THE STORY OF MY LIFE
by
REV. ROBERT NEWTON STUBBS

January 19, 1840 - November 17, 1929

Transcribed by Mary Lewis, greatgrandaughter
FORWARD

Pasadena March 4th, 1924

I have no desire to inflict my story on my children or on the public. When the world is well nigh cursed with worthless Biographies it would only be heaping another load on the rubbish pile to be dumped into some great sea of oblivion.

Every life contributes its worth into the day and age in which is enacted. If good it has added somewhat to human happiness and wealth. If bad it has made rough paths for some unfortunate and befouls somewhat the sea of life.
Call it my amusement, at 84 not having any special study. I can see how things look in memories halls. Where I have made a fool of myself, when I have blundered. I will not be anxious to blot these pages.

I was born January 19, 1840, Sunday morning in a log house, Unfortunately the log house did not send me to the white house, nor the Bishopric, I escaped those fatalities. My lot was to be with the common people as Lincoln said.

My parents were Thomas and Mary Stubbs , who gave me no wealth of gold, but the best inheritance that falls to lot of mortals. 1st Good name, 2nd Healthy physical constitution, that has enabled me to battle the storms of 84 winters.
My father was one of the ablest ministers of the Erie Conference for 50 years and passed away triumphantly at the age of 82 in the City of Cleveland, Ohio.
My mother endured the hardships of a minister's life for the half century then later entered the Courts of Glory, age 87.
We remained in Poland till I was between 5 and 6 years of age.

I recall that once when father and mother had gone as we supposed for a long time, John, the eldest, and , myself and Jabes sugared off. While we were in the midst of the frolic father and mother unexpectedly returned. Consternation seized us, and such a scattering. I can not recall that any punishment was visited on us.
One day father came home and nothing would do, but I must ride Bonny to the barn. So I was placed astraddle of gentle Bonny and started for the barn. She has no respect for the burden she bore, but entering the door brushed me off behind.

I recall going down to the Lutheran school house 2 miles. The seats were arranged round the room - 3 sides- the little tots sitting in front of the big boys and girls. Mischief belongs to childhood.

How the rogues use to be called on to the floor. Toe the mark, stooping over, fingers on some mark, arm extended holding a book. When the teachers back was turned the rogues would try some means to play sharp and soften the punishment.

In after years I found this teacher, a Methodist Minister, Hurlburt, living in Painesville, Ohio, but resting on account of his health.

It was while living in the log house that my half brother Joseph died of Typhoria fever. He had taught school in St. Louis the previous winter and came home to take his sister back to assist him in teaching. He passed away the day he was to have gone back to St. Louis. Before he died he saw his own funeral possesion as it really occured.

At this time our family consisted of Jane, half sister, John, James, myself and Jabez. All have passed away, none of them living under 70 years except for Jane who was 56.

For one year we lived in Rootstown, Ohio. Nothing but a vague remeberance to me of that place.

When I was 6 years of age we moved to Erie, PA, where father was a minister 2 years.

There I learned to swim and that was one of my boyish sports for many years.

My school experience leaves an unsavort taste in my mouth. Mother Cooper use to spank her infracted youngsters. The man in the next school used a little Rattan cane over my head and I guess whacked the multiplication table into my noddle.

One day some of us boys ran away and went swimming in the canal. Before we were thro we discovered father coming swinging his cane.
There was a hustling and pulling on wet shirts and a lively scramble to get away from the cane. No one was hurt. The cane was camouflage.

On day JB fell and broke his arm and together we went to the dr and I was scared half out of my wits. To go to the dr was like the Trump of doom.

One Sunday I stole up stairs on gallery and stretched out on a seat. There was no one in the gallery

I was invited to take a walk and mother found a new place to fit her slipper. It fit well and I guess I never gave occasion to try it on again.

It was in Erie I tasted Ice Cream. It was this way. The good people made father a donation. They were to serve Ice cream, but it was too precious to give the youngsters, so they called us all into the wood shed. We stood in a semi circle. Some woman took a big spoon and filled it with the delectable cream and gave each a spoonfull. One little urchin slipped out of line and dodged down the row and had his second taste. All of us grinned at the artiface and the lady was none the wiser.

