The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14

quiet, never parading the extent of hi;
learning; nor was it in what he did Fl,
ne mas always been the last in che world
to do anything for effect And vet tb4rs
was something IN his personality and an.
pearance, strong, handsome. clear-eval
boy, that invariably impressed a stranger
Since the admiral has become famous
friend in Palmyra has received a lett4,
from an old man who met youth NAMED
Sampson many years ago on a RAILROAD
train. The youth was then on his way 10
the naval academy, and he made such an
impression on the Old man that after al
these years he remembered him by name
and wrote to Palmyra to inquire if the
famous admiral was the obscure boy he
had met
Whatever advance young Sampson made
toward his future greatness he made
strictly as the result of his own efforts
Never did boy more surely win the gov
ernments appointment to the Naval Acad-
envy strictly on his merits than did Samp-
son. When the position was vacant two
other Palmyra boys, whose fathers were
influential men, were offered the place
Both of them refused, owing to the OBJ
lection of their mothers. Then Congress
man Morgan, who was TO make the choice
asked the principal of the Palmyra schoo
L
answered without a moments hesitation
'Win Sampson" Several other men in
town, on being asked their opinion also
suggested young Sampson. When the boy
himself was asked if he would like the
place, he assented eagerly. His mother
was overjoyed, but his father grumbled
The elder Sampson thought that the boy
was growing old enough to be of help and
he had already given him more OF an op-
portunitV to go to school than most boys
in his circumstances were permitted, but
Mrs. Sampson laid her hand on her hus-
bands shoulder, and her words are now
historic in Palmyra.
81 want one SON. she said. ''who won't
carry a sawbuck on his shoulder all Ms
life"
1t so happened that when. the Official
news OF the appointment reached Pa
myra a number of politicians were gath
cred in the Office of the local paper Oh
Main street One of them looked out o.
the window. There in the street was
James Sampson and his son digging
ditch connected with some public improve
ment. Gentlemen" he said, IF you oe
sire to see the coming admiral OF us
United States, look out the window 10,
boy passed DETERMINATIONS and enterl
the Naval Academy the next fall, anu
was graduated with the nlSnest hoHoi@
During this time he frequently return
ed to Palmyra, always wholly without os
tentation. always visiting his old nom.
and staying with his mother and sis's
and meeting his old friends on terms O.
the greatest friendlness. 1t was heN
that he married his first wife, the daugnlsI
of a well-to-do farmer who lived in uS
outskirts of the village, and IL was mere
years later while spending a dong Yaes,
ton with his friends. that he met aul
married his second wife, the present Ms
Sampson. For years his erect figure WE
a familiar sight in the streets of the Ply
tie town, and since the great fight al sal,
tiago there are pictures of the admHh
and his ships in every home, although Wv
admiral himself has not visited PalmS'
since the battle.
An old friend of his, who saw MIN -
Gently in New York, said: we all i7a
much worried for his health. he ns'
grown ten years older in the last year'~
looks gray and worn and We hope that y.
government win send him back for rs'
among his friends"
And that is how the town of Palniy'
knows its greatest son and honors Nun
Ray S. Baker.