THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
smivWhnmm wmpimv bom
I
I
IW
I. pi
id
i M v,v
xAf-t.'Q
A .t " 3
JTCv?-
tt &
?
ULiUMiss nnvo been written muu
lug tho courago or cndurnnco of
tho American nrmy that brnvctl
tho winter of 1777-78 at Valloy
Forgo. Monuments have been
erected to tho memory of men
and oHlcors. Tho fllto of tho
camp has been renorved by tho
otate of Pennsylvania, and con
vortcd Into a memorial park, but
tho women who Bhared tho dan
gers and suffering with them, who
nobly nursed tho sick, fed tho
starving and clothed the naked,
aro left unrecognized. Thcro aro
no public records of them, oven
tholr quarters that had been tho shelter of tho
needy, tho stage of tho Conway cabal (that was
no of the romarkablo and dramatic Incidents of
tho war), tho cradlo of tho first aid to tho In
jured, and tho sotting for a love affair of ono of
'tho first prosldents of tho United States, was
not Included In tho state reservation and taken
tinder Its protection, but Is faBt falling Into decay,
to tho sliamo and dishonor of tho guardians who
aro neglecting ono of tho two houses at Valley
Forgo that aro historically noteworthy, and for a
puorllo reason unworthy of a great common
wealth. This little farmer's houso was the headquarters
of Major Gonoral Lord Stirling, ono of the most
gallant and loyal American soldlors. Horn and
bred In Now York, he hud Inherited a tltlo from
Ills Scotch ancestors, Just at tho breaking out of
the Revolution. IIo had served as major and aide-lc-canip
to Oenoral Shirley at tho time of Gen
eral Braddock's dofoat. Ho had been In every
lmttlo fought agnliiBt tho British In Now York
nnd Now Jorsoy, and was General Washington's
most trustod general, as Is proved by tho numer
ous letters still prcsorved In tho Now York His
torical society. Tho headquarters of this gentle
man was shared by his bravo wlfo and dnughter,
"who abundoned their beautiful homo at Basking
irldgo on tho hills of New Jersey, and with tho
men contended with tho discomforts and trlalfl
of tho celebrated winter spent In tho wind-swept
valloy on tho outskirts of civilization as bravoly
aa nny soldier, ofTlccr or goaoral.
To theco heroines of Valley' Forgo no history
.points, no cenotaphs aro raised, oven their deeds
aro only traditional and crystallized In tho memo
ries of a fow lovers of bravery, solf-eacrlflco and
jfomlulno dovotlon.
It wns early In the season when It was decided
tto camp near Philadelphia, and tho army under
Klonoral Washington was collectod nt Valley
(Forgo, when Jxml Stirling wroto to his wlfo en
treating hor to Join him there, as his duties do
rtalnod hlra with his men, but ho had been prom
(Isbd comfortable quarters, and ho had no Idoa of
tho smallnoss of tho houso nnd Its numerous (lis
Kjomforts. For It was a Great domnnd to mako
of tho delicately nurtured women, who had been
troared at the luxurious Livingston manor houso,
on tho Hudson rlvor, or In Mr. -Livingston's com
Jfortnblo houso In New York. Hut Lady Stirling
'wisely determined that her placo was by her
huBband'B sldo, so with a full staff of servants
ifor sho foresaw tho domnnds that would bo
ftnado on her hospitality) sho and hor daughter,
ICathorlno, Btartod In tho great family coach,
ulrawn by four gray horses, for tuo long drlvo
ovor tho Jorsoy hills to Pennsylvania.
When thoy reached their destination they found
n small farmer's cottago had been nsslgned to
Iord Stirling for his quarters. It was tho
farthest houso from Gonornl Washington's head
quarters, under a hlllsldo and near a creek. It
was a damp and lonely spot, and qulto Inadequato
for tho accommodation of family and servants.
Hut with, unfailing good humor and tho capability
.or splendid housewives, tho ladles coped with
,tho situation and made tho house ready for win
iter. Thoy filled long flannol bags with earth and
Ailaccd thorn ngalnst tho door sills and tho loose
ly fitting eashos to keep out tho wind, bo tho
Iioubo could bo moro readily kept warm. Thoy
pasted muslin on tho walls and hung curtains
iioforo tho windows for tho same purpose. Then
thoy Dont to Hasklngrldgo for many loads of
lilckory wood boforo tho roads became choked
vlth snow, for fuel was scarco, and the soldiers
requisitioned all that thcro wns to bo found In
'tho neighborhood.
