The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-07

that man is aroused to thought or action
only by ease, pleasure, or recompense-
Something higher. nobler. more impera-
tive, impels the impulses of Soul
1t becomes my duty to be just to the
departed and to tread not ruthlessly on
their ashes. The attack me and my
late father and his family in Mcclure s
Magazine, January, 1907, compels me as
q dutifuI child and the Leader of Chris
tian Science to speak.
McClure's Magazine refers to my faith
er's tail, gaunt Frame and pictures
the old man tramping doggedly along
the highway regularly beating the ground
with huge walking stick
My fathers person was erect and ro-
bust He never used a walking stick. To
illustrate: One time when my father was
visiting Governor Pierce. President
Franklin Pierce's father, the Governor
handed my father a goid-headed walking
stick as they were about to start for
church. My father thanked the Cover
nor, but declined to accept the stick, say
ing, Il never use 4 cane
Although McCIure's Magazine attributes
10 my father language unseemly, his
household law, constantly enforced, was
no profaity and slang phrases Nc
Clure's Magazine also declares that the
Bible was the only book in his house On
the contrary, my father was a great
reader.
The man, whom McClure's Maya zine
characterizes as ignorant. dominating
passionate, fearless was uniformly dig
nified-a weI-informed, intellectual man.
cultivated in mind and manners. He was
called upon to do much business for his
town, making out deeds, settling quar-
Tels, and even acting counsel in a law
suit involving question of pauperism
between the towns of Loudon and Bow
N H Franklin Pierce, afterward Presi-
dent of the United States, was the coun-
sci for Loudon and Mark Baker for Bow
Both entered their pleas. and my father
won the suit. After it was decided, Mr.
Pierce bowed to my father and congratu-
lated him. For several years, father was
chaplain of the New Hampshire State
Militia, and as 1 recoIlect it, he was Jus
tice of the Peace at one time. Ny father
was strong believer in States Rights,
but slavery he regarded as a great sin
Mark Baker was the youngest of his
fathers family, and inherited his fathers
real estate, an extensive farm situated in
Bow srd Concord, n. H. 1t is on record
that Mark Bakers father paid the largest
tax in the colony.
R MeGiqres Megazn t gsys describing the
itself was a small, square box structure
of rudimentary architecture" My faith
er's house had a sloping roof after the
prevailing style of architecture at that
date.
McClure's Magazine states Alone of
the Bakers he (Albert) received a liberal
education. Mary Baker passed her
first fifteen wears at the ancestral home
at Bow. It was lonely and unstinu-
lating existence. The church supplied
the only social diversion, the district
Ife.'' - +'0'-'''-'' al the lhteilectuai
Let us what were the fruits of this
lonely and discriminating existence" All
my fathers daughters were given an
academic education, sufficiently advanced
SO that they all taught school acceptably
at various times and places
My brother Albert was a distinguished
lawyer. In addition to my academic
training, I was privately tutored by him
He was member of the New Hampshire
Legislature. and was nominated for Con-
gress but died before the election.
McClure's Magazine calls my youngest
brother, George Sullivan Baker, "a work
man in TiIton wooden MILL AS mat
ter of fact. he was joint partner with
Alexander Tilton, and together they
owned a large manufacturing establish
ment in Tilton, N H. His military title
of Colonel came from appointment on
shire.
Ny oldest brother, Samuel D. Baker,
carried on a large business in Boston
Mass.
Regarding the allegation by McClure's
Magazine that ali the family ';excepting
Albert, died of cancer" 1 viii saw thai
SShere was never death in my fathers
tenn examination as caused by cancer
McClure's Magazine says that 1.-The
quarrels between Mary, a child ten years
of fifty, frequently set f the house housed in man am
%IproaPm and 4, ADDS that these hts" were
mingled with bad temper
Ny mother often presented my dispo
sition as exemplary for her other chill
ever see Mary angry?" When the first
edition of Science and Health was PUB
ton: Read it, for it win do YOU good
II does not, surprise me, it so resembles
will relate the following incident.
which occurred later in life, as ilustra-
tive of my disposition:
While I was living with DIR. Patterson
at his country home in Rumney N II
a girl. totally blind. knocked at the door
lowed to remain with me- and nv ten
derness and sympathy was such that I
ever. my good hOusekeeper said to me:
IF this blind girl stays with YOU.
shall have to leave: she troubles me so
It was not In my heart TO turn the
blind girl out and SO I lost my house
clerks book shows that I Joined the TIL
ton CONGREGATIONAL Church at the age of
seventeen Is tnag my religious expert
ence seemed to eliminate at twelve years
of age Hence a mistake may have oc-
CURED to the exact date of my first
church membership.
The facts regarding the Mcneil coat
of-arms are follows:
Fanny Mcneil. President Pierce's niece.
afterward Mrs. Judge Potter, prescribed
to me my coat-of-arms. saying that it
was taken In connection with her own
family coat-of-a arms. I never doubted
the veracity of her gift. have another
coat-of-arms, which is of my mothers
ancestry: When was last in Washing
ton ID c, Mrs Rntfnr ,r,r-.Sis