Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-01-24
STORIES OF THE DAY.
Come interesting Incidents In tho Life Of
Colonel Dan lamont.


American boys are wide awake and
quick to learn. It is a story concern
ing little incident in the life of the
Hon Daniel Scott Lamont, now score
tary Of war. Mr.. Lamont was n poor
boy in Cortland county. He subsequent
ly became n clerk in n stSss department
at Albany. When Grover Cleveland Of
Buffalo was elected governor of the
state, in 1889, he was untried in all
matters pertaining to state legislation,
and when he arrived at Albany he had
not selected his private secretary. Mr..
Lamont was at that time newspaper
correspondent on the Albany Argus, of
which the chief owner then was the late
Daniel Manning. Mr.. Manning said to
Governor Cleveland:
"You haven't any private seoretaryP
mo-" replied Cleveland, "and l
want one. "
"Well," replied Mr.. Manning, 81
have n young man here who will help
you until you can select private secre-
tary.
1t was at that time that the secretary
of war was first brought into close com.
munication with Mr.. Cleveland. Mr..
Lamont did not think that he was to re-
main as the private secretary of the gov
ernor, but he remained three or four
weeks, and then Mr.. Cleveland said he
could not get along without him. Mr..
Lamont from his cradle had been taught
that he must do everything well. His
parents taught him that he must not
slur the smallest task in life. He must,
they said, pay as much attention to the
little things as to the big things, End
Mr.. Lamont never forgot this training.
The time ran along, and Mr.. Cleve-
land was elected president just before
his inauguration he made that famous
remark that Colonel Dan must go with
him to Washington. This governor Of
the state and this first Democratic pres
ident since President Buchanan's time
relied on the painstaking, careful, stu
dious ways of Colonel Dan. For four
years Mr.. Lamont was the presidents s
private secretary, and then he returned
with him to New York and was indi-
rectly connected with him for four years
more. When Mr.. Cleveland went to
Washington again in 1892, he took Dan
iel Lamont with him rs secretary of war.
If the American boys will visit the
war department, they will find Mr.. La
mont there from early until late He is
blue eyed, with an auburn bristling
mustache His ways are just as kindly
as when he was a newspaper writer.
A correspondent had pleasant talk
with Secretary Lamont few days ago
in Washington, and he studied the Sec
retary of war in the interest of the
American boy. The secretary was told
by the correspondent that his own little
SOU had telegraph wire leading into a
neigbbor's house, and this mere state
ment aroused an interest in the secre-
tary of war.
"That is a good thing" said the sec
retary. 81 remember in my early life
that 1 was a telegraph operator. If you
once thoroughly learn telegraphy, you
will never forget. 1t remains with you
as long as you live. l have not had oc-
casion to use telegraphy for a number OF
years, but all the boys of this country,
if they have time, ought to learn it.
Several years ago, after my father i
death, l wanted to bring my mother to
Washington. l was in McGrawville, my
home town in Cortland county, and il
was necessary for me to take number
of railroads in order to reach the main
line by which l could take my mother
to Washington. 1t was necessary to
change cars number of times Oh these
local roads, and in one or two instances
the trains were late, and 1 feared that
could not get to the main line in time
to reach Washington.
'At last it became positively known
to me that unless 1 could make Ger
tain connection my mother would be
compelled to remain over Sunday in 6
small and cheerless town. | knew {
president of a railroad who, if he were
informed Of my predicament, believed
would help me out. So telegraphed tt
him, telling him that my trains wert
late, and asked him if he would no
wire to the superintendent Of the place
where l was apparently destined to bt
kept overnight and direct that the trail
on the main road be held for me unit
my local train arrived. Before 1 got t.
the local station where the main lint
train was TO be met / had to chang
cars. 1t was a dreary little station, anC
remember we'll the anxiety that l haC
when sitting in the waiting room will
my mother, not knowing whether my
dispatch had been received, when
heard clicking over the wire in that lit
tie station an inquiry from the superin
, tendent of the road, Is Colonel Lamon
thereP The telegraph operator looket
around the room to see only two per
sons, my mother and myself, there be
, fore he began 10 reply No.
Just as he sent that word steppet
/ up, and said My friend, have unin
tentionally overheard tie inquiry goini
! over your line as to whether Colonel La
mont was here. That is my name. Th
= telegraph operator quickly corrected hi
No. informed the superintendent tina
r l was there, and the word came bacl
r that the main line train would be he'll
( for me. This is only little inciden
in my life, but it demonstrates the val
ne of telegraphy. My knowledge of teleg
raphy gave me the opportunity to bene
fit my mother. So that say that al
: boys in our country, if they have tn
time, should learn telegraphy.
Secretary Lamont now has fine horse
, and earn. ages. As secretary of war he i
a high government officer and is tn
! guest at all Of the state dinners at Wash
] s.u Il l. 4