Gcnoral WnBhlngton welcomed thom gladly nnd
at onco requostod that thoy would assist him to
rontortnln tho various peoplo who dally visited
tho enmp, olther for political purposes, business
or curiosity.
Lady Stirling's household waH composed of hor
"husband and liln nlde, l)r Enoch Edwards, whoso
aiamo will bo recognized by many of his descend
ants In Philadelphia today. Then thoro was
Ijidy Kitty and hor frlond, MIbh Nanny Ilrowne,
tho orphnnod grnnddnughtor of Governor Brock
liolBt, and these dames may well bo called the
heroines of Valloy Forgo, although their minister
inga and sufferings found no recognition In the
man-written chronicles of that fearsome winter.
Christmas passed Badly with little merrymaking
or good cheer, and dnlly tho EiifforingB of tho 111
clad, badly-housed soldiers wore forced on tho
Attention of tho womon, for tho roportn of tho
;modfcal mon became moro and moro distressing.
Thoro woro no comfortablo hospitals, trained
Snuraes or ovon' necessary clothing, bandages and
lint for tho poor follows. Lady Stirling and her
wlaughtor woro no strangorB to tho sick room;
'Loth woro capable nurses and had loaruod from
nn old Indian woman many salves and remodlos
mado from horbs or slmploB, not tho least of
which was tho celebrated Seneca oil, St. John's
'wort lotion and rattleanako grease, nil of which
thoy had provided thomsolvos with boforo leaving
ihomo. Without hooltntlon theao bravo womon
arranged a division of work among them, for It
Jfell entirety on tholr ludlvldual efforts, nlnco tho
'whole i ntry wnB ocrburdoned and thcro was
(no rollef to bo obtained from an organized flnnl
Itary commission or rrd crosB association. Quiet
jly and unostentatlouuly tho threo ladles divided
Who work among thorn to do what wus possible
jto allevlato tho Increasing horrors about them.
To Lady Kitty was assigned a dally visit to tho
ycamp, wtallo tho dellcato Miss Nanny sowed or
hB W U jrH , mm m m ta m & W m m m - es AiM II il xii
f J'i fi y. -- '-J.
"M'. - i - i -. r iir:ii
i c . i s s " v j-v- w in
jf'&fv3:x Jte ,- ( x--- -sa.
r&X .-? ...' A tt5A Vr- -v y RVS
zmr&Fjm v k i -s&'-v
lsS?Jf iV lr(&& J ' Ve.
j-:-?2 f rr j -,-
rmtmm; mmmm m sb
MmJaL'mS (m&mwmK v )& w
X 'VS. V':VTW . JtiJ&r : XHHHKV 1 asrMHK.fK h. S
' jfiwy CmmrELcmx lPI
SAYS PRESIDENT
Wilson Predicts Business
Have Great Revival
WHEN THE TRUST BILLS PASS
Speaking to Virginia 'Editors, Ho
Makes Final Reply to Opponents
of That Legislation, and
Prophets of Evil Times.
VJWOl7A!?77?S OFZQRD
riwwGvnijjm&Mi
Bcraped lint at tho flro
sldo, and tho head of
tho houso superintend
ed the food department
nnd tho rations to bo
doled out overy morn
ing. Tho labor of Mal
vlna, tho old turbaned
black cook, were dou
bled. She was not only
called upon to provide
delicate repasts for Le
Marquis do Lafayette
and Major James Mon
roe, Generals Knox nnd
Grceno, with many oth
er distinguished vis
itors, who crowded
around Lady Stlrllng'n
hospitnblo table, but a
hugo soup kettle was
hunij ovor tho logs In
an Improvlsod kitchen,
nndtvom tho day It was
started until tho camp
waa brokon, great palls
of nourishing soup
woro freoly clven to
'SIWTSmZ$Lz
tho famishing soldiers who called at the houso
for food.
Every week vegetables, poultry, mutton, ate,
wero brought to Valley Forgo by tho genoral's
own peoplo, either from his farm eight mllea
from MorrlBtown, N. J., or from tho Livingston
K manor house, for pur heroes of tho Resolution
had to supply rtholr own rations, nnd this ono In
particular, who raised a regiment nnd equipped
It nt his own expense, wns never repaid for food,
or services, by nn ungrateful couutry.
Dally Lady Kitty would Bally to tho camp with
a basket filled with goodloa on her arm, followed
by a servant ladeh with clothing for the soldiers.
