The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
PHILARHOUR' OLD Home
Incidents of His Youth as Told by
the Country Folk.
A Little Village Where Man With
n Small Sum In Hank Might Put
millionaire in His BoybOod Days.
Possessed of II Generous Nature.

Syracuse, y. Y.-'There that's it" The
driver refined up his horse at a point
where the well travelled highway stopped
short, as if it had been cut off with a blow
of cleaver.
Where? Wbfch?" asked his fare. puz-
zled.
Why, Stockbridge, the driver replied
place where Phil Armour used to live
when he was a boy and all that Meetin'
house where his ma used to go to church
"a sweep of the drivers arm to the right
called attention to a modest spire rising
gracefully beneath the hill-''hotel where
his pa used to git drink when he was
thirsty. leastways where he could a go;
drink if he'd wanted to. for it's be'n
there long enough, and the left arm de-
scribed an arc that included a rambling
old structure which one would not have
TO look at twice to recognize as turn
pike inn OF olden times, while the mod
ern lager beer sign showed that hospi-
tally was still dispensed at the old stand
And that was Stcckbridgel No wonder
youth like Phil Armour left it as early as
he could. There was little opportunity in
place like that to become a millionaire
Why, man with $500 in the bank might
set himself up for rich in stockbridge
Arriving at the little hamlet after the
drive OF eight or ten miles from Oneida
village by way of the west road. one may
easily believe that he has come to the
jumping of place and that beyond is
chaos.
1t was on the day OF Philip d. Armour's
-
Stockbridge. To many of the inhabitants
he carried the first news of Mr.. Armour's
death.
Il suppose" said one when the name of
Armour was mentioned. that he's maxim
consid'able money out o. that butcherin'
business.
He must be Independent wealthy by
time time. l know'd him when he wore
cowhide boots an yarn mitt'ns an didn't
have cent more money'n he'd conven-
iently spend. Dead, Ye don't say. Well,
well, we'll! At any rate, Phil never for
got the old place, did he Jared?"
And Jared, moved to "reminiscences told
how Phil Armour was one O. the most
magnanimous men, an come o. one o.
the most magnanimous families, take EN-
as a hull, that he was ever acquainted
with or had the good fortin to meet Why,
he gin S500"-and then followed a list
4
curate, of Mr.. Armour's generous chart
ties, but certainly enough to prove to
Jared's mind the former Stockbrdge boys
"nlagnaminity."
At the Hotel De Van Loon-the de-
having been supplied by a waggish sign
painter on the strength of the proprie-
tors initial ID" for David-there was a
gathering that afternoon OF old grey
bearded men who knew Phil Armour be-
fore he left for the gold diggings away
back in the time of the forty miners"
Know Phil Armour" said Landlord
Van Loon with an air of importance and
both thumbs in the armholes of his
waisteoat, IF you want to find a man
that know'd Phil Armour you don't need
TO go no further You're looking at one
now. Yes. sir, this is me. an / know'd
the Armours like my own brothers,"
II turned out. however that Mr.. Van
Looms acquain lance was chiefly with Phil
ip's brother Herman. or "Pernie." as he
was nicknamed in the provincial dialect.
and he soon had to yield the floor 10 the
man who shook hands with Phil Armour
before he went away to the gold diggings
and shook hands with him again when he
came back home. but he still lowered on
the edge of the company. prompt with sug-
gestiOns. And. speaking of the local dia-
lect. it is something not to be accounted
for. Watson Armour. Philips brother. is
called '-Wadson.'' or "Wad' for short. and
his father Danforth Armour, "Dandford.
This may be a relic Of the early Dutch.
but why should Dutchman call Herman
"Pernie2"
Philip Armour and his brothers and sis
ters. Simeon. Watson. Charles. Joseph.
Herman. Maryette and Maria. diti not go
to school at Stockbridge Village, but at
tended the district school at Valley Mills, |
in Stockbridge township, so named when |
the railroad was put through They were |
not unusual children. though I'll were |
bright and studious. trait which Gran'pa |
Oliver Newcomb saws they got from their |
mother. remarkably bright, intelligent |
she knew how to get Mis- Armour !
did said he. AN old Danford knew how |
10 keep. An she brought up them bows |
an girls to be a credit to herself an to /
the community. And in the church she
was regular politician She could swing
the female side of that Methodist meeting
house any way she wanted to- But she
wasn't so sot as old Danford
Zone time Danford began lawin' il with
one of his neighbors about a line fence
Well 1T dragged along quite a while be-
fore il was fixed up, but when it Was set
tied finally IL was settled old Danf0rds |
way. An l reckon that there's the secret |
of the Armour boys success
Philip Armour is described by the gray
headed men who used TO go to school with
him as being q frank, manly boy, ready :
for a frolic or ''rassel.' not maliciOusly
and, like his brothers and