Ice cream tastes good to this day. It was here I first saw an orange. It was a thing so costly that one served for ornament or the sick rooms.

It was here too I had my first experience playing merchant.

Plums were ripe and we used to fill 2 quart pails and go to the dock and meet the boats and sell our plums to the passengers, who as I now think, always had the best of the bargain.

Here too for the first time, I saw telegraph wires. They were in coils on drays, and men were putting the wires on poles. What strange stories were passed about among the boys. Why you could send letters even big boxes along those wires. No tongue of yours will ever disclose the secrets of those humming wires.

Business of the world has been flashed joy and sorrow - secrets that wrought ruin and success have for many many years been going silently in all nations. Now that little blue sign may be said to mark the progress of civilization, in wilderness, on mountains, in valleys. Where man has tried, the wires are singing the song of mans progress.

Father had 2 great years in the city. His revival laid the foundation of the 1st M.E. Church, now on 7th.

From Erie father was sent to cleveland. Part of the family went by boat, on CAPT Williams steamer. JB and I had our first experience on a boat. Mother and James went by carriage.

The church stood on the corner of St. Clair and Wood St.

Putting up stoves and beds were experiences never to be forgotten. What fitting of stove pipes, no wonder it has become a proverb. He that can set up a stove without swearing is a Saint.

The bed tick had to be stuffed with straw obtained somehow and the cords on the bed. I can see my father standing on the cords and stretching till they were tense as iron wires.

Summer vacations were as blissful as heaven ever can be. Boys in love would go down the coast bearing our grub for an all day jolly time.

After Carla Waters dog, spotted white and brown, enjoyed the water better even than we. What times we had. Out to the first bar I swam and found lodgement for my feet and rested, then back to shore.

One time our clothing was laid on some chips, while we were intent on the water fun, the fire we had kindled spread among the chips. But for the spying of one of the boys, we would have gone home as naked as Adam and Eve minus the fig leaves.

Buffeting the waves diving thro them a rare sport. The art of the sandwich islanders we never learned, but our joy just as great.

Our group of boys, Smith boys are the only names I recall, used to have rare times playing follow the leader, over sheds and barns and some houses we race. Defying any leader to out us.

It's a wonder we were not arrested. How patient people often are with sporting kids, often making nuisances of themselves.

Once something serious happened, It was in grape time. Our force was increased by several strangers, but boys welcome all fun makers. We were climbing fences and sheds, some of the boys helped themselves to some of the grapes.

That night we were all in bed a long time it seemed. There a rapping, no gentle tapping like Poes raven, but lusty rousing knocking that woke the whole house. Father answered the door. We could hear the complaint. Your boys were stealing my grapes. At that the inqury came, what about that? James answered, we had not touched a grape and explained that the strange boys were guilty. The man was appeased and we were freed. It was a painful

Old dog Tray had got into bad company. The smell of fire is not easily extinguished.

It was in Cleveland I saw what was then called messmerism. A stones throw from the parsonage lived Dr. Westervelt. He had in his care an invalid young lady, spinal difficulty.

One evening he invited a roomful of his friends. A dull button was put in our hands and we were told to look intently at the medal. No one went to sleep except the young lady.

Soon she was under the drs controll. Dr said, look at the clusters of beautiful grapes. She took up her apron and began plucking the clusters and placing them in her apron.

There, he said, look at the room full of colored people. A look of terror was on her face and she looked for some escape.

Immediately the Dr appeared her fears and changed it to some pleasing subject.

A lock of hair was given her. She crossed the ocean, found a house and described an old man in bed. It might have been grandfather.

Since then messmerism and spiritualism have attracted the attention of the wide world.

It was in Cleveland I saw the first - The Lake Shore - Cincinatti and Pittsburgh roads were building. The engine looked like a great grasshopper. It's big legs moving up and down. It gave way to more modern types, small, wood burning late flaring smoke pipes. One was called Pioneer and was on the Cincinatti line.