It was a long, cold walk from hor homo to tho
camp, but tho young girl braved It In splto of
snow, and storm. Tho doors of hut after hut
would bo gently knocked at and tho Inmates ques
tioned as to tholr most pressing needs. No ono
can Imnglno what a blessing these visits wero to
tho suffering mon. Thero was hardly one who
waa not afflicted with frostbites, and for these
Lady Kitty had a sovereign cure learned from the
old squaw, This, with other remedies drawn
from tho handy reticule, wero lavishly given with
many a cheery word or laugh at tho traveling
drug Bhqp. Tho baskets containing delicacies for
tho vory sick woro soon emptied and besides
many a man's heart was made glad by tho gift
of a warm worsted comforter for his neck or a
pair of knitted stockings or mittens Then there
woro underclothes mado from the fleece of tho
sheep raised on tho Jersey hills, tho wool having
boon spun In tenants' houses nnd woven on tho
looms that groaned and creaked unceasingly.
This was the work of tho women who stayed at
homo, whllo tho men folk Btrugglrd with tho
horrorB of nrmy llfo.
Tho fingers of tho women of tho day woro
novor Idlo. Wo aro told on 'page 117 of Mr.
Irving's "Llfo of General Washington." thnt his
wlfo, "sot an oxnraplo to lady visitors by diligent
ly plying her needles knitting stockings for poor,
destitute soldiers." And, Indeed, women's busy
noodles clicked far Into tho night, oven when
frugnl housowlvos only pormltted tho blazo of
tho fire to light tho rooms, for candles w ore luxu
ries In thoso days, although they wero homo
made, and these self-sacrificing women denied
thomHolvos ovory comfort they could, In hopes of
being nblo to rollovo tho needs of the soldlors,
and many n candle that had been made In the
family kitchen, nnd perhaps from hayberrlea
picked by delicate lingers, found Its way to tho
huts of tho men. Most of these wero Illiterate
follows who had oboyed the call to arms, loavlnp
tholr fnmlliOB In distant parts of tho country.
"Lady Comforter," ob eho was called by tho mon,
would ask each one about his life, and suggest
that sho would wrlto letters to his homo-bound
family or frlondo. Pen, Ink nnd paper would bo
whipped from tho great reticule hanging by her
eldo, nnd a dictation takon down, which must
have given pleasure and hopo nt many n desolate
fireside Tho ladlos wero cheered In their bonovo
lont work In tho camp by tho commendations of
tho commandor-ln-chlef. who could not bo Buffl
cluntly grateful for those ministrations.
Tho oung nlde-do-camp, James Monroo (who
waB recruiting his strength after a sovore wound
recolvod during a lato battlo) was dotallcd to
accompnnj tho young lady on hor dally rounds,
to report olilclnlly on the condition of tho men.
This duty was not uncongenial to tho young Vir
ginian, nnd tho ono brlgl'- spot In tho dnrk days
of suffering for tho mon In camp wob wutchlug
tho courtship of tholr future president, and his
ongngemont to MIhb Nanny Hrowno was noon
duly nnnounood and hurried arrangomontB mado
for n wedding In tho spring at tho homo of hor
nunt, Mrs. Van Home Sho could not ba7o aEked
General Washington ad
vice on tho subject at
hor marriago, or she would have been saved
much misery and mortification. It 1b said that
when Nelly Custls announced her engagement the
general said: "Question yourself. Is ho a man
of sense? For be assured n sensible woman can
never be happy with a fool." James Monroo wns
no fool, but tho end of this romantic courtship
1b anothor story.
it is more than probable that a steady supply
of food and clothing reached tho camp from many
of tho nearby places, for It Is certain that Carllslo
had a number of women, hoaded by Mrs. John
Armstrong, who employed overy leisure moment
knitting stockings or scraping lint for the sol
diers. This lady was born In Ireland and had
married an Irishman, but was devoted to her
adopted country and countrymen. Thero wero
other Pennsylvania women who sacrificed tlmo
and comfort for tho bravo defenders. Mra John
Hull wns approached by Lord Howo, who tried to
bribe hor to Induce her husband to Join the Eng
lish army and desert his command as colonel of
tho First Pennsylvania, but alio proudly refused.
Hor descendants doubtless would bo proud to
road tho unpublished history preserved by the
writer.
Mra. Mifflin (Sarah Morris) sent stockings' of
her own mailing to bo distributed among the sol
dlors, writing: "In this way do I throw In my
mite to t,ho public good. I know this that as
free I can die but onco, but as n slave I shall
not bo worthy of life, and I have the pleasuro to
assure you that, theso uro the sentiments of
my sister Americans." Those womon who could
do so visited tho camp, and Mrs. Androw Porter
(Elizabeth Parker) rode thero on horseback, to
Eoe hor husband, who had boasted proudly that
ho never wore a garment not mado by his wlfo.
