soon by a British
cruiser. he endured for three months
the horrors OF prison-ship in New York
harbor, anchored near the spot where
the great Brooklyn bridge now casts
It's broad shadow across the East river
lie escaped with little besides his
bones but was soon afoat again, and
remained in the naval service as long
as the struggling nation had an armed
vessel ON the high seas.
1t was in 1870 that he was captured
again while cruising in the Irish Sea, and
was carried into Ne ~. where, being
released on parole, he met the pretty
irish girl who was destined to be his
VIE and the mother of our gallant
ferrys. Two years later, drawn by
the light of her eyes. he shipped as
mate on board Philadelphia ycsse!
bound for Ireland, where he had the
exquisite joy of receiving her on board
his ship as passenger. bound on Wis
it to one Of her uncles living in Phila-
delphia.
This was piece of luck so extraor-
binary that novelist would hardly
dare to introduce its parallel into ro-
nance. The Young sailor improved
the golden chance, and before the YES
sci reached the American shore the
lovers were engaged. They were mar
ried at Philadelphia in 1874. when Per-
ry was twenty-three and his bride was
sixteen. From her have descended MANY
naval officers, besides the femous Cap
tain Oliver II. Perry, whose victory on
Lake Erie is ono of the most gallant
and picturesque exploits of naval war
fare.
She was lady of beautiful form and
face. as well as of vigorous health and
great stamina Her lovely brown eyes,
her rich dark hair. her perfect teeth,
her firm and graceful carriage of body,
are not yet forgotten by the few living
persons who Undergraduates of see
ing her. She trained her boys to the
practice of virtue, real virtue, courage
and fidelity. just regard for the
rights of others, respect for age and
services. She was warm patriot, and
felt most keenly the insults o the flag
of her adopted country which led to
the war of 1872. Her special merit as
Il mother was that she governed as well
as loved her boys. Most mothers are
fond and affectionate enough. and she.
100, was one of the loving mothers;
but she did not permit her fondness to
relax her discipline. She exacted a
prompt and complete obedience to
reasonable commands. She main
tanned in her home the same discipline,
Just and firm. kind and considerable,
which her noble sons were famous for
in the vessels they commanded
Iouth'S Competition.