The Portland daily press., 1891-05-30
WHEN WE WERE BOYS.
Is4o-Is5o.
GEN. WARREN
mo. ~


(No.4
GEN. WARREN,
A well known character In the forties was
General Warren, as he styled himself. he
was quite weak in his upper story caused by
exposure and sunstroke. but was a very mild
inoffensive man, always dressed up very
neat and clean in the old Continental suit,
knee breeches, three cornered hat with gold
lace and cockade, epaulets on his shoulders,
sword and equipments at his side, and walked
off straight, stylish and pompous as Gen.
eral should do. He never made trouble for
any one and at times would converse quite
nationally but after few minutes might be
of his base again. When the steamer Gen.
Warren was being built by the Portland
Steam Packet Co. In what was then known
as the "Longfellow field" situated SOUTH
west of where the Eagle Sugar Refinery now
stands ION Fore street, our Gen. Warren
superintendent the building of the steamer
in his way, and really. thought he owned
every stick Of timber that went into her, and
often walked up to Master Builder Dyer's
house and sat down to dinner whether he
had been invited to do so or net, but where
he was always welcome. He would give
orders to the workmen what to do and they
all with one accord gravely listened to what
the poor fellow had to say and that satisfied
him. At last launching day came and the
General was almost wild with delight The
steamer was built on the northwest side of
Fore street and had long run across the
street before she would reach the water; as
she started off the stocks Gen. Warren stood
on the top of the house on the main deck In
all his glory waving lis hat, and all went
well as the stern OF the steamer gracefully
6nd tv@kn nfnrr fE,a
out just as the bow left the stone wharf and
she then stuck fast in the mud. The shock
threw the Generals heels over head ON to
coil of rope but he came out without any
broken limbs. The writer was standing
near the General and went into the same
coil Of rope and only barely escaped being
run through by the Generals sword as 1t In
some manner jolted out of its scabbard.
But to show that the General was quick at
an incident that ACQUIRED at Fobes and Will
sons paint shop then located on Fore near
the corner OF Lime. now Market street.
PROBABLY the first steam engine brought to
this city and put to practical use was intro
duced here by Messrs. F0bes and Wilson to
grind paint. This labor had formerly fallen
to the lot OF the apprentices and was very
hard work, and the new invention was hailed
with delight by the young men who were re-
lieved Of that severe labor. 1t was small
affair but did its work well for many years
and when first put in operation attracted
crowds OF people; among the rest Gen.
Warren called In to see the mill which was
Just at that time running on mixture of
white lead, oil and a bright vermillion which
as 1t passed out of the mill into five gallon
keg looked as much like thick blood as the
real article itself. The crowd parted right
spection; he looked on with apparent as
tonishment and finally asked what they were
doing. The young man who had charge of the
mill told him that "they were grinding up
old men that were good for nothing and
making smart boys OF them aud that was
the blood that he saw running into the keg."
'Oh yes" replied the General, i've been
ground up twice in that machine already
and the chips that fell on the floor would
make better man than you are." The
crowd shouted for General Warren, which he
returned with his customary military salute
and then quickly walked out. / believe the
General ended his days at the insane asylum
at August,
CHRISTOPHER MANUEL.
Chris Manuel was colored gentleman
OF the old school and was a first-class bar
Der. His shop was located on Exchange |
street about where the National Traders
Bank now stands. He was always to be
found at his place of business and it did one I
good to look at or converse with him. AL |
though very tall he was straight as an arrow
and every inch gentleman. Intelligent,
genial. neat and very particular, with his
ever bright smiling face.it was no wonder
that he drew to his shop tile best class of
customers from all parts of the city; mer-
chants, lawyers, doctors and ministers were
among those who favored him with call
In fact his shop was a sort of a Merchants
Exchange In those days, for IL anything new
or startling happened in the city the custo-
mers congregated there and were sure to be
well posted up in all that was going on.
Not that he intruded himself on his custo-
mers, for ne had learned the old adage "a
still tongue is wise head" but If asked a
questionlor appealed to in any manner 10
would couch his language In such appropri
ate words and give such a lucid explanation
of the matter under discussion as to astonish
those who were not aware OF his abilities
With his natural born courtesy he would
always remind those with whom he held any
argument that they were just as fairly en-
titled to their opinion as he was to his.
Some Of Manueps friends had new sign
painted and presented to him for birthday
present, which he accepted with many
thanks. 1t was nailed on to the side of the
building, and ran as follows:
Draw near, my friend and hear me tell.
The wonders of Chris Manuel;
He shayes so clean and cuts so nice,
VIII brush you down in Just a trice,
With water hot and raZors keen;
Walk in, my friend, he'll shave you clean.
This being novelty in that line IL at
tracted great deal OF attention and brought
In more custom, so that he was obliged to
increase his force. But rival BARRIERS got
jealous OF his success, and one night these |
TWO additional lines were added to the |
above: |
SO clean he'll shave that ere you'll find,
Not even the skin he'll leave behind.
But this did not brighten away the GUS
toners, for Chris Manuel fiourished for |
many years afterwards loved and respected |
by all who knew him, for If he was black |
man he had white heart.
UNCLE JOHN AvERILI.
The boys If 1910 to 1850 will we'll recollect |
Uncle John Ayerill. He was very large.
stout, heavy man, a hard worker,at his trade |
as blacksmith. and his shop was located at
the foot of Union street. His house where
he lived for many years was situated near
the corner of Pearl and Federal streets.
Uncle John was jolly, good-natured man,
fond of joke. and was Uncle to everybody.
He never lost an opportunity TO play his |
pranks and jokes Eup to the last year of his |
life. Uncle John had a great liking for talk |
ing parrots. and hooking birds, and he gen.
orally kept quite a stock of both on hand. |
but the time came round that his stock died |
one after another, until not one was left |
alive. Some Of the boys found out that
Uncle John was very anxious to replenish |
his stock and they managed in some way to
get hold of young and very pretty bob.o-
link. They then made arrangements with |
an old sailor to DRIFT In to his house and sell |
him "a fine hooking bird just from Cuba |
young one Of course that could not sing but |
his mother was the best mocking bird that /
eyer lived" Uncle John paid high price |
for the bird, and the boys div ided up the |
spoils among themselves, after paving the
sailor literally for his trouble. Uncle John
was very proud OF his purchase and would |
spend all his spare time trying to teach the |
mocking bird to sing and whistle Mean
While the bird grew on apace and began to |
make certain sounds which indicated that he |
was about to break forth in all his glory, and |
one evening Just after tea several Of his |
neighbors had called over to enjoy smoke |
and see how the bird was getting along, and |
as they were talking over the news Of the |
day the bird suddenly broke out in clear and |
unmistakable sounds, and to Uncle Johns |