The times., 1901-04-28
SHE KNEW LAFAYETTE
Mrs. Beebe Once Breakfasted With
the Great Frenchman.
She Was Also n Passenger on the
First Steamboat, and Morse Was
Her Nefghbor-Used whale oil
Before the Candle Was Invented.

To have seen and spoken 10 the IA
nous French soldier. and TO be strong
enough, physically and mentally. to enjoy
telling all about il, is the happy fortune
of Mrs Helen a. Beebe. Of Detroit. In
talking over the "reminiscences Of her
long ago youth TO the Free Press Mrs.
Beebe said, among other interesting
things:
Beginning with the third President Of
the United States. can recollect most Of
the circumstances of their lives and
deaths I have lived TO see ell the great
inventions that have been accomplished in
the last century. The first steamboat In
vented carried me as a passenger several
times up and down the Hudson. l can re-
member the first steam engine which ran
from Schenectady to Albany. 1t looked to
me like some strange denizen of the bot
tOmless pit. as it came snorting and blow
ing with its bright eye Of light brighten
ing up the landscape a long way ahead
Morse, of telegraph fame. was near
neighbor of ours; the telephone has been
invented and many other wonderful things
have been accomplished since was born
/ could show you many trlnkets Whlcn
were given to me when l was girl,
among which Is a bead purse that was
knit by my aunt before i was born and
presented to me when l was SIX years Old
When but fourteen years or age AZ
tended a breakfast given by Mr. Ten
brock Never, of POughkeepsie. 90 Cen
eral Lafayette on his second Visit 70 this
country in 1924. During the breakfast an
old soldier tried to gain admittance put
the guards at the door would not let nm.
With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed:
For Gods sake, let me see once more ny
old general Lafayette, who heard MIN,
arose and said, Let him in! Let MN IN
And as the old man came into the room
they threw their arms about each otner
and sinking upon their knees, thanked
God that their lives had been spared TO
see each other once more L do not thlhh
there was a dry eye in the room durlhS
this affecting scene.
Il remember when we did not nave
matches The flint and steel were en-
ploved and we used TO keep light Dy
striking a light, we would place II on the
fire and pushing the cover nearly uSnt.
let il smOlder. In those days, TOO. a
stove was a great rarity. The nrepiace
filed the whole of one side or the rooIn.
and the men folks used to bring IN the
big cordwoOd and chuck it into the CRATE
And when Christmas time came, the tur-
key was hung from hooks IN the ceiiing
over huge dripping pan and IN thaC
wav was roasted as 1t turned; ana we
,1sed 70 bake our shOrtcakeS and Johnny
cakes in hot spiders before the hrepiace-
Il remember when we had nothing put
drip candles for lighting, and after tnal we
used whale OF, and then we would ught %
nine knot and place it in the chimney
nights so we could read by the HSht.
Some of the most popular readlng matter
consisted Of the old English Reader,
SamDson's s Brief Remarker, and Pilgrim
Prneress of which l have still copy that
was given me when but child.
81 Tecollect most Of the Indian wars. tne
impression of our seamen by the BRUSH,
and l have lived in the reigns OF oir Iour
III. George ", William ~, Victoria, and
Edward VII