The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-27
"UNCLE SAM"
How the Nickname of the United
States Originated
From the New York Evening Post.

States Originated.
From the New York Evening Post.
The gentleman who graced the guberna-
torial armchair of our state when this
century was born happened TO be an ar
dent admirer Of classic lore and the grand
Old names of antiquity
1t is to his amiable weakness in bestow-
ing these pompus cognomens on our en-
bryo towns and villages that to-day names
like Utica, Syracuse, Ithaca, and Seneca
instead of evoking visions of pomp aud
circumstance, raise In the minds OF most
New Workers the picture of cocky little
cities, abundantly provided with trolley
cars and Methodist meeting houses.
When, however. this cultured Governor,
In his ardor christened one of the cities
Troy, and the hill in its vicinity Mount
Ida, he little dreamed that youth was
living on its slopes whose name was des-
tined TO become a household word the
world over, as the synonym for the proud
est and wealthiest republic yet known to
history, a sobriquet that would be familiar
in the mouths of races to whose continents
even the titles of Jupiter or Mars had new
er penetrated
little before this century began, two
boys with packs bound on their stalwart
NetANNN mum view 1Ofk ana eS-
tabllshed brick-yard In the neighborhood
OF what is now Perry street, Troy. Eb-
enezer and Samuel Wilson soon became
esteemed citizens OF the infant city, their
kindness and benevoience winning for
them the affection and respect of the COM
munity
The younger brother, Samuel was an es-
peclal favorite with all the children In the
pace whose explorations into his deep
pockets We're generally rewarded by the
discovery of some simple Sweet or home
made toy.The slender youth with the nut
cracker face proving to be the merriest
OF playfelows, in their love his little band
OF admirers gave him the pet name of TN.
Gle SAM by which he quickly became
Known. 10 the exclusion of his real mime
This is the kindly and humble origin OF n
title the mere spanking of vain to-ilv
quickens ire pulse and moistens the eyes
OF millions OF Americans with the sans
thrlll that the~dear old flag arousss when
we catch sight. uf 1t. especially an uncA
r." ted E',nlpse in some foreign land
With Increasing wealth the hrlcl5-yar of
tho Wilson brothers was replaced by ar
eAtensi slaughtcin business, In which
more man hurdrSd men were soon en-
ployed--a vast es.a oll5hment for that day
killing weekly some thousand head o. cnt %
tle During the military operations of 1912
the brothers signed contract TO furnish
the lr'e'ps at GreerLUsh with meat, '"sn *
cd In full bound ba,rfH of white oak" nnG
soon after. Samuel was aproir ted inspec-
tor of provisions for the army.
True prototype of the nation that wna
later to he called by BIS name this ahrew,l
ahd bon st Dairol no' only lived no"ftly
NJ l." his contracts giving full measure
ana OF his best, but proved himself incor-
ruptible, making it his business to see that
Others too fulfilled their engagements both
IN the letter and the spirit; so that the ''Jr
s. (abbreviation of United States Which
he scratched on all provisions that had
passed his inspection, became in the OF
hcers and soldiers eyes a guarantee of
excellence. Samuels old friends, the boys
OF Troy now enlisted in the army (naively
imagining that his use of the mystic ini-
tails was an allusion to the pet name they
had given him years before), would except
no meats but Uncle Sans" murmuring
II other brands were offered them. Their
comrades without inquiry followed this ex-
ample. and so strong did the prejudice for
food marked ~. s." become, that all the
contractors, in order that their provisions
should find favor with the soldiers, took
to announcing Uncle Sam brands.
To the greater part of the troops, igno-
rant Gas are most Americans to-day Of the
real origin of this pseudonym, 'Uncle
Sans" beef and bread meant merely gov
eminent provisions and the step from ma
tional belongings to an impersona ton Of
our country by an IDEAL "Uncle Sam" was
but a logical sequence
In his vigorous old age. Samuel Wilson
again lived on Mount Ida. near the es-
tates of the Warren family, where as a
child l have been taken to visit his old
house and heard many anecdotes Of the
aged patriots hospitality and humor. The
honor III which he was held by all the
country side, the influence for good he
exerted and the informal tribunal he held,
where his neighbors came to get their dit.
ferences Strengthened out by his common
sense, are still talked of by the older in
habitants. One story In particular used to
charm my boyish ears. 1t was about a
bitter dispute over land between the War
rens and the Van Rensselaers, which was
Brought to a peaceful end by "Uncle
SANS producing a barrel of old papers
(conhded to him by both families durine
the war for safe keeping and extract
Ing from this original Strong box title
deeds to the property in litigation.
Now, In these troubled times of ours
when rumors Of war are again in the air
when we are trying hard to do no man an
injury nor believe evil OF a friendly nation
ones thoughts revert with pleasure to the
half-mythical figure on the Threshold Of
the century; to legends of the clear-eycd
giant, with the quizzcal smile and the
tender, loyal heart. His life's work makes
him a more loveable model and a nobler
example to hold up before the youth of to.
day than all the NEUROLOGICAL deities who
ever disported themselves on the real
Mount Ida.
1t is a curious coincidence that England
also should have taken an ex-army con-
tractor as her patron saint for If we are
TO believe tradition, st. George of Cappa-
docia filed that position before he passed
through martyrdom TO sainthood.
There is a singular fitness in this choice
Of Uncle Sam as our patron saint, for 10
be honest and loyal and modest, to love
little children, to do ones duty quietly IN
the heyday of life, and become a mediator
In old age are to fulhll about the whole
duty of man; and every patriotic heart
must wish the analogy 10 be long main
tanned, that our loved country, like its
prototype, may continue the protector of
the feeble and a peacemaker among ma
lions.
A PROGRESSIVE DINNER.