Cleveland then was numbered 17000 and there was not much of the city that feet did not tread.

Across the Cuyahoga was Ohio city. Now a city spreading for miles and numbering over 800,000 has risen one of the greatest commercial cities in America.

The Cuyahoga Valley was a great sporting field for us boys. Many a poor frog was captured and many a Chestnut tree on the heights we rattled. What a scattering once when it was sounded the owner was coming.

The old Rockwell St. school was where my ??? began to shoot. Downstairs was

In after years I met one of those boys as Captain on the great lakes.

The teacher upstairs was named Humiston. One day something had gone wrong. He couldn't find the culprit so he lined the whole school around walks and with the ruler he gave every boy and girl a slap or two.

Going to and coming from school I passed a church round as a cylinder, with a cupola rising in the center, just a round. It was a great curiousity. I learned it was built by the Millerites or Advantists. They were expecting the Lords coming and were to meet in the church in white robes and goup into the copula to meet the Lord in the air.

For 2000 years they have been waiting and he does not come in body.Father had great success and it was the beginning of better days for Methodists.

My first ride on the cars was from Cleveland to Ravenna. How wonderful it seemed. Now the old story is forgotten in the strange marvels, miracles of today.

In the autumn we had our first and only experience in chasing squirrels, there never was such a squirming of those beautiful creatures myraids of them. They came from the woods on the fences to get anything to eat in the apple trees or about the house.

How we youngsters use to chase them, club them and more than one dish was served from these edible creatures. As I now think, there were so many killed that fall, that they have never been so plentiful or else the cruel hunters nearly exterminated them.

Indeed I think there are more in the parks than in the forests.

So savage has been the slaughter of all kinds of animals, that now we have to fight the insects and all manner of creatures that prey upon our fruit and cereal. Pests of all kinds we have in abundance.

It was the time when the rage among boys was for bow and arrows.

No nimrod passed me in my boyish imagination. One morning I went across the way where there were stumps and a few trees. Standing by a tree looking up there appeared in the crotch a chipmunk. How full of life, how bright his eyes. His every activity seemed to challenge my presents. I let fly the arrow that brought himquivering at my feet. There I blotted out that innocent happy life. Guilt struck my heart and I never to this day think of that cruel deed but the seering guilt steals over my sole.

Thats what Jesus meant by saying, There was no forgiveness to the sin against the spirit.

While I have ever been a lover of the woods, I have rambled among the old barren ????, in the winter and under the leafy temples in summer. I have never killed any manner of creature that enjoys Gods first temples.

In our second year we lived across the road from Captain Brayton and old sea captain. His daughter was Mrs. Woodbridge who became one of the best known W.C.T.U.[Womens Christian Temperance Union] workers and in after years spent a sabbeth with me preaching in my pulpit.

There were 2 boys, John and Henry, we were great chums and had our boyish fun without end. They are the only boys I recall by name. One girl, ELIZA PRENTIS 4 years my senior, made the first big party I ever attended. It was a big event. We played forfeits and sang Uncle John is very sick and what shall we send him. A piece of pie and a piece of cake and a piece of battle Dumplings. (If he wasnt sick before he surely would call for the dr after such a repast. But even more kind soles try to stuff the sick with such delicacies). In later years she married a soldier and was the mother of several children.

Just a few doors below on the same street lived a quaker. He took the Washington Star that publishes HARRIET BEACHER STOWE, Uncle Toms cabin . After he was thro reading he passed it over to father and he read it out loud to the family. We laughed and cried and LINCOLN never hated slavery then did our own boyish hearts.

Father was uncompromising in his utterances against that crime of all crimes- At times roused the bitter antagonizing of the advocates of that hidious monster. But he was fearless thro all the years of the terrible stuggle that ended in emancipation.

About this time I had the priviledge of seeing Louis Kossuth, who fled from Austria because of his attempt to free his people.

