The times., 1899-03-19

siding Judge of Indiana county. Matt once
owned a jack-knife that was the particu-
lar envy of Harry White, who made all
sorts of offers for trade. all to no pur-
pose. One day, however. much to the sur
prise and JOY OF Harry, Matt met the lat
ter and said he guessed they might get up
a trade.
Il haven't got my knife with me-
though said Matt. ''and il we strike a
bargain you'll have TO go after it,
''All right" said Harry; what boot do
you want?''
We'll, If you'll give me your knife. a
dozen marbles, and your tin squirt gun.
and throw in that horse hair fish line of
yours. Pll trade said Matt.
''I'il do it, exclaimed Harry. and he
handed over all the articles. 'Where'll
/ go after your knife?''
Matt slowed Har1y's knife and the other
things in his pocket and said:
go up to the tannery / was fooling
around there this morning and dropped my
knife in the vat. Me and some of the boys
fshed two hours for it. and couldn't find it.
But it's in there. Go up and maybe you
can get it,
Harry kicked" added an old schoolmate
of his in telling this story. but there
wasn't any use. He never found Matt's
knife, and it is in that vat yet, for all /
know"
After these anecdotes of his boyhood. II
is needless 10 add that Colonel Quay comes
Of a canny race. AS a matter of fact. he
traces his family back to Scotch Irish orr
gin, and to the sturdiest of that sturdy
stock. His father was a Presbyterian
preacher and the SON was born at DiIls-
bury, in York county. sixty-six years ago.
He was graduated from Jefferson College
IN 1856. and four years later was admit
ted 10 the bar. He plunged at once into
politics. held for several years the Office
of Prothonotary of Beaver county, and
during the Civil War, save for a brief
period of service as colonel of a Penn
sylvania regiment. was the military sec
retary and right-hand man of Governor
Curten. For two years following 1865 he
was member of the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature, and the Republican leader in that
body. but retired from office to establish
the Beaver Radical" where his terse and
pithy editorials did as much to promote
Republican unity as did those of Col. A.
X. Mcclure, when editor OF the Chambers
burg Repository" in promoting the or
ganization of the party. The Radicals
editor always had something to say, and
always said that something in the pithiest
and most effective way.
The Cnmerons Coerccd
iuuecu, a great JOurndlist was Sp0lled
when Colonel Quay became Hartranft' $
Secretary of the Commonwealth. That was
in 1872. but not until some time after
Quay had compelled the House OF Cam
eron to take him into account in its plans.
The Cameron dynasty has played so large
a part in the political history of Pennsyl-
vania that IL demands word in passing.
Its founder, Simon Cameron, was born in
the closing year OF the last century, and
came into power during the time of An
drew Jackson. He was very remarkable
man, had lived in poverty, journeyman
printer, setting type in various towns from
Lancaster 10 Washington. with a keen
sense OF the value of friendships and mon
ey Cameron began life as Jackson
Democrat went with the Free Soil move
ment, and found himself by the trend of
events a Republican. For upward of thirty
years he was all-powerful in Pennsylvania
politics. and when in the course of time,
age caused him to withdraw from public
life, he was succeeded by his son, Donald
Cameron, who reigned for a quarter of a
century as Secretary OF War and Senator,
and who might have been Senator still, but
for certain events which will form a
part of this chronicle.
Thus the Camerons retained their power
In the person OF a member of the family,
but there was always a Mayor of the Pal
ace, as it were, who was kept well to the
front. To this post Colonel Quay succeed
ed in the early seventies. II is doubtful
If there was ever genuine friendiiness be-
tween Quay and the young Cameron, the
latter of an arbitrary and unyfelding tenn
peramen., and stranger to most of the