The Newtown bee., 1897-08-27

Governor of Pennsylvania. Surel, "there were giants In those days" | would seem that the times were ripe fol the War and it's safe conduct to a satis factory conclusion. Not only was tha unique character, Abraham Lincoln, pre- pared by nature and remarkable expe rience to carry this great nation through a bloody baptism to a lasting peace, g greater prosperity than has fallen to the lot Of any nation hitherto, and to ''per. petual union," with unity of interests and of counsel, but generals for the army and War Governors in the States were raised up adequate for the occasion.
 The record of the States in arousing the enthusiasm of the people, promoting enlistments and providing supplies, is in many instances exceedingly honorable and particularly interesting, not to say marvellous. What brilliant efforts were those Of Governors Andrew of Massachu- setts, Sprague and Smith of Rhode Is- land, Buckingham of Connecticut, John Brough of Ohio, Richard Yates of Illi- nois, Morton of Indiana; but why par ticularize? Nearly all of the Governors of the loyal States during that sangui- nary struggle were remarkable men, and exhibited unusual loyalty, zeal, energy and ability in prosecuting the War.
 But l question whether any of them ex- htbited more enterprise, heroism, or greater ability, than that stanch patriot, Gov Curtin, of the Keystone State, whose recent death, in his eightieth year, has saddened so many hearts.
 Andrew Gregg Curtin was native of Pennsylvania, whose father, Roland Curtin, an Irishman, had emigrated to this country before the close of the last century, and in 1907 had established, near Bellefonte, Center County, one of the first iron manufactories in that re- zion. Andrew studied law in the law school of Dickinson College, and was admitted to the bar in 1889. He was an ardent -Whig, and entered heartily into the political canvass for Harrison and Tyler in the campaign of 1S4O. He stumped the State for Henry Clay iu lS44, and was Presidential elector in lS4S, casting his vote for Zachary Tav- Tor. In 1854 he was made Secretary of the Commonwealth and Superintendent of the Public schools. It was from the suggestion in his annual report of 1855 that the Legislature established, and soon put in operation, that gigantic and magnificent system of normal schools for the education of teachers, which. has so distinguished that State and so mate rially elevated their school system. He was Governor of Pennsylvania through the whole of the War, and was untiring in his efforts for the comfort of the sol- diers. He planned and put into operation complete system for the care and in. struction of the children of the soldiers of that State who were slain in battle, making them the wards of the State. His health having failed in 1865, he de- clined foreign mission which was offer ed blm by the Government, and went to Cuba for his health. He was Minister to Russia from 1869 to 1872, and was prominently talked of for candidate for the Vice-Presidency both in 1868 and 1872. He served as a member of Con- gress for three terms, from 1881 to 1887.
 It was during the latter year that I met him in Washington, and heard direct ly from his lips the anecdotes which 1t is Se purpose of this article to relate. He mad left the Republican party and was identified with the Democrats in Congress. His health was somewhat broken. but his memory of the "war times" was clear and vigorous. He ap- peared to dwell with great interest upon the events of that critical period, espe- cially upon his own connection with the War. It was in the National Bureau of Education that met him. He was an intimate friend of Colonel Dawson, the theD Commissioner of Education, and he was accustomed to spend considerable time In that office. As might be antici. pated, he was great admirer of Presi dent Lincoln. The first incident of the War that he told me was in regard to thu feelings of the President after the battle of Fredericksburg.
 We had been talking of the War, ant the Governor broke out suddenly ant said:
 ''It was just after the battle of Freder
 GAnpuA&s hau uccu uUWH tncEc hn'
 came up to Washington by the nigh
 boat. Iarrived at the foot of Seventl | street little after midnight. Just as ' landed messenger met me saying tha
 the President wanted to see me at once
 at the White House. I took carriag
 and went directly there. I sent in m
 card, and word came bacK that the Pres
 ident had retired but that he requeste'