This section of the country was visited by fever and ague and child fever, Mother and father were both taken and father was 6 weeks a victim. Mother had a siege of 12 weeks. In those days where even a death occured the court house bell tolled the sex and age of person. More than once at school I heard that bell and I was almost in terror it was my mother, but she was spared to us long years after that.

My brother James seized the desire to make something of himself, had gone to Cleveland to learn the painters trade with an old friend, Williams (Fate or Providence ordered otherwise and in a few years became a dr of no mean attainments and practiced for 52 years). While working in the old Church father had preached, he went to the parsonage for a drink of water, not knowing small pox was in the house. In due time he he came down with the foul disease.

Mother immedietely went and nursed him thro. When she came home there was an uproar in the community. They were going to barricade the street above and below the house, but for some reason they refrained. But it shows at that time the prejudise was so great that people went wild.

Old Bull visited Ravenna and gave a concert close by, But if I heard it, it must have been while I wondered on the outside of the church.

It was here I began to remember S.S. and my first Sunday School concert. Miss Prentis sang, "This book is all that's left my now, my mother dying gave it me". I do not remember my teacher. I guess he must have possessed infinate patience.

I saw GENERAL W. SCOTT, while in Revenna.

At the end of 2 years we moved to C.F. (Cuyahoga Falls).

How I remember the river and the waterfalls and the paper mills and the forge and I can hear the rap rap of the hammer forging car axles.

Down 2 miles was the Old Maids Kitchen where we often went to dinner in (???).

In chestnut time we climbed big trees and rattled down the chestnuts, Jolly Time.

I earned a few pennies in the hay fields, 50 cents a day. The first day about noon I fainted. They laid me under a tree and after a short rest I took my place again.

Sometime during the year that famous negro Fred Douglas visited the place. He was in the home of a quaker and I went with father. I do recall anything he said, but I was impressed that he was a fine looking man, sturdy and physically fine appearance.

I believe there are sometimes 2 awakenings in a boys life. The intelectual and the spiritual.

While I had been in school in Ravenna a teacher gave us examples of lightning speed, yet school meant nothing to me. Like most boys I went because I had to. But now I wake - New vision came to me and I wanted to be a scholar. That desire has never failed. The same longing thrills me today at 84. I want to track the footsteps of God and I want his problems to be mine and his thoughts to be my thoughts and his heart to be my heart.

But my Spiritual came later. It was here my sister Jane was Married to a young lawyer Orlo W. Strong of Ravenna.

It proved a very happy marriage but only a few years were given them for cancer removed him from lifes activities to the pursuit of a better world.

At the end of the year we were sent back to Cleveland. Father taking what was known as Erie Street M.E. Church

We lived in a house next to the church one year. I entered the Clinton Street grammer school and it a pleasure to me to do my work and the scholars were suited to my taste. I recall some of them MELANCHTHON, GORHAM was nimble of foot and I had to yield the palm to him for speed. He taught me a lesson one day, I have never forgotten to this day - We were talking at school intermission and in my smartness I spoke of my father as the old man. He looked at me and said I never spoke of my father in that way, Nor did I ever from that day. The rebuke was good.

My father filled my highest ideal of a noble man.

Two incidents impressed me. There used to come to church one we called the little frenchman. Rather short in stature erect as a ramrod. He always marched to the front seat, laid down his cane - put on his glassesand was ready for action ans that morning he did act with a vengence. In the interval between Sabbaths someone met him at the door and said "Where are you going", I'm going down to the mission. They have the big devil down to First Church and the little devil here and I'm going to the mission. He was never seen there again.

On Easter father preached in the Resurrection. Now there was rooming in our house, a women by the name of BROWN. She was one of the homeliest women I ever saw, but she was a remarkably intelligent woman and was a graduate from the medical college.

Seated at the table the topic naturally turned on the Resurrection. She astonished us all by saying "I'm homely enough in this body and I don't want to be homely in the next world". Don't blame her for the bodily Resurrection is an absurdity.

The second year we lived on Bolivar Street. Two or three doors away lived Chas Hunt who became my chief crony, We were like brothers. The painful regret of my life is that I didn't follow him up in after years. School boys were never more faithful.

