The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-05


A NOTABLE FIGURE.
Among the interesting characters OF
the country there Is hardly to be found
one more SO than General Daniel II.
Rucker. who recently In washington
celebrated his ninety-seventh birthday.
He was the father-in-iaw of General
Phil Sheridan. and was military man
OF long and varied experience. Cen
erai Rucker." The Boston Traveller
says, was fighting Indians in chero-
kee land before the Mexican war broke
out; he served as an aide to General
Taylor at Buena Vista, and helped to
keep order among the California min
ers In '4s. He went through the civil
war and later saw service scouting
Indians all over the Western plains.
General Rucker was baby in
arms when Mcdonald was 1ghting on
Lake champlain and Perry on Lake
Erie. When he was born slavery was
accepted as an obedience to Gods law.
Education was limited to the upper
classes. The methods of production
were advanced but little from the time
of the Middle Ages. During this one
mans span Of life some of the most
interesting developments In the worlds
history have taken place. and in way
he has had a part In the stirring adj
ventures which helped to bring about
these changes. We hope that Gem
erai Rucker will live to pass his hun
dredth anniversary"
To a man born at the beginning OF
the last century; man of observant
mind and strong character. 1t must be
wonderfully interesting to look back
over the events and changes OF al
most century. It was century
which never had its like in the his
tory Of the world. II we Judge by the
changes ana progress made during
that period. II he was like most boys
his memory Of what was being done
ana Of what was taking place goes
back ninety years or more. for a
bright boy who develops into strong
man IL close observer at six or seven
years. and In his old age he will WV
idly remember much that was pass
Ing when. he was but a child
II must be interesting to the old
general to look backward and take
mental notes Of some OF the wonder
full changes the world has seen since
he began to take notice. He has seen
the beginning and rapid progress in
steam navigation. in railroads. In cleo
trical power. in. telegraph and tele-
phone service. to say nothing Of the
almost innumerabIe inventions and ap-
pliances which are now regarded as
a matter Of course. and which are so
common that we wonder how the
world got along without them.
General. Rucker was boy of nve
years DC age when the frst steamboat
was successfully nayigated. which
opened the way for the worldwide
use Of steam in propelling vessels.
The voyage up the Hudson OF Fulton's
little steamer, the Ciermont. was the
key which opened the way for the
great steamers that are now such an
important part Of the worlds system
Of travel ana frame. He was a grown
young man. when the nrst railroad
I-1laa szah- ~ - 81 sa &
WaRS pats fnsvopeEahson Esu the United
States ana which was the beginning
of the immense railway system which
covers our country like huge net
work. He was a man Of mature age
when the first successful telegraph
line was put in operation by Professor
Morse. who thus started movement
which extends all over the civilized
world. and which IS now one of the
indispensables Of human existence. He
was really old man when electricity
began to be used as motive power
without which we would now find it
difficuIt to carry on business.
And so we might go on and itemize
the many wonderful changes that have
taken place in our own land, indus
trially. scientifically. politically and
socially, while this aged citizen has
been among us. and in much Of which
he has been a prominent actor. He
could write a wonderfully interesting
book about what has been done since
he became old enough to notice pass
ing events. There are but few in his
class.
rEFurv ann nnerv NEE