The Washington herald., 1914-08-31
HISTORY BUILDERS
"a Unique Experience Of Gov. Seward.
by DIR. Il. 5. EDWARDS.

4
ny DIR. K. 5. EDWARDS.
Gov. Seward once told me-" said Thur.
low Weed to me on one occasion. thai
not the least interesting and certainly
not the least gratifying OF all his expert
ences was one which he met with upon
his return from the tour around the world
II should like to have gone with Gov.
Seward upon that excursion around the
world" Mr.. Weed continued. He was a
delightful travelling companion and very
! observant OF details which most persons
would take no heed OF. ]. however, would
have been a pooI travelling companion foI
him at that time. for my eyesight was
falling rapidly. while Gov. Seward could
see about as well when he was seventy
as when he was forty.
You may remember that after his eight
years Of service as Secretary OF State
Seward thought he was entitled TO con-
siderable vacation. His family and
friends, I among them. persuaded him 10
take a trip around the world We told
him that his name was a familiar one in
all the capitals OF the world and that he
would be received with great courtesy.
We'll. he decided to make the excur-
sion and to travel constantly west unth
he had gone completely around the globe.
He came back from England by the
steamer Java, which used to be called
the Jumping Java because she rolled
and pitched so. Gov. Seward knew that,
but didn't mind II. for he was well
acquainted with he- captain, and. be-
sides. he was a very good sailor. which I
am sorry to say I am not.
Where do you suppose he landed on
this side? A steamboat was chartered by
~ N.-EA Il. a.
ties really gave him the freedom Of the
port. They passed his luggage without
examination and he was not subjected TO
quarantine regulations. The steamboat
did not stop until the pier at Verplanck's 8
Point was reached. There Fred Seward,
the governors son. was residing. All the
people rushed down TO the pier and were
wildly enthusiastic. The town was not
only to have a visit from Gov. Seward
but somebody started the report-which
was true-that II was the first time since
Hendrix Hudson anchored his little ship.
the Half Moon. OF Verplancks Point
without having stopped at Manhattan
Island. that any one had been brought
directly from Europe to the little settle
ment
After the governor had visited a day
or two with his son, Commodore Wander
bits private car was switched upon a
siding at Verplanck's and then the gov
ernor was informed that Commodore
Vanderbilt would feel honored II Gov
Seward and his party would become his
guests upon that car. and that he might
specify any train he desired to have his
car attached to. In that way he would be
taken to his home in Auburn.
Commodore Vanderbilt was in the
habit OF doing acts OF courtesy and kind
ness Of which the public had no knowl-
edge and this was one Of them. Gov
Seward told me afterward that notwith-
standing all the courtesies and the enter
tainments which were rendered him as he
Travelled around the world. this unique ex-
perience at VerplanCks which IL about
forty miles north OF New York City.
would always claim a prominent place in
his memory"
tCopyrEht. 1914. by 2 J. Edwards All rights ~