Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-20


sleeping gave him such boost politically
they landed him eventually In Congress
and made him q national figure.
The late George zerubabcl Erwin. Ak
Speaker OF the Legislature, ex-state Senator
aud noted pariiamentarlan. wac a rival OF
Uncle George" as far as looks went
But he was extremely sensitive on the
subject and never liked TO Joke about T.
Mr.. West who IA an EuEllsfnan by birth
and familiar with the EBglish bards, used 70
meet Mr.. Erwin and. looking him steadily
IN the face. would sigh and say: I'VE are a
beautiful pair TO draw to. are we notf
Then he would quote from Endymion'
a thing u beauty is a Joy forever:
Its loyellncss Increases, 1t Will never
Fade inio nothlngness.
No one can resist Mr.. Vests good humor,
and Senator Erwin would hnally smile and
turn the conversation. Smith Nj, Weed
Henry Bounding Burleigh and ex-senator
Warner Miller, who fell outride the breast
works In the campaign OF 1855. have known
and admired Mr. West for many years.
They have. in their speeches and private
conversation. almost canonlzed his homeli-
ness, and no has enjoyed It all immensely
And when Il comes TO popularity among the
women folks. the ey-COngressman has no
peer, not even among the matinee nc
tors who are supposed to be perfect Apol-
los but who really are a mild solution OF
apollnarls. His rise In life. however has
the elements Of realistic drama In H.
He was born IN Bradninch. Devonshire,
near Exeter. England, and before he was
$ years old he became a breadwlnuer by
working In paper factory. His ability as
a worker was soon recognized. and when he
announced his Intention to come TO America
the proprietor OF a big paper mill offered
to put bin In charge II he would remain.
Don't 80 10 America, where the people
shoot each other every day" said the pro-
prietor, who had evidently been posted by
some English novelist who had spent
couple o. weeks in tho States" and had
Written his Impressions OF the bloody"
country.
Tho young factory hand and future mil
llOnalre was not frightened at all by the
sanguInory predictions ot the proprietor,
aud 10 February 1919. he landed In New
York The first year be worked IN paper
mill in New Jersey FOR the muniAcent sal
AIRY Of 81 a week, supported his family and
walked three miles every morning before
sun-up 10 the factory. Then he had an
oner IN New York and quilted Jersey and
TIA early. vigorous mosquitoes forever. In
few years he bought a mill and gave his
paper Tor H. Now be owns ten large mills,
1--WE Or six newspapers. a creosote factory
several mines in the far West that he docs
not count and real estate Of great value.
Several years ago he placed IN the little
church at Br2dnlreh a ilne and costly mo
mortal window In remembrance Of bis
mother, who Is buried there. The banker
Ia Exeter. Ia front Of whose bank Mr. West.
when poor factory lad. had often stood.
entertained him az his own magnificent
house upon q recent visit 10 England, The
rich cN-C0ngroa7man has never forgotten
any " his poor relatives In England and
has made them all comfortable for lie. lie
is proud VI the fact that he began as a fac
tory boy. and now and then he thkes out
VI his coat pocket a piece OF paper he male
IN northern England, showing the water
mark VI 1887.
During bis frequent visits to England be-
Is dlued and made much OF By the wealthy.
but ho never iurgets that he Is an American
10y adoption, and When be- pays compliment
10 the Queen OF England in some Of his poat-
prbndlN uruuuns, ha never ncgleCta 10 culO-
Bizo ile Stars and stripea.
10 Republican National conventions for
tho past twenty years he has been a promu-
ont and picturesque 0gurs In the New York
delegation, and was always considered tho
right bower Of cx Senator Warner Miller
when the latter was active In politics, So
many men are ambitious To- so TO National
conventions that "Uncie George" always
had several candidates to defeat, which he
did without any trouble. His popularity
carried the day every tlmc.
There Ia nothing mask-lke IN hls face, and
whom he heard " the ugly man who at
tended a masquerade bail, and after / O'Clock
was requeEtcl 20 remove his mask. which
was only hlu natural face, ne cAuClled and
remarked "Hq must have been a beauty
and | would give a grca. deal for hts pie
turc.' Although be- has large head. wear
Ing a No. "a n hat he has no wheels In
hiB Uranium and no hobby. lie cannot be
,akon Ia easily. and although he does not
believe In mamhat5s. hoods. or Will o.
the wlaps. Yet he coniesHes That his super
stltious gorge Rises az tho number thirteen,
I'm H.N. aa O.