At the end of the first year I passed in my examination for high school.

Two or three of us boys learned where the examiners were to investigate the trial paper. The night was hot. The doors and windows of the little house were open. We crawled to the fence near enough to hear the report. There were three of us that stood first among the numerous applications. The first was a sailor who had followed the lakes and now desires an education. As I think he must have been 20-25 years of age - Noble fellow he was. Two of us stood the same 154 out of 200 questions. The sailor was several in advance of us, My rival was Bill Sanders.

At the end of the first year I stood at the head of the high school. What the future to these and of all the boys and girls. I know not how we lose one another in this great world. How dear we were to each other.

PROF PALMER and wife and MISS SNOW were the teachers. Yes, and PROF CREHOVE. They are treasured in my heart to this day.

ART RUSSELL and his sister were among the brightest schoars. Art became a lawyer, able but a tipler. JUDY GARDNER is the only one I ever met in after years. Now I can only recall 3 or 4 by name.

There was one sport that was the joy of the school. Shinny we called it. There was a vacant lot next the school. That was our battle field. Being nimble of foot I was one of the first chosen or was one of the leaders for the ball, old tin can, block of wood or ball served our purpose. Many a boy I saw with blackened eye or broken nose and shins suffered.

Never to be forgotten was the fever.

In the summer father accepted the mission rather than take me from the high school. What a sacrafice, but I did not realize its greatness. Now I do.

The summer vacation I spent out about 10 miles away where my brother John had an interest in a saw mill.

I busied myself learning to yield an axe. John said I chopped all night. Now father had 60 acres of wood land, that by hard hard savings he and mother had bought.

On the edge of the woods was one of the finest hickory trees that ever grew. George Washingtons cherry tree was nothing.

I assailed that tree and it fell. Its a wonder woodsmaen did not force me to become a wood chopper. I went to work and cut that tree into 4 ft lengths and it made a big load. How shall I get it away some 12 miles to where we lived. Oh I could take the oxen. Never drove oxen in my life, but the temptation was great. That wood would help to keep us warm in winter.

The wagon was loaded and the oxen was yoked. I guess John must have done that. Fortunately the oxen were as gentle as lambs - Away we started - Theres a saying He that knows not, fears not. All went well till we came to the Ohio City hill. Going down to the Cuyahoga River, just at the bank of the hill the tongue slipped out of the ring on the yoke and lay on the ground.

Consternation seized me. What if that load runs on the heels of the oxen.

Teams were passing and repassing. All was confusion. A cop cried out hurry up, but he never offered to help. No time for delay. Quick as a wink I caught up the tongue and by some good fortune I had it back in the ring.

I breathed easier. We crossed the valley and all the way up main street my load was the observed and the boy ???? in her business. I'd give a thousand dollars

Couldn't be hired to repeat the journey for a thousand dollard. That was the beginning and end of my learning. But we did enjoy the fire.

The fall time opened and I was on hand. All went well till on friday afternoon. Pa was speaking and I was to take part. A colored lad went to the platform and was delivering his oration when suddenly darkness settled me. I rose stepped to the Prof and said something and fell into his arms.

He laid me on a bench in a classroom. In some way he sent me home and it was 4 weeks before I was in my place.

It was a time of strange expirences. It was the awakening of the Spiritual. For some nights father would, lamp in hand, a pitcher of water, go up to my bedroom.

Good night and darkness. I had a strange feeling, I am afraid to see God and afraid I may never see him.

After a time my imagination said you will never pass your birthday and it made us all nervous. The day came and we were all sober. But when the day saw the departure of the sun there were sighs of relief - My mother discovered that I was troubled about my sole.

She went with me into our frontroom and by a little stand we knelt and she poured out her heart to God. Joined the little mission and from 16 my name has been on the Methodist roll.

My first day back to school was eventful. The Prof always opened the school with prayer. I sat bold upright. I pledged ???? where he thanked God for

Back of the lot where we lived ran the Lake Shore and Pittsburg RR tracks, then the lake.

