The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-13

with one hand, and wiping the lather from his lips with the other.
 "WiIl you tell me about your bOyhOOd recOllecti0ns of New York, general, and some of the celebrities you knew?" I asked.
 "G00d!" he replied. "YOu're the first interviewer who hasn't asked me to tell about the battle of Gettysburg-and how I lost my leg. I'm tired of talking about 1t, and I'm sure the public Is tired of hearing about 1t. But I'll be glad to recall early days in New York So you go ahead and ask me questions, and I'll shave little and answer a little--and we won't be in any hurry"
 My first question was about his remembrance of soldiers of the Revolution.
 70 yes," said he, forgetting his shaving, T was dandled on their knees when I was youngster, Just as you were on the knees of Sol- diers of the Civil war; and we were taught to be very respectful to them, and to all who had any part in the struggle for Independ- ence.
 "One of my very earliest recol- lections, is of 6 certain carriage that used to pass through the streets carrying a dignlfled little lady dressed in black-and we boys were taught to lift our caps whenever that carriage passed by, because the lady sitting in the back seat was the widow of Alex ander Hamilton.
 "YOu see," he went on, "at that time New York was small city, and even the children could know or know about almost everybody In town"
 asked him if he ever saw Aaron Burr, and he answered that he never saw him, but heard him mentioned as 9 person living and detested.
 "My memory goes back" he ex- plained, "tO the middle twenties, and presidents and governors and the leaders of the nation then, were the men or the sons of the men who had part in establishing 1t.
 q was born before the arst rall- road was built, and I have special reason for remembering the be- ginning of the telegraph, because I knew Morse, the inventor, very well. I studied law In the building where he had n studio for portrait painting. Adjoining his studio was a room of mystery, with the door always carefully closed.
 "Mr. Morse was 2 very kindly man, and we young law students were his friends and champions against the slurs of many of the people who thought he was crazy or practicing the black art In that mysterious room, where we occa- siOnally got 8 peek and caught glimpseS of wires and jars and other queer things.
 "Mr. Morse was very poor in those days when he was strug- gling to support himself and carry on his experiments, by painting peoples portraits. He dressed pret- ty shabbily and was tOrmented by bill collectors; but it Is gratifying for me now to remember the lOy- alty of our crowd of boys to him at that time. We felt that some- thing big was going on, though we :. didn't know exactly what 1t was, and that whatever MT. Morse did was all right. And when after 8 prolonged absence from his studio word came from Washington that congress had voted to back up his invention of the telegraph by constructing trial line be- tween the capital and Baltimore, we boys were very proud and pleased, tell you"
 About this time," continued the general, q was admitted to the bar-Opened an office, and expect antly waited for clients. The first one to come in was a pOmpOus old merchant of the city, who knew my father, who also was a mer- chant. He looked me over critical ly and said, Young man, I'm going to see what kind of a lawyer you're going to make. Here are some bills that I want collected. l want you to chase these people, and sue 'em, and give lem no peace till they pay And he slapped down bundle of bills on my desk. The top one was against MT. Morse.
 Tt was bad jolt to have to offend my first client-But I didn't hesitate, I'm glad to re- member. T couldn't dun or bring suit against Mir. MOrse,' said, why, he's the inventor of the tel- egraph.'
 CT don't care what he's the in- ventOr Of-He owes me, and I want my money he declared in a fury
 "'it would be a shame to bother him now, before he has got any money from his inVentlon,' I said, but he will be rich and famous soon, and he will pay you and everybody else he owes without anybody dunning him."
 "The old fellow was too mad so express himself in words, but he grabbed his bills and bounced out.--And when ! saw my father at supper that night, he looked vrry pleased about something. Dan. ! heard about you on th' street this afternoon. MF. -