The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-11
SOME OF cERRir SMITHS GUESTS
How One who stayed Too Long Was
Moved to Take His Departure.

now Oue VIM csSyeo hO"s
Moved to Take His Departure.
Beneath the roof of Gerrit Smiths
home some of the strangest characters
in the world congregated. He was a
peculiar magnet and drew people from
all parts of the country. A gentleman
who was for a long time a OF
the family relates how he seen eating
in peace al one time i'm his house an
Irish Catholic priest, a Hicksite Quak-
eress minister. a Calvinistic Presbyte-
rian deacon of the Jonathan Edwards
school,. two Abolition lecturers, a Sew
nth Day Baptist, a shouting Metho-
dist. a whig pro-slavery member OF
congress, a democratic official of the
Sam Young school, a Southern ex-slave
holder. a runaway slave. his wife and
two children, a colored woman they
called Aunt Betsey. a Dutchman and an
Indian chief who ate six dishes OF soup
and nothing. else. Mr.. Smith managed
them all. Not N was neglected. He
did the honors of his table, carving his
meats, conversing with each in such a
sweet way as to disharm all criticism
and making all feel that they would
rather he. Gerrit Smith than any other
living man. II is said that at times 1t
took 100 pounds of meat a day TO supply
his table.
His diary. which he kept for 80 years.
reveals some singular facts. Ii seems
in 1887 he was in Strengthened circum-
stances and was threatened with disas-
ter. He borrowed of John Jacob Aston
$3.50, 900 and CAV his property In Oswe-
go as security. 1t was at that time Mr..
smith closed his mansion in the village
and moved about two miles. south in
the country. refusing to see all visitors.
He remained but a short time n then
moved back to the village n the old
scenes were again enacted.
In his diary of Dec. 20. 1870. Is this
entry: I'VE Have with US this evening
50 persons. Elder Maddox made the
prayer. and Henry Clay. a runaway
slave. talked interestingly" In March.
1885, this decree was in his diary that
nothing was to be used on his table that
was produced by slave labor. At his
time he gave up the use of tea and cof-
fee and shortly after meat. but used
fish. Mr.. Smith was not a member OF
any church in his early days. About
1880 he lost a child whose death affected
Mr.. Smith seriously. The death of this
child is mentioned in his diary In places
20 years after IL occurred, and IL was
the loss of this child that led him and
his wife to the Presbyterian church OF
Peterboro.
Mr.. Smiths household was varied at
times by strange characters. He had a
visitor once VINO nung on Tor n month
and his presence became rather un-
pleasant to the family. Mrs. Smith had
a niece. a young lacy is years old. from
Oswego. who was living in the family.
During the day this gentleman inform
ed Mr.. Smith he intended leaving the
mex day for home. That evening at
prayers Mr.. Smith referred to his de-
parture and hoped Providence would
see him safely home. The young lady
when she heard these words was so de-
lighted she clapped her hands and said
Amen" The prayer stopped short and
Mr.. Smith arose and walked out of the
room and. IL Is said. he could be seen to
smile clear to the back part of his head.
The girl was frightened and Mrs. Smith
called her to her room TO talk with her
about her rudeness. but ended by say
ing: 1T was very cunning. ] won't
say anything. Utica Daily News.