We put up a rude bench so we could sit and overlook the harbor 2 miles away, and the movements of the coming and going boats, above all the glorious sunsets are forever glorious in my memory. Italy never surpassed the magnificence, and beauty of those visions.

Speaking with DR.PEOTE in after years, he said Italy had nothing on those subline pictures.

It was here I saw the only mirage of my life. Looking out one morning, I just saw the tops of the masts of some ship. While in the clouds, I saw the whole ship. There were 2 or 3 other vessels making the same showing.

The winter had been a hard one. Great ice cakes were piled up in endless confusion making great hillocks.

One day JB and I went tramping over the hillocks and the glassy placesand it was a lively time and many a tumble had we.

It was this year I heard BISHOP SIMPSON for the first time. It was in Old St Clair. His tent The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.

I also heard BISHOP Mclivain of the Episcopal Church. He set me thinking about the Resurrection. Early I settled forever there will be no earthly Resurrection.

When July came father was sent to Painesville, Ohio.

Soon after our arrival, I was taken down with dumague and inflamation of the bowels. I had a serious time of it, but came thro, but was in no condition to enter school.

Walking on the street one day two women were back of me. One said to the other Going into consumption.

I began a system of gymnastics. My own contriving, and in the spring I studied Botany in the fields.

I entered the high school and with JOHN FLEMING studied special geometry. John was a good student. I can see the circles we made on the board. Indeed we could make the circles so perfect we needed no string to help. The last I heard of John he was clerking in a grocery store on Ontarios Street, Cleveland.

I took up spherical geometry by myself. I remember working 3 or 4 days on the example. At last I had it and I shouted Victory.

Some of the high school scholars I recall, HATTIE YOUNG was a beautiful, lively, accomplished girl. She had a somewhat sad career. In later years she was a cripple from Rheumatism. Built a residence next to the church and was wheeled to and from the services. A friend of hers had told me she was the most useful woman in the city. How strangly God makes sometimes the helpers most to carry his messeges to others. ELIZA and LYDIA PHELPS were among the choicest young ladies, daughters of the Episcopal Rector. Their future I never learned.

Across the way catering lived JUDGE BISSELL. He has a daughter living in Alhambra. A member of the Womens Corps in Pasadena.

The Judge was one of the foremost lawyers in northern Ohio. In his early years he was a noted attorney. He visited that part of the country lecturing in school houses denouncing the Bible and the church. A strange circumstance changed his destiny. One Sabboth he came to the parsonage and told us this story, as we were seated, about the stove, it being chilly.

The Judge had 3 children, 2 girls, 1 boy. This boy was the idol of his heart. At this time he must have been not far from 8 to 10.

One day the Judge rode to Ravenna to attend court, about 30 miles I judge.

The lawyers were in the habit of assembling in the court house before the opening of court, and having their jollies in story telling.

Instead of going, the Judge for some reason told the landlord to show him his room. Together they went to the room. The landlord looked around and seeing all was right, departed.

The Judge spied a book on the mantle, went and picked it. Found it was a Bible. Mad, he hurled it across the room and it fell to the floor.

At this the Judge stretched himself on the bed. A strange feeling came over him, he saw a vision, his little boy was down at the railroad on a frieght car. The cars were moving. The boy attempted to leep from one car to the next and fell and was crushed under the wheels.

The little fellow was carried home. The Judge saw how his family was affected. In due time a messenger started to tell the Judge the awful news.

When a messenger reached a certain bridge about 4 miles from Painesville - the messenger and the Judge met on the bridge (I have seen the bridge).

Three times the Judge saw the vision. Along with the vision was some music, which he would sometimes sing for us. This he never did.

So profoundly impressed was the Judge that he started for home.

When he reached the bridge he saw the man approching. The man was so surprised that he knew not how to tell his story. The Judge said - I know my boy is dead.

The vision was verified. From that time the Judge became a devout believer,

My boy companion was GEO T. LADD, just 2 years younger to the day. He was a noble boy, a fine scholar and became one of the most notable men of his day - A Prof in Yale University and is now Prof Emeritus.

