Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-09
TFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT


Commonwealth by its beck and helped to
guide the destinies of a nation, reached
tremblingly out to-day, responsive to the
hundreds that thronged with warm congrat-
ulations. In the luxurious parlor of the old
stone house, built 10 years ago on the banks
of the Susquehanna by the founder of this
city, stood to-day, as Senators and Repre-
sentatives came to do him honor, the
hero of many a hard-fought political
field, the Hon. Simon Cameron. Young
men with elastic tread came in and gazed
with interest on the bent form and the fine
head, crowned with its luxuriant growth of
frosted hair. Old men came with slower
steps to look on their former chieftain.
None who had stood close to him in the ad-
vance guard of the old political battles were
there. To this one as he passed he said:
81 knew your father" To another: Your
grandfather and were friends" AS Sena-
tor Ross was introduced he said: ''You are
the grandson of old Ross, of Bucks" His
mind was clear on the things of the past.
OLD MEMORIES REVIVED.
The familiar names of the young men re-
vived the memories of the days of his prime,
and though the burden of his years COM
PEELED him to seat himself before the line of
Senators had filed past, his aged form di-
lated with pleasure, bis voice became frmer
and fuller toned, and pleasant words flowed
from his tongue in response to the polite,
kindly or earnest phrases of his visitors. A
touching incident was the grasping of Gen.
eral Cameron's hand by the venerable Rep
0f Mnnfoovoarxy ho
cited graceful sentiment, ending with the
line, "Touch us gently. Father Time"
'HThat's beautiful sentiment, said Gen
eral Cameron. "Time has been very kind
to me and touched me veiy gently"
When Representative johnson, of Cam
eron, shook hands, the General, remarked:
You ought to be cousin of nifne." Rep
resentative Dearden said as he shook hands,
Congratulations, General, and 1 wish you
ten years more.
''Thank you, sir, )" said the General, "you
Philadelphians are always generous"
As young Representative Missimer. of
Berks, clasped the Generals hand and was
modestly passing quickly away, the veteran
clung to him a moment and jocularly re-
marked: "Wie geht's?'' OF Representative
Hays, of Venango, he stfectionately in
quired for ''my old friend, your father"
yours is an old Montgomery county name"
he said to Representative Bean.
HAPPY LITTLE SPEECH.
When the long procession of Legislators
had passed General Cameron said to the
many remaining in the room:
Gentlemen, i am very glad to see you
all, and very much obliged for the honor
you have done me. 1 don't know what
more L can say, except that I'll try to
behave myself as long as 1 am here, and
will always be glad to see you when you do
me the honor to call"
Speaker Boyer made graceful reply. He
wished the veteran many years OF happi-
ness, "and, he said, quoting from Tennyson
on the Duke of Wellington, "We are all
proud of the good gray head which all men
know"
At precisely II o'clock the procession of
Senators and Representatives left the Capt.
tol led by Lieutenant Governor Davies and |
President Pro TEN Grady for the residence
Of the General. As the head of the process |
sion reached the house the doors swung |
back and the Legislature of PENNSYLVANIA /
entered. President Pro Tenn Grady intro |
duced the Senators as they passed. Speaker |
Boyer introduced the Legislators. When it |
was all over General Cameron donned his |
overcoat and hat and stood in the front ward |
while two photographers, whose cameras
were trained on the house, caught his like |
ness before a background of Lawmakers of |
the Commonwealth.
WARM GREETINGS FOR ALL
The Legislature was well represented. |
Many who usually leave on Thursday night |
or on early trains on Friday had this time
remained. Party lines were entirely wiped |
away for the occasion. Democrats marched |
side by side with Republicans to honor the
aged chieftain of the clan Cameron. Some
of them were among those most warmly
greeted. When the rest had gone away a
number of close friends remained at the
mansion by invitation and partook of
luncheon with General Cameron. Among
these were Major L. S. Bent, Senator
George Handy Smith, President Pro Tenn.
Grady, Colonel 7. T. Worth, of Lebanon;
George Dawson Coleman, Jr., Horace
Brock, NJ. w. McAlarney, Colonel o. E.
Mcclellan, William j. Pollock, S. W.
Dubree and w. j. Milligan, of Philadel-
phia; Colonel James Young, of Middle
town; james Franklin, of Philadelphia;
Colonel Philip Figyelmesy, of Columbia,
and others. This afternoon Governor
Beaver and his Cabinet, Secretary Stone,
Auditor General McCamant, Colonel WILL
lam Livsey, Attorney General Kirkpatrick,
Secretary Stewart and other heads of de-
partments, with the numerous employees,
paid their respects. The State organization
Of Catholic knights of America, in session
here, also called on General Cameron and /
we're warmly welcomed.
NUMEROUS CONGRATULATIONS.
This evening General Cameron, at an in
formal lunch, entertained Adiutant General
Hastings, Senator Delamater, State Chair
man Andrews, ex-State Printer Lane s.
Hart, Insurance Commissioner Foster.
Colonel W. W. Jennings and County Re-
publican Chairman John H Weiss. The
iav was cold, raw and blustery-typical
March weather-but it kept no one awav.
General Cameron's breakfast table was
covered with kilograms, and they poured in
IN him all day long, from all parts of the
Union: from as far west as California, as far
asst as Maine; from New Orleans and st.
Paul. Philadelphia, Portland, Oregon,
New York. Washington, Pittsburg; from the
III regions and the coal and lumber regions;
rom old friends of long years standing;
rom men of recent acquaintance; from
ieopIe. who, in years gone by, were en-
outraged by the General and aided up the
he ladder and never forget the day of his
firth.
In addition to these many letters reached
i'm from friends who had studied Uncle
;am's mails so we'll that their messages ar
ived on the auspicious day. From letters
# love il was but a step to flowers or friend
hin. and soon came elegant floral remem-
rauces from friends far and near. The
cameron Club, of Philadelphia, sent a
magnificent basket Of roses of mammoth