The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-04
WHAT COCLDOCK SAW.


the year OF Waterloo and OF the battle
Of New Orleans when Gen. Jackson de-
feated the British forces
There was then no state Of Maine. OF
Mississippi or Illinois or Indiana, Texas
California. Indeed, there were only
eighteen states then, the original thir-
teen and Vermont, Kentucky. Tennes-
see, Ohio and Louisiana: and now there
are forty-dye. The history Of the coun-
but the greatest changes are in methods
and conveniences Of life SO great as to
be almost inconceivable to any but the
witnesses. It seems a short time bach
even to the earliest Of the presidents.
because Of our familiarity with them.
Indeed. the average citizen knows far
more Of the historical events Of the time
Of Washington and Jefferson than Of
their successors until the time Of Lin
coin.
When Couldock first went upon the
stage gas was little more than an ex-
with which the great chandeliers were
lighted would seem absurd now. The
first passage Of the Atlantic by steam
had not been made. A journey that
took six weeks in Couldock's boyhood
he lived to see almost made in six days.
and by vessels that must have looked
like palaces to one who saw the early,
clumsy boats Of 1920.
Contemporary with his school life
were Scott, Byron, Keats, Henry Kirke
White, Coleridge, Lamb, Madame de
Stael, Kings George III. and ", Jer-
envy Bentham. Hallam, Southey, Words
worth. Noah Webster, Irving, Paganini,
Cooper, and he might have seen Talma,
the great tragedian.
In the world Of general events he wit
messed while yet a very young man. the
great financial panic in England, the
opening of the first railroad in England,
the extension Of suffrage there, the first
attempt to establish a trades union. the
abolition Of the inquisition in Spain, the
MES. the establishment by James Smith
son, London merchant, OF the Smith
sonian institution in Washington, ID. c.,
as an institution 'for the increase and
diffusion OF knowledge among men," by
a bequest Of $500, 600; the independence
OF Belgium; the founding OF the king
dom of Greece; the insurrection In
Poland; the death Of Lafayette and the
accession of Queen Victoria.
The electric telegraph, the first por-
trait taken by daguerreotype. the es-
adjustment Of penny postage, discov-
cry of the use of gutta percha. finding
OF the planet Neptune. the voyage OF
Sir John Franklin, Daniel O'Connelrs
trial, the temporary surrender of the
Sandwich islands. now owned by the
United States, to the British: the presi-
deaey of Harrison. Tyler and Polk the
death OF Napoleon. the war with Mexico,
had all become matters OF record before
Couldock came TO the United States in
1912
He found on his arrival here that the
country was plunged In a great agita-
ton over the slavery question. Zachary
Taylor had just died and Fillmore had
become president. Calhoun's death had
just taken place and California had
been admitted to statehood. While the
slave trade was being abolished In the
District OF Columbia by one influence.
the bin FOR the arrest Of fugitive slaves
had been passed by another. These
were the days OF Uncle Toms Cabin"
These were exciting times While
slavery was rending this country into
two great factions. Great Britain was
adding a brilliant gem 10 the imperial
diadem in the Punjaub: a British feet
was blockading Greece; Kossuth, the
Hungarian patriot, was fighting Aus
tria, Mazzini was In arms Ia Italy. and
the king ahdjcatei IN favor Of his son.
Victor Emanuel. the pope was compelled
e fiy from Rome IN disguise; Berlin was
In state Il siege; Haynan. the Aus
TRAN Weyler q his day. was chastised
by draymen in London for his butch
cries In Hungary; the Danes were fight
ing the Slesvtg- Holsteiners. and Aus
trta, Bavaria. Saxony and wurtteuburg
were entering into a treaty against
Prussia Americans insisted upon help
ms the CubaGs and a proclamation b.
the president warning against It had to
he issued
When Couldock landed. almost fifty
years ago, the population Of the couu-
t7y was only - 90. coo: IT has grown az
the rate q / zoe 0Ego a year since tina,