The mirror., 1895-03-07
GOV. CLOUGH'S BOYHOOD
Recalled by Il Vtsis to His
Old Home at
Princeton.


the first time since he became
governor of the state. His Excel
1ency boarded the Eastern Min
nesota train at Minneapolis and as
mile after mile passed and he drew
nearer to the familiar scenes of his
boyhood's days he became reminis-
cent and told several stories Of the
time when as a boy of seventeen
his wardrobe consisted Ofa hickory
shirt and pair of overalls. One
of the passengers expressed his
envy of the governors pleasure in
going to see his mother, for |
never knew my mother. and ran
away from home and stepmother
when | was nine.
Why. this is my stepmother."
SAID the governor, 'and a better
woman never breathed. She has
taken good care of me since | was
four years old. >
How long have you been In
Minnesota. governor5'' asked the
passenger.
''ThIrty seven years. slr. My tath-
er brought mother and fourteen of
us youngsters from Waupaca, Wis.
to Spencer Brook, little south
east of Princeton. in an ox-wagOn~
in1S57. Great times in those days.
Plenty of good coarse food, but
mighty little variety. | remember
we were once for whole year
without -four
What did you eat for bread?'
Corn bread Johnny cake But
talk about feasting; you should
have been at some Of the Fourth
of July celebrations at Princeton.
Everybody went and we had a pic
mic dinner and music and speeches.
Our home was seven miles away
and we boys used to be up by day
light and scoot off to Princeton in
our bare feet. We ran like foxes
and the distance was nothing to
us. Father and mother and the
girls came along after in the wagon.
Those were great times, | enjoyed
myself more those days than have
ever done since or ever hope to
again. We used to watch the
folks setting the tables under the
treesand wonder if they ever would
get through. Then. my gracious.
we had all we could eat Yes sir.
all we could eat pie. cakes dough-
nuts and all such luXuries- and
You bet we did eat And then we
would run home again IN the even
ing and dream of the next Fourth
of July. | never shall forget the
great days | have spent in Prince
ton and here we are now.
The train slowed upand a band of
musicians sounded a stirring vel
come to thegovernor of Minnesota,
who as ugh. sunburned lad in
overalls and hickory shirt ran
bare-footed through the village
thirty five years ago.
There was no mistaking the
heartiness of the welcome given by
the people OF Princeton to- Gov
Clough They paraded up to him
and shook his hand in free and
independent manner. Just to show
that though he is governor they
know him better as plain Dave
Clough. their neighbor and friend
and intend to treat him without
any frills. But, ust the same
they could not let the occasion slip
by without showing honor to the
governor on the occasion of his
first visit to Princeton. The band
was there and a committee of
citizens consisting of Judge G. A.
Dicken. {. H Rhines, I. H. Galley,
j L. Brady. H Newbert. Charles
Keith. J. A. Ross, c. H. Chadburn.
DIR. H. c. Cooney. the mayor of
Princeton, and Hon. H. r.
MaIlette of Foreston. After the
handshakiny. carriages drew up to
the depot platform and the govern
or and party were driven to the
opera house. which was filled with
citizens and citizenesses who de-
sired to welcome the governor.
Judge Dickey. in few well
chosen words. voiced the senti-
ments of the people of Princeton
when he introduced to his old
neighbors Gov. Clough. The
judge commented upon the freedom
from pageantry and display which
in the United States marks the
movements of the chief executive
officer of state, and compared the
customs of Europe with those ol
this country very much to the ad
vantage of Uncle Sans free do
minion, He told the governor that
Princeton took great and excusable
pride in welcoming him, not only