The Washington herald., 1910-08-14

funeral train by Senators and Repre-
sentatives.
Another of my fathers friends was
Roscoe Conkling. our families visiting
back ana forth. and being his guest
when went TO Utica on business or
politics. He was imperious and dicta-
torial. but we never saw that side Of
his character. However, the people knew
he was an honest man. and that many
conspicuous persons at the time were not
above reprcaeh with respect to accept
ing favors for their influence or their
votes We were aware that Conkling
disapproved of his prospective sOn-in-law.
an excellent young man. OF good family
and sound education. and now a banker
in New York. and gossip had II that
Conkling complained because his daugh-
ter and not himself had been addressed
IN the first place. Mrs. Conkling looked
with favor on the match
oh. yes Conkling woulI say, he
seems to be an industrious young Eel
low. A railroad man, l believe; perhaps
a brakeman, or something like that
Did your grandfather. Nicholas Fish.
who fought in the battles OF Saratoga.
Monmouth, and Yorktown, and was
Lieutenant colonel hand down any recol-
leotions OF George Washington" / asked.
Named for Alexander Hamilton.
Unfortunately he did not. Nor did he
leave much personal information about
Alexander Hamilton. his most intimate
friend. and whose estate he settled after
the duel with Aaron Burr. Nicholas Fish
was forty-eight years old when my father
was born. He called his son Hamilton.
In honor Of his dead friend. and the name
has been perpetuated in the family ever
since. His wife. when he married late
in life, was Elizabeth Stuyvesant. daugh-
ter Of Peter Gerard Stuyvesant. a lawyer
and a rich landowner in the CITY OF New
York, and from whom my father inner
tied large holdings Of real estate in what
was afterward known as the Bowery.''
Were all Of the men IN the Fish fam
ily as tall as you are?" I asked.
All whom l have seen were more than
six feet in height Our large stature. 7
think, began with Elizabeth sackett. the
wife Of Jonathan Fish. and my great
grandmother. She is described as being
OF heroic mold and was SO outspoken
and patriotic that she was feared and
disliked by the Tories. who were then
SO numerous in New York. The Fishes
came 70 Long Island from Massachusetts.
ana for three generations were farmers.
Jonathan. my great-grandfather. became
merchant I'm New York. His son Nicho-
las the friend OF Alexander Hamilton.
was student at Princeton when he en-
listed IN the Revolutionary army
Both Families Tall.
My mother was Julia Kean. a descend
ent Of John Kean. Of South Carolina.
who fought in the Revolution. was cap
tured. and put aboard a prison ship.
While Delegate in Congress. he voted
against the extension Of slavery 10 the
Northwest territory. which is now the
States of Ohio. Indiana. Illinois. Mich
igan, Wisconsin. and Minnesota After
ward he was cashier Of the United States
Bank in Philadelphia John Kean. one
Of the present Senators from New Jer-
sey, is a member Of the same family.
All the Keans were tall men, and so the
Fishes got their stature from two dlrec-
uons. 7 have FIVE sisters and two broth
ers, and there are five children IN my
own family"
How long have You known Theodore
Roosevelt
Ever since he was a boy He was a
good student and an earnest and indus
trious young man. but no one ever sup
posed that he was destined 10 become the
most popular and the greatest public
character in the world. 7 believe in his
policies, and helped him all I could when
he was governor OF New York and was
a member Of the legislature an honor I
held for eleven years. He watched the
officeholders and prevented scandals.
Grating began when he left Albany TO
be Vice President Of the United States.
and continued until it was exposed by
Charles E. Hughes. who comes 10 the
Supreme Court to the immense cost OF
New York.
Yes. Theodore Roosevelt IS the great
est man on earth. A foreign ambassador
told me that he talked with Emperor
William about Col Roosevelts recent
visit TO Germany. The Emperor said he
anticipated it with the highest pleasure
and interest.
But, the ambassador asked. who
will do the talking
He will. the Emperor answered
quickly I shall listen and hardly say a
word"
Copyright. 1910. by James p. Morrow
CAFE ANGLAIS CLOSES.