An Excerpt from the book-I have often been asked the question, "Why don't you write a book?" AndI have said, "What is the use? What good will it do?" I have thoughtabout it time and time again, and have come to the conclusion to write astory of my life, the good and the bad, and if the story will be a help,and check some one that's just going wrong, set him thinking, and pointhim on the right road, praise God!I was born in Hudson City, N. J., over forty years ago, when there werenot as many houses in that town as there are now. I was born in oldDutch Row, now called Beacon Avenue, in a two-story frame house. Inthose days there was an Irish Row and a Dutch Row. The Irish lived bythemselves, and the Dutch by themselves.Quite frequently the boys of the two colonies would have a battle royal,and there would be things doing. Sometimes the Dutch would win out,sometimes the Irish, and many's the time there was a cut head and otherbruises. Sometimes a prisoner would be taken, and then we would playIndian with him, and do everything with him except burn him. We were allboys born in America, but if we lived in Dutch Row, why, we had to beDutch; but if, on the other hand, we happened to live in Irish Row, wehad to be Irish. I remember moving one time to Irish Row, and I wonderedwhat would happen when I went to play with the old crowd. They said, "Goand stay with the Irish." I did not know what to do. I would not fightmy old comrades, so I was neutral and fought with neither.