The National tribune., 1901-07-11

father. Sir Walter Scott, Bart, at his
| home In Abbotsford. Here his child
hoods fancy was impressed by his host 8
collection Of antiques. Pleased with the
| child's appreciation, the poet advised him
to commence a collection from his own
country, as soon as be returned home.
! The collection at Indian Hill" Is the re-
suit of this advice.
I will mention a few OF the most inter-
esting:
The porch and panels Of one door came
from the Old Province House. in Boston.
The panels of another door came from the
home of John Hancock. Upon the wall
is a drum that was used to beat the
troops of West Newbury at the battle OF
Bunker Hill. A rack of notable canes
are in the hall, one OF which was gift
| OF President Lincoln to Chas. Sumner,
who in turn presented 1t to his friend.
| The head represents an eagle, underneath
are the eaglets in a nest, who are threat
ened by a serpent below. The mother to
! protect her young wraps the flag around
them. The eaglets are the North. the
serpent the South.
The kitchen utensils. which ill one
room are complete-the kettle and the
| tin kitchen looking on while the warm
| ing-pan hObnobs with the gridiron. Here
| Is found a set OF Alexander Hamilton S
knives and forks.
In room above is the printing press
| used by Franklin. Four chairs are here,
the property of our first President, and a
plate from the official set of china pro-
viGed for each Administration hangs in an
arch over one of the nantes. The desk
over which John Quincy Adams fell when
he died is among these relics. Scattered
through the numerous rooms are valuable
relics too numerous to mention.
The collection Of Indian relics is most
complete. Many of these antiques since
Maj. Poore's death have passed into other
hands.
The Major was a great farmer, his
herd of white cattle attracting much at
tentou.
On the brow of the hill is seen grove
of trees for which he received the first
prize in Essex County. Some of these
are named for personal friends, such as
VIM. d. Northend, Caleb Gushing,
Charles Sumner.
Mai. Poore was one of the ablest
writers of his day. He was connected
with the Boston Journal as Washington
correspondent for 80 years, and so accu-
rate was his work during the war of the
rebellion that anything written under the
nom de-plume, Essex North" was con-
sidered as official, and so concise were
his statements that, restricted to 30
words by wire, he could send all needed.
He was rapid and voluminous writer,
as his many works testify. He was thor
oughly cogniZant with the manners and
customs of the people in every land, for
he had sailed along the shores of Africa,
ascended the Nile, penetrated to the
depths of the Dark Continent, visited the
Holy Land, while with every State in the
Union he was perfectly familiar. So
great was his insight and so diverse his
knowledge that, occupying positions of
trust in Washington, his services were
so indispensable that no change in Ad-
ministration affected him in the least.
He was a genial man, learned scholar,
a trusty friend, and an able soldier. As
story teller he was unexcelled. He had
an innumerable fund of anecdotes concern
ing noted men Hud women. He had taken
by the hand il Of the Presidents of the
United States Charles Sumner was his
dearest and lifelong friend. The First
Rife Battalion was organized by him, and
when Fort Sumter was assailed he was
the first to tender troops-the nucleus of
the 10Th Regiment Elected Major Of the
Sth, he refused, although offered the COM
mission of Colonel.
His arduous work during the Winter
months demanded rest In Summer. These
months were happily spent at his ances-
tral home, surrounded by his friends.
June IL, 1S19 he married Virginia Dodge,
of Georgetown, d. O. One daughter.
Alice, blessed this union. She married
Frederick s. Mosely, Of Newburyport,
and died in 1882. leaving one son, the
present owner of Indian Hill.
Mai Poore passed away May %, 1S99,
at the Ebbitt House, Washington, d: G.