Class of 1878

There has come to hand an advance copy of a biographical sketch of Dr. Charles Daniel Tenney, prepared for a coming volume of the Dictionary of American Biography. It adds some new facts to what has previously been published, and interprets somewhat differently some phases of his remarkable career. Friends will await with interest the newvolume The Newark Public Library has had designed a bookplate in memory of John Cotton Dana. The rest of the design, itself impressive, surrounds a rather disappointing reproduction of the familiar and remarkably fine photograph of Dana seated at his table and glancing up from his work as if interrupted at it. The printing is admirable, but it has not yet been extensively printed Telle Smith occupies his leisure in historical research. One of his ancestors was Martha Ball, sister of Mary Ball Washington, mother of George. Martha married Archibald Smith and settled in Waterboro, Me., thus setting the stage for Telle's later arrival in the state of Maine. The report comes from Waterboro that Telle has recently spent considerable time in the old town delving into the family archives with interesting results. The richest of his discoveries is that Martha Ball Smith on one important public occasion related the famous hatchet story, apparently in proof of her nephew's exceptional qualifications for the command of the American army, for which his name had just been proposed. Her version of the story appears to correspond fairly well with that of Parson Weems except as to the motive of George's onslaught upon the tree, and, by inference, as to the age and maturity of the boy at the time. According to Weems the boy was trying out his new hatchet, but according to Martha Ball the fruit of the cherry tree was a cause of warfare between George and his half-brothers, and upon this occasion George, having taken possession of the tree with his retinue, finding his forces inadequate to. withstand the siege the older boys were putting up; hewed the tree down rather than surrender possession. By either version it seems established that the tree was ruined and that George did not tell that particular lie. But as to his inability to tell it, Weems seems to have a little the best of it, for by his account George faced the difficulty alone while in the Smith story there were plenty of other witnesses of the tragedy who could have helped him tell it.

It would appear that Smith has good reason for his interest in family history. His children trace their lineage through their mother direct to Jonathan Edwards, and through their father to the proud aunt of the Father of His Country.

Secretary, 321 Highland Ave., Fitchburg, Mass.