The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-10

a few days ago ex-Secretary Richard
". Thompson, Of Indiana, celebrated
his eighty-ninth birthday He is prob
ably the only man in the United States
who has seen all the presidents except
George Washington. He knew most Of
them personally. and he was a member
Of congress as far back as Tyler's presi-
dency. When he was born the United
States has population Of only 7,23s.-
sS1: and he has lived to See it grow to
7o.ooo,0o0 The only reigning dignitary
now alive OF his time is Pope Leo Kill,
who was born year later. He has
seen every throne in Europe change it
ruler.
When he was born James Madison was
president, and the year after the first
steamboat was built in Europe He
was an infant when the war broke out
with Great Britain, and that same year
Moscow was entered by Napoleon's
army. He was not old enough to un-
derstand when the City of Washington
was burned by the British. or the
battle Of New Orleans was fought,
by Gen. Jackson. He was six years
OF age when the battle of Water
loo was fought, and ten years of age
when the first passage of the Atlantic
was made by steam. Within those few
first years OF his life the map of Europe
underwent great change. The en-
peror OF Germany assumed the title of
emperor Of Austria; Bonaparte was
crowned emperor of France; the repub-
lie Of the Ionian Isles was established;
Greece was declared independent; CO.
lombia, Peru. Guatemala, Brazil and
Venezuela revolted from Spain and be-
came independent; Belgium revolted
from Holland; Poland became free;
Sweden and Norway were united.
George III. was king of England and
Iturbide was emperor OF Mexico
When he was twenty years of age
Gen Jackson was president; Catholic
emancipation had taken place, and
Capt. Ross has started to discover a
northwest passage.
Within a few years Of that time
great advance took place in literature
and mechanics. 1t was the time If Hal
lam. LingarI. Wordsworth. Southey,
Campbell. Moore, Leigh Hunt, Mrs.
Hemans. Lamartine. Berange-, Kotze-
bue, Gall. Irving, Cooper, Rossini and
Paganini. Trades unions were estab-
lished In England, slavery abolished In
the British colonies, the inquisition
abolished in Spain. and James Smith
son, OF London. bequeathed $500. 600 t.
the United States for the establishment
of an institution for the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men,"
and from which sprang the famous
Smithsonian Institution.
Before he was thirty the war with the
Winnebagoes had taken place and the
national debt Of the United States had
been paid. the surplus revenue being di-
vided among the states
The aged statesman was little more
than thirty years Of age when Morse
invented the telegraph. he daguerreo-
type had been invented In Paris. the
penny postage system had been adopted
in England. and Prince Louis Napo-
leon made his descent on the coast Of
France and was taken prisoner He
was fuli-SroRn man II forty when
the planet Neptune was discovered.
Texas was annexed 10 the United
States. the war with Mexico had broken
out. the Oregon treaty with Great Brit
ain had been signed and Commodore
Sloat had taken possession Of Cali
forn!a.
In the last fifty years Of his life Won
derful changes have taken place all
over the world. but none more so than
IN ;he rapid progress q American in
ventiou The American boy who *
ROW fifteen years = age. and old enough
70 take an Intelligent interest in pass
ius events has a s;i;. more marvellous
vista of possibilities in sigh; before he
reaches the age u Richard ". Thornp-
son. Glorious as the history OF the
past has been, il viii be comparatively