Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
IN cANANDA1GUA's PRAISE.
Some Famous Men Have Come From
the Beautiful New York Town.

Some Famous Men Have Come From
the Beautiful New York Town.
1--WE think in Canandaigua that we have
the handsomest town Of its size in the
world" said Mr.. Robert McKecknie at the
Shoreham. 1.-THE population is about 6.O0C
inhabitants. and of late years the town
has become a popular summer resort on &C.
count Of the beautiful lake of the same
name which borders the southern end OF
the village. The lake is about twelve miles
long and two miles in width, and is fianked
by high hills, which are richly covered
with vegetation In the spring and sum-
mer months. The lake is fed by springs
and its waters are stocked with the most
delicious game fish that ever nibbled at a
bait. Beautiful villas adorn the shores
of the lake from mouth to head, and the
scenery along the shores Is really grand
and inspiring.
Added to the attractions Of the lake
are the handsome and costly residences OF
the Inhabitants Of the village and the broad
and well shaded streets For many years
Canandaigua was noted for the number OF
its distinguished men. Here resided the
Changers, Francis and Gideon, each of
whom served as Postmaster General, and
John G. Spencer, at one time Secretary OF
War and Secretary of the Treasury. A
few Of the older inhabitants remain who
remember his son. the midshipman who
mutiny many years ago.
Among the distinguished men who at
tended the seminary of the town when a
boy was Stephen A. Douglas. Although a
native OF Vermont Mr.. Douglas grew to
early manhood a few miles east Of Canaan
daigua. In his campaign for the presi-
dency against Mr.. Lincoln in 1860 he visited
his mother Mrs. Granger, who lived on
a farm midway between Canandaigua and
Clifton Springs. Mr.. Douglas was billed
n
the thousands who went to hear him. I
wildly recall to mind how he looked-a
man with an abnormally large head, tre-
mendous chest, extremely long from his
hips up, and legs out Of all proportion to
his trunk-they were SO short.
Probably 10000 persons were on the
grounds to hear him when he drove up in
a landau behind four white horses, and
carriage dashed up. l stood on the outer
edge of the crowd for fear of being crushed
when he began to speak, and could dis
tinctiy hear every word he uttered 1t
will be recalled by men who lived in that
period that when Mr.. Douglas left Wash
ington it was with the avowal that he
was going to western New York to see
his mother. Instead, he began his speak
ing campaign in his native state, and grad
ually worked his way westward. The
partisan press was continually asking while
en- route as to whether he lad vet found
his mother. I so distinctly remember the
opening sentence Of his speech hat I can
repeat 1t verbatim after a ,ap5a Ct over
forty years. This is what ne sail in his
opening remarks: Fellow citizens, ladies
and gentlemen: I am happy to announce
that I have at last found my mother. The
old lady, God bless her. is in good health
and nowise annoyed by the ,.sunts and
chickering's of a partisan press. I only re-
gret that my old friend, Mr.. Lincoln dare
not visit the home Of his mother in cid
Kentucky, nor the graves of his ances-
tors in old Virginia; and I submit to you,
my fellow citizens, whether there must not
be something wrong in that political cree d
that cannot be safely avowed wherever
the American flag floats over, American
SOIL
Douglas mother survived him quite a
number of years, and her remains rest in
the family burial ground near the farm on
which she died"