The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-07
Kansas Man Goes to Kansas City
and "Wakes Up"
Saw His First Street Car and
ssTOOk" First Elevator.
RAISED is CHILDREN.
Henry Bates of Phillips County
Glad He's Living. sss
Knew of the Telephone Only by
Reading the Papers.

Kansas City. Sept. IL have been
dead for thirty years, but dlon't
know it till 1 came to town. Hou can
take my name if you like. It's Henry
Harrison Bates With these words
Mr.. Bates introduced himself to a re-
porter. He was as brown as ma
hogany. His voice was husky. His
eyes were bright with excitement
81 have never seen an electric car
before. have never seen an elevator
until this morning. The telephone is a
thing 1 know of only by reading. And
yet I was born in Albion, Oswego
county. N. Y, and fought through the
civil war. That surprises you, don't
It ?" He unwound a big black hand
kerchief from his neck and put his
lips close to his neighbor's ear.
And here's something more, ne
whispered. ST saved General Grant 5
life once. Yes, sir, 1 did. 1t was at
Memphis, Tenn, when Longstreet was
after Grants base. Lieutenant Moses
Jerome was marshal for the day. We
when a man started running across
our front. Cut that damned fool
down yelled Jerome. But l was
dressing the front line and called
Haiti And at the same time Lieu
tenant Galen E. Green exclaimed,
Good God, that's General Grant But
Grant said nothing. He had slipped
away on his business. He was reor-
ganizing the army in those days and
many of us did not know him. But 1
was a private in the Seventh Wiscon-
sin light artillery and 1 saved his life.
You wouldn't think it to look at me,
would you?" He removed his hat and
stuffed the black handkerchief inside
the crown.
Saved Grants life," he whispered
again. THAT surprises you, don't it?''
He lifted an admonitory finger.
"I knew Lincoln, too, and Douglas,
and another great patriot. But III
tell you about him later. 1 heard
Lincoln and Douglas debate in Dodge
county, Wisconsin. There was a bar
becue with two oxen, and folks just
went and cut a steak when they
pleased. Douglas was a much finer
speaker than Lincoln Lincoln looked
like an old-fashioned saint He was
what you would call a natural speak
er. And he seemed to anoint the
people with his long, waving finger"
He stopped for a moment to watch
an automobile rafting past.
ct have seen many battles and
known great men-there were giants
in those days, tell you-and haven't
been to Kansas City since 1874. Never
seen an electric car or an elevator till
yesterday That surprises you, don't
it" He ruminated on the novelty of
pleasure.
yes, sir; went down to Phillips
county, Kansas, thirty years ago and
just lived there ever since. Did my
duty to my country, though he
chuckled; reared sixteen children
me and my missus between us-and
twelve OF them are alive and prosper
Gus. But I died down there. Died
sir. And I didn't know it till I got tc
Kansas City. Don't think though thai
I remained ignorant. No, sir. I read
Shakespeare. And I'm no Universal
list. but I believe that Jesus Christ and
Mahomet and Confucius were all gooC
and holy men," He rewound the
scarf about his neck and replaced his
hat.
"You must do something for John
Brown, though he stipulated. HE
was the leaven that 1eavened the
whole lump. You do him JUSTICE
He got up and shook hands with q
hearty, muscular grip.
I'm going to spend so cents riding
in street cars. I just sit back and
smile in them. It's fine, I tell you
And 1 was born in 1910, fought under
Grant and never saw one before. Thai
surprises you, don't it,"