The Washington times., 1895-04-14

but such is not the fact. The first words
ever flashed over the wires were a
greeting from my father 10 Chief Justice
Taney, who was in Baltimore and hap
pened to be in the depot of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad when the message was
received. He immediately sent reply 10
the greeting.
''This experiment awoke 30 much interest
that it was then decided to have race be-
tween the steam cars and the electricity
over the wires. 1t was just the day that my
fathers message was TO be delivered to
Congress and it Was arranged that should
carry it to the Capitol and at the moment
it was delivered, would come outside and
wave my handkerchief as signal for the
start.
''In the yards OF the old Baltimore and
Ohio below were arranged the cars with the
engine all ready and with q full head of
steam, while in his little room the telegraph
operator was watching as anxiously for the
wave of the handkerchief, as was the
engineer with his hand already on the
throttle Of the engine.
GAVE THE SIGNAL.
''At last all was ready and just as soon as
the formal presentation of the message to
Congress had been made, waved my hand
kerchisf wildly from the Capitol dome.
''The signal was caught by the watchful
eyes below and saw the iron horse leap
forward over the glistening rails as if
instinct with life. But it was useless race
for long before the train pulled into the
station at Baltimore, the news had been
carried by the electricity and was crcu-
lating among the people.
'Society at that time was very gay,
altough we had not the many advantages
of the present time. There were state
dinners, at which all the famous people
were present, and once in fortnight there
was q big levee, as they We're then called,
and the young people had plenty Of dancing
in the East Room. The White House has
not changed at all since eur day, and it
is now just as it was when first knew it.
''There is one mistake which / wish to
correct, and that is the statement that
my father was born in country place in
Charles county, Va, for the truth is that
his birth took place at a house known as
Round Tower House, from its quaint, old
revolutionary architecture, and this man.
sion was situated in James City county,
about four miles from Williamsburg
When my grandmother brought the baby
to the town for the first time tradition
relates that an old lady in the place pre-
dicted that he would one day be President.
HAD TO SELL HIS WATCH:
when 1 was my fathers secretary, there
was not then, as there is now, any salary
attached to the position. And the very day
left the White House / sold my watch to
a friend for $40 in order to raise much
needed funds to get away on. During the
Mexican war | raised and equipped regl-
ment at my own expense, and now all the
pension that is allowed me is the sum of SS
per month"
The feeble hands beat restlessly on the
coyerlids and the blue eyes grew dim as the
memory of the faded past came stealing In
OH the tired brain; days when he was a gay
young man with all of life and its pleas
ures and promises before him; days when
he met and chatted with the famous states
men whose hallowed names are inaeparably
linked with the history OF our nation; now
an aged man. whose lamp OF life can burn
but a short while longer, and is even flick
ering in its socket.
And he who has at one time so faithfully
served the land OF his birth is now forgot
ten. aud the nation. in its daysof prosperity,
refuses but a paltry pittance to cover the
poverty OF his old age.
: And such is the gratitude OF republics.