Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-19

coins birthday, and whose purpose is so tc
;gccustom the American people to this OBJ
servance that by and by the day will be
.aen apart as a legal holiday, as is the birth
day OF Washington. This New York or
,EAni1&tion therefore invited Mr.. Hamlin
20 ~ present at the dinner in 1890, and he
promised them that IL he was alive and
well he would certainly be there. He kept
his word, and he was the distinguished
guest st that dinner When the feast was
ended and the oratious had been delivered
She officers of the club invited Mr.. Hamlin
30 bs present again at the celebration on
Feb. l2. 1891, and the old gentleman ac-
nspte1 the invitation with so much appa-
rrDt joy that it was easy to see that wide
As his experience has been, familiar as he
rSas with public men in every administra-
rki0n from that of William Henry Harrison
10 that of James A. Garfield, yet in the
career and services of Lincoln his fondest
rrnollections were conferred, and the Joy of
his old age is the remembrance that he was
associated with Lincoln in the critical days
from 1861 to 1865. lie said, speaking in the
seutentiOus and half humorous manner
which is characteristic Of him, IF am on
deck year hence will be with you, and /
rsViH be with you every year so long as my
legs will carry me, "
Mr. Hsmlin kept his word. he was the
chief guest at the dinner on Feb. r. and
-1he reception which be received must have
been a JOY to him,
u was the good fortune of the writer to
share with Mr.. Hamlin part of his rail-
-way ride from Boston to New York as he
WIS coming to this dinner, aud the tedious
sess of a dismal winter ride was forgotten
= 4 6
.sof this remarkable man. Mr. Hamlin has
never been a specially communicative
man. excepting with those whom he has
long known and thoroughly trusts. He
has none Of the garrulity or fondness for
z,numbing recoilections which has charac-
-terized some men who have passed the line
which bounds extreme old age. Moreover,
Mr. Hamlin has been, since his retirement
from the senate, extremely careful to say
no word which might raise controversies,
wound the feelings of the descendants Of
men with whom be acted in public life or
ID pass any criticism on men and measures
where history has already made final de
termination. But in a lighter, gentler
1xny he was led to speak of the great men
whom he knew in the past, saying a word
al this one, or suggesting what seemed to
l1im a trivial but interesting anecdote
concerning some other one.
The old gentleman came into the smok-
ing compartment of the parIor car, Just
zfter he finished his lunch, midway be-
tween Springfield and Hartford. / had
not sesa him since the day when his sena-
corral term ended ia 1881. He was then In
his seventy second year. So that ten years
which bad brought him up TO the line of
extreme old age had passed since / last
shook his hand. It was amazing to see
now well preserved he was; his form seemed
scarcely bent, his dark brown eyes
twinkled with pleasure, and his complex
ION still retained that rudy aud swsrthy
color which indicated perfect health, and
which was so characteristic Of him in his
public days. Notwithstanding the rigor
OF the winter he wore a light overcoat,
and his dress otherwise was substantial
black broadcioth, although the cut Of the
garments was that Of the style Of two
generations ago, and is probably chung to
by Mr.. Hsmiin because he finds therein
Rms greatest comfort in dress. The only
evidence that could be seen that his blood
might be little thin was a pair Of thick
isSrcfac CATERS which be wore upon his feet.
But II his extremities may be prone TO
.,soldness in the winter weather. the old
X ENAAffuts-il maui al hstonAHLAuE IekkltAlllU
OF bis possession Of vigorous powers when
ne took a long, fat and very black CHAR
from his pocket 1t seemed amazing that
a ulaa Of bis years should undertake d
smoke such a tremendously charged nic0-
tine as this cigar seemed to be. He handled
II with the expertness Of one accustomed
TO such enjoyment for many years. He
took from his pocket some Of the peculiar
matches which look like a hair ror,nh 10
acsnse they are set in rows upon a single
niece OF pine exactly as the teeth of comb
are, sod are broken of one by one as want
ed These matches would have shown that
he came from Maine, as they are the only
~ones the lumbcrmen will use. and Mr.
Hsmlin will use no other II he can get
zthexse With the utmost democratic in
ifsrsnslity, not perceiving any place wber'
he could light The match, be asked a gen
sle<nan who sat next to him In the com