New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-12
CHARLES 4. DaNA'S BOIHOOD.

From The Buffalo Enquirer.
Charles Anderson Dana. the dean OF American
here from 1888 to ls5s He let the city for the Eas
and education when Erie County was still forest
said to Old friends that the best days Of his life as
regards health and happiness. We're spent in Buff
@ IN b me- and I'D Canadian in woods to b
mob with the Indians on their nearby reservation
Few men now alive remember Dana when he lived
in Buffalo. Diligent inquiry has revealed but three
Buffalo Library and Pascal P. Pratt or the three
Mr. Ives has the cearest recoIlections OF the New,
worked in White & Danas store on Main-st near
Swan. for six years Dana. Of White & Dana. dea-
OF Charles and kindly helped him through his youth
Of poverty here. Ives worked beside Dana for sew
Dana was born in Hinsiale. Vi. August s, 1919
He is a descendant OF Jacob eldest son Of Richard
the United States Vermont offered a poor living
for the family which broke up fast. The eldest son
in Sardinia Charles was twelve years old when ne
left home to join his brother in this city. He came
reached Buffalo used up that it was several weeks
before he began his work as clerk Mr.. Ives. who
as a quiet studious youth who loved nature and
books and. while a good salesman, was prone TO
looking over volumes ne could not buy. He loved
to make long excursions into the woods, and fishing
ara Falls he composed sonnet upon them tina, Is
said to have had considerable merit but untortu-
nately has long been lost
Dana cared nothing for female society says Mr..
Ives and Stunned social gatherings. preferring to
spend his evenings home reading OF the Revolu-
ton and the early Presidents. He admired Andrew
Jackson greatly. and ever sounding the praises
OF the great Tennesseean. Tom Paine he dared to
read and admire despite the ban upon his works and
name and 1t was whispered by the straight-lsced
ones that young Dana was an lnhdei He was not.
but ne admired the virle English and mastery
logic OF the author OF Common Sense" and THE
Crisis" II always fine trait OF Dana that
he could appreciate the good qualities Of any man,
no matter III the mob decried him and public esti-
nation held him Of little worth. Until he seven
teen Dana revealed in the treasures OF English lit
erature and acquired a splendid mastery OF the
tongue Then a sudden thirst for Latin seized him.
and borrowing a Latin grammar, ne mastered 1t
in a few months. and on his eighteenth birthday
told his brother that ne was resolved TO have an
education. His savings amounted to little. and his
brother gave him 800 to help d him through Har-
ward On June morning In 1899 he left Buffalo
and in September entered Harvard. where ne re-
NAMED two years. when eye trouble forced him TO
leave His subsequent history Is well known.
Il Is remarkable how few men and women in this
city 10 whom Danas name and fame are familiar
are cognizant OF the fact that his boyhood was
spent in Buffalo. II Is an obscure period Of his
ME and OF which he says little for the reason
that cerking and study furnish few interesting
topics Neither Mr.. Pratt nor Mr. Spaulding re
members more OF Dana than the name and the fact
that ne once lived here.