Many the fine time we had together. The most exciting time was fencing. We became quit adept. Once the sport nearly proved to one of my eyes. The hickory rapier struck me in the left eye and I think today it is weaker than the left from the blow.

Once we were in the yard when the Presbyterian bell sounded out - He dropped his play saying "I never allow anything to come between me and my church" That explains his life.

Another boy, tho we never were so intamate, was FRANK BEARD who became the famous chalk talk speaker at Chantauqua.

He married ELLA GOODWIN, the golden haired girl who at one time lived next door to us. Frank was a humorist and well known artist. Long since he entered the other world. So far as I know his wife still servives.

It was a winter of great revivals. All the Churches shared in the fruits.

In the dead of winter ever frozen solid.

The Campbellites had immersion. They cut thro the ice and the preacher immersed his candidates. There were two colored women, around their heads were wound white napkins. Water was cold and every dip they naturally, huh, huhed.

when they came out of the water they puffed like porpoises, much to the amusement of the boys.

The second winter I taught my first school. Father and I rode out in the country to see some trustees - Not at home. On our way back we chanced to meet the object of our search. Questions and answers passed. Finally he said "Can you teach Algebra" In my timidly I said "I guess so" It lost me my school.

Next attempt, I secured a school in Perry Township, which was a better one than the first. 22 days to the month and board round. On the whole a very fine district and I enjoyed my school.

But oh so homesick. At the end of 2 weeks I was to go home,7 miles.

Dismissed at 12 Sat and turned my face toward Painesville. As I turned my back on the white school house, I said I wish you'd burn up or down. But to my supreme joy it didn't burn.

That 7 mile journey I guess was made about as quickly as any 7 I ever made.

Home was Heaven.

Back to my school and my homesickness was cured. I guess for all like for I never from that til now.

I had 2 scholars in Algebra not far from my own age. They were keen and anxious to slate the teacher. I was ready and they never had the satisfaction of puzzling the teacher.

The boy in after years became a Methodist Preacher. His career was short, but he proved his worth before he joined the Saints above. HASKELL was the name.

I know nothing of the career of MISS TISDALE, She was a fine maiden.

With some of my school money I bought a watch and I surely was a man.

Many events happened at this time that made a great story.

1-Never did any novel thrill me more than the debates. They were published in the N Y Tribune. I devoured them every week while they continued.

While I was not capable of analizing speeches and balancing arguments. I did comprehend enough to know Lincoln was master.

It was a peaceful war between between the little giant and the big giant. Douglas had celebrity, Lincoln, plain and homely, had yet won tho, The Little Honest Abe.

While Douglas thought he was more the conquerer, he did not realize he was digging his own grave. Nor did his election again to the Senate indicate, but that his star was in the ascendent. Lincoln saw it, He had trapped the little giant and his answers divided the Democratic party. Douglas lost, Breckenridge lost and Lincoln swept into the White House.

2-It was at this time I got ahold of the Government report of Burlingames forcing the Port of Japan. What a wonderful triumph it seemed for this country. Japan opening to Western civilization. Some 70 years have sped. Japan woke not to commerce, but ideas. She rose to greatness and became a power that makes the world tremble.The U.S. has been in terror.

But the great Earthquake and the millions of dollars sent to the sufferers from this country has changed the hostility of Japan towards us, if indeed it existed. Now the gates of the U.S. are closed against Japan. How changed.

Doors open to all the world excepting China and Japan, I pass the question.

3- I'll not forget the day where all this land was exciled with joy because the salutation came over the cable from Victoria. A flash of lights and darkness. The cable was wrapped in darkness. None the less Cyrus field had shown the possibilities of sending messeges under water.

Now after about 70 years, not only do cables bind the seas and nations, but Marconi uses the atmosphere. The air is full of secrets and mysteries and revolutions and radio is thrilling our ears with the secrets and wealth of nations.

We seem to live in the age of magic.

With the coming of Conference and after 2 years of most successful Pastorale father was sent to Akrin, Ohio.