Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-21
'The Father of His Country"

In the Magazine of american History
(VI., 142) tits shown that in 1776, when
hostilities were already in progress
against the American colonies, the
above epithet was applied to George
III, in London in a legend surround
ing his vignette. That, however, was
the year after news had reached Lon
don of the application of the epithet to
Peyton Randolph, the first president
of the Continental Congress.
In the Gentien2dn'S MGgGzine (XLV.,
345) July, 1865, a careful account of
the troubles between Lord Dunmore
and the citizens of Williamsburg, Va,
contains the following interesting
passage. The italicized words are in
the original, where they seem equiva-
lent to quotation marks: "In conse-
quence of the first proclamation Chat
is, of Lord DunmOre summOniug the
Burgesses), the General Assembly be-
ing met, it was judged expedient to re-
quire the attendance of their Speaker,
the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq, who,
being one of the delegation to the Con-
tinental Congress, had previously re-
paired to Philadelphia. But it being
suspected that The m1GleU0icnt demons
from 0bOm the eUjis III america had
originated had combined in treachery
to enSnGre his Honor's JifG and safety, a
troop of the Williamsburg Volunteers
met him at Ruffin's Ferry and escorted
him to town, where he was met by the
whole body and compimented the
next day by a cOngratulatory adj
dress, in which they entreat him in
particular manner to be attentive to-
his safety, and at the same time tender
their services, to be exerted at the ex-
pense of everything dear to freemen, in
defense of his person and constitutional
liberty. They conclude with praying
Heaven to lengthen the life of tks
Father Of tbeir COuntry."-
English Ignorance Of America
Ex-senator and ex-Cabinet Minister
William Window has an idea that the
Importance of the American nation is
not fully recognized by the middle and
lower classes in foreign lands, says the
Minneapolis Tribune. He is led to
this from an experience he had last
summer when he landed in Eng
land. He sailed from this coun-
try on the third day of the Chicago
convention, and during the eight
davis passage he was in such suspense
to know what was the result of the
convention as a man of his interest In
public affairs can apprecite. Archi-
bald Forbes, the English newspaper
correspondent, was on the same boat,
and the two did some tall guessing
during the time they were out of sight
of land. When they were once on
British soil, Mr.. Window said:
you are a newspaper man Mr..
Forbes; take your augur and go find
out who was nominated"
The first man asked was boatman
at the docks. He had nearly forgot
ten the convention. but getting the
two national conventions mixed in his
mind he said:
''They elected the same man they
did before"
A little questioning revealed the
fact that the man knew no difference
between a nomination and an cleo
ton, so Mr. Window did not know
whether he referred to the ST. Louis
convention or meant that the Chicago
convention had nominated Blaine.
Another man was hunted up and asked
if he knew who had been nominated
for president of the United States.
The man asked what states he meant
by the Omitted States"
1.-THE United States of America"
said Mr. Forbes. DO you know where
America is?'
81 have heard of Canada" was the
reply. sis America the same as Cam
ada?"
They left him, and Mr.. Window got
his first information on the result of
the convention from a scrap of Ger
man newspaper, week old, which he
found at a hotel, and which the only
words he could read were two that are
the same in German as in English
"Benjamin Harrison"