The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-18
an Historical hair.

Lying I'm obscurity in a lonely spot in
the wilds of New Jersey, few miles
from this city, there is an unpictur-
esque bit of American history, I'M
known and unthought of except by per-
haps a half dozen persons, although as
ISOLATED with IL are some of the most
interesting recollections of the growth
OF this republic.
1t is an antique looking chair, COW
cred with a strip of faded carpet. but
its low seat, extended arms and high
back, inclined at an angle of As degrees,
form a cosy resting place for one, how
ever careless of antiquarian research.
For more than 80 years past the chair
has made part of the furnishings of
the Mohican cabin, the headquarters of
the club of that name, organized about
40 years ago by Colonel William b.
Mann, the venerable prothonotary of
the common pleas courts, and a lew Of
his associates, and situated on Pen
sauken creek. seven miles up the I'ela-
ware. From the front porch of the
cabin the old chair has long looked,
with a regretful expression. across the
river at the tower of the public build
ings and other lofty steeples of the
city. but I'm the patronage of the Mohi-
cans guests IL has long been super
seeded by the more modern wicker rock
ers. though IT remains the favorite
lounging seat of the colonel. In its
early days the chair was quite a globe
trotter. Here is its history:
In 1920, on invitation of President
| Monroe. commissioners representing
| various governments of South America
| and the United States met at Panama
to consider the declaration of Monroe
that the American continent was then
settled, the whole of Il under the suris-
diction of civilized nations, and that
the nations of America would not toll
crate or permit and further settlement
by any foreign government. but would
unite to defeat by all measures any
such attempt that might be made. This
was resolved upon, and the declaration
/ was then called and has since been
known as the Monroe doctrine.
The United States commissioner was
John Sargent. the Philadelphia lawyer,
who was even then at the head of his
profession. and he sailed for Panama,
, the only transportation in those days
being by sea. To provide for the long
voyage he had built this chair. Ito sit,
sleep, lounge and read in, on deck, dur
ing the passage" At the close Of the
Panama assembly, Mr.. Sargent re-
turned to this city with the chair and
presented IL to his son-in-law, William
| b. Reed. This gentleman was subse-
quently appointed by President Blu
| chanan minister TO China. and when he
sailed for that country in the steam
! frigate Minnesota the chair accompa-
MED him. 1t was Minister Reed who
at this time negotiated the treaty with
the Chinese. At the close of his diplo-
matte career he came back to Philadel-
phia with the chair and shortly after
wards gave IL to Colonel Mann. The
colonel took IL up to the Mohican cabin
in 1860. where IL has ever since re-
NAMED. occupied. during those years,
by hundreds OF persons ignorant of its
| history. and where. to use the coloners
words. I'VE have cherished. strength
ened and preserved IT as memento
/ of the incidents connected with its his
/ tory"