Then he’d get off from the Dutchman to an uncle named Reginald Wilson.  Reginald went into a carpet factory one day, and got twisted into the machinery’s belt.  He went excursioning around the factory until he was properly distributed and was woven into sixty-nine yards of the best three-ply carpet.  His wife bought the carpet, and then she erected a monument to his memory.  It read: 

Sacred to the memory
of
sixty-nine yards of the best three-ply carpet
containing the mortal remainders of

ReginaldWilson

Go thou and do likewise

And so an he would ramble about telling the story of his grandfather until we never were told whether he found the ten-cent piece or whether something else happened.

FULTON DAY, JAMESTOWN

          Addressdelivered September 23, 1907

          Lieutenant-Governor Ellyson, of Virginia, in introducing Mr.
          Clemens, said: 

“The people have come here to bring a tribute of affectionate recollection for the man who has contributed so much to the progress of the world and the happiness of mankind.”  As Mr. Clemens came down to the platform the applause became louder and louder, until Mr. Clemens held out his hand for silence.  It was a great triumph, and it was almost a minute after the applause ceased before Mr. Clemens could speak.  He attempted it once, and when the audience noticed his emotion, it cheered again loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen,—­I am but human, and when you, give me a reception like that I am obliged to wait a little while I get my voice.  When you appeal to my head, I don’t feel it; but when you appeal to my heart, I do feel it.

We are here to celebrate one of the greatest events of American history, and not only in American history, but in the world’s history.

Indeed it was—­the application of steam by Robert Fulton.

It was a world event—­there are not many of them.  It is peculiarly an American event, that is true, but the influence was very broad in effect.  We should regard this day as a very great American holiday.  We have not many that are exclusively American holidays.  We have the Fourth of July, which we regard as an American holiday, but it is nothing of the kind.  I am waiting for a dissenting voice.  All great efforts that led up to the Fourth of July were made, not by Americans, but by English residents of America, subjects of the King of England.

They fought all the fighting that was done, they shed and spilt all the blood that was spilt, in securing to us the invaluable liberties which are incorporated in the Declaration of Independence; but they were not Americans.  They signed the Declaration of Independence; no American’s name is signed to that document at all.  There never was an American such as you and I are until after the Revolution, when it had all been fought out and liberty secured, after the adoption of the Constitution, and the recognition of the Independence of America by all powers.