A story Is told of him that at a dlnnor nt Valloy
Forge General Knox said to him: "Porter, how
docs It happen that you look so genteel whllo
the rost of us aro In rags, although you recelvo
no hotter pay than we?" To this Captain Porter
replied "My wife took this coat apart and
turned It inside out, so you boo it now as good
as new," and then went on to relate how sho
had visited him but had lost hor way, when sho
mot n gentleman out of uniform, of whom sho
asked directions. The officer tightened tho girths
of her saddle and admired her horse, which, Mrs.
Porter proudly declared, waa homo brp(l- Then
walking besldo tho rider, the person conducted
tho lady to hor husband's quarters, called IiIb hut
and strolled away.
After a warm welcome. Captain Porter said:
"Well, my lndy, you camo Into cntnp highly es
corted bj the commnndor-ln-chlof."
Lady Kitty had a love aftiir of her own on
hand during tho dnrk dayB at Valley Forgo, which
culminated in 1799 by her mairiago to Col. Wil
liam Duor, when General Washington gave thn
brldo away, for ho felt tin,, no honor was too
great to bo lavished on tho heroine of Valloy
Forge.
Qtoh
HENRT HOWIAND
A FABLE
WHY NOT?
Mrs. Flntte I see that 21 womon are employed
aa railway brnkomon and 10 as bnggtemem In
the United States
Mr. Flatte Well, 1 boo no reason Va women
nhouldu't brake and smash things as ell as men.
THE CAU8E.
"I lookod at tho man and saw Ms faoo grow
darker and darker."
"What waB tho mattor with him?"
"IIo wnB blacking up for a minstrel show."
Washington, Juno 2U. The greatest
business boom In the history of tho
L nlted States Is promised by Presi
dent Wilson. This, ho suys, will bo
brought about under a "new constitu
tion of freedom" given by tho anti
trust legislation soon to be passed
b congiuss.
Though tho president spoke to a
group of Virginia editors In tho Whlto.
House, he leally was addressing tho
entire country, and was making his
final reply to the opponents of trust
legislation at this session of congress
and to prophets of evil times.
"Wo know what we aro doing," Mr.
Wilson Bald. "We purposo to do It
under tho advice for wo have been
fortunate enough to obtain tho ndvlco
of men who understand tho business
of tho country; and we know that tho
effect Is going to bo exactly what tho
effect of tho currency reform was, a
Bense of relief and security.
Boom to Follow Program.
"Decauso, when tho program is fin
ished, it is finished; the interrogation
points are rubbed off tho slate; busi
ness is given its constitution of free
dom iind is bidden to go forward under
that constitution. And Just so soon as
it gets that lcitvo and freedom there
will be a boom of business In this
country Biich as wo have uever wit
nessed in tho United States.
"I, as a friend of business and a
servant of tho country, would not daro
Btop In this program and bring on an
other long period of agitation. Agita
tion longer continued woujd be fatal
to tho business of this country, and It
this program is delayed there will como
agitation, with every letter In tho word
a capital letter. The chotco Is a sober
and sensible program now completed
or mouths upon months of additional
conjecture and danger.
"It is a matter of conscience as well
as a matter of large public policy to
do what this congress I am certain is
going to do, finish tho program. And
I do not think that it is going to take
a long time. I bellevo that tho temper
of those engaged in this great thing is
admirable, that the various elements
sometimes in antagonism in the con
gress of tho United States aro draw
ing together, and that we shall bco an
early statesmanlike result for which
wo shall all have abundant reason to
be thankful.
Fever Lasted Long Time.
"I want to suggest this to you: Busi
ness has been in a feverish and ap
prehensive condition in this country
for more than ten years. I will not
stop to point out the tlmo at which
it began to be apprehensive, but dur
ing moro than ten years business has
been tho object of sharp criticism In
the United States.
"Business men hnvo acted as some
mon do who fear they will have to
undergo an operation, and who are not
suro that when thoy get, on tho tablo
tho operation will not bo a capital op
eration. Ab a matter of fact,, aa tho
diagnosis ha8 progressed it has be
come moro and moro evident that no
capital operation was necessary; that
at the most a minor operation was
necessary to remove admitted distem
per and evils.
Guessing Unfair to Business.
"There is nothing moro fatal to
business than to be kept guessing
from month to month and from year
to year whether something serious
Is going to happen to it or not, und
what in particular Is going to happen
to it If anything does.
"The guessing went on, tho air was
full of Interrogation points for Aen
years and" more. Then came an ad
ministration which for the first tlmo
had a definite program of constructive
correction; not of destructive correc
tion, but of a constructive correction
of admitted evil a clear program, dis
closed so far as possible In a general
program, in its particulars aa well
as In Its general features. And tho
administration proceeded to cary out
this program.
"First, thero was the tariff and busi
ness shivered. ''We don't llko to go
In; the water looks cold;' but when
the tariff had been passed It was found
that tho readjustment was possible
without any serious dlsturbanco what
ever. So that men said with a sense
of relief, 'Well, we aro glad to get that
behind us and It wasn't had after all '
"Then camo tho currency reform.
You remember with what resistance,
with what criticism, with what sys
tematic holding back a largo body of
bankers In thl country met tho pro
posals of that reform, and you know
how, Immediately after Its passage,
thoy recognized Its benefit nnd Its be
nellcenco, and how, ovor sinco tho pas
sac" nf tlmt. reform, bankers through
out tho United StnteB have been cbn
gratulatlng themselves.
"Thon wo ndvanced to tho trust
program, nnd again tho samo dread,
tho samo hesitation, the samo urgency
that tho thing should be postponed.
It will not ha postponed, und It will
not bo postponed bocnuso we aro the
friends of business."
MS A
t&v&r&tJ Jill l
&mml
Pu W? Li
Nv ft YV'.v Lfv
53 V"
A jlrumtnt: pobblo
lay besldo
An ncorn In a
fleld:
The pebble win
possessed o t
. pride
That novor was
concealed:
To morn explicitly
explain,
It viewed the acorn
with disdain.
"I'm whlto unili
smooth," tho
pobblo Bald,
"I Rllsten In tho
sun;
Your color la a
dullish red,
Your dny wilt1
soon be done;
For ages I have-
dazzled here;
You soon shall roti
nnd disappear "
The pbble, boasting dny by dny,
Its nrtchbor lewed with scorn;
A seuson slowly woro" away,
And then a sprout was born;
The pebble, lylns close at hand.
Looked on nnd did not understand.
i
Year after year the snpllnB grow,
i Its healthy branches spread;
Its leaves ubovo the pebblti blow
And stained Jt dullish red;
Deep In tbe mold concealed, at Inst,
Tho pebble's foolish prldo wns past.
MOItAU
Thoso whom wo treat with scorn majrf
grow, (
DceIop and expand;
There Is so much we do not know
And cannot understnnd;
We may by those whom we decry
Be overshadowed by and by.
The Lady Strategist.
"Here," she said, rushing back to
tho ticket window, "this dollar you.
eave mo In change Is counterfeit."
"Pardon me, but I didn't give you
a dollar In change."
"Yes you did. I bought a ticket
hero not two minutes ago and you.
changed a ?5 bill for mo. It was all
the money I had, bo I couldn't have got
this bad dollar anywhere else."
"You should havo examined your
chnngo when it was handed to you.
I can't make arty correction now."
"I shan't budge from this window
till you give me a good dollar for tho
bad ono you tried to foist upon mo."
"Let me see It."
"Thero."
"Why, this Is a perfectly good bill.
Hero is another. I'm not afraid of it."
"No. I won't tako this bill. It's
torn. Give me a new ono."
"I'm sorry, but if you don't want
that bill I'll havo to give you your
change In nickels."
"Thank you," sho said, after count
ing tho pieces of coin. "I wanted a
dollar's worth of nickels, but I knew
you wouldn't havo that many if I
asktd for thom In the first placo."
WAITING FOR A DECISION.
"Do you expect
to spend your va
cation in tho
mountains or at
tho seaside?"
"I haven't found.
out yet. My wife
?! Is trying to dis
cover where it
will bo necessary to have the most
costly clothes." ,
K if PY
EMV jtfJF AH
Qualified Enthusiasm.
"Don't you think he Is too cute for
anything?" asked the proud young
mother, referring to her baby.
"Oh, I don't know," replied her sev-enteqn-year-old
brother. "He's cuto
enough, I guess, but I never did think
much of peoplo who hadn't any teeth."
Egotism.
"I will win you yet!" he paBstonato
ly exclaimed. "I will bhow that I am
worthy of you."
"Thero," she replied, "that proves
what 1 have always said that you
wero a confirmed egotist."
Something Equally Dangerous.
"Havo you ever sniffed tho smoka
of battle?" aho asked.
"No," ho said, drawing himself up
to his full height, "but l onco went
automobile riding through the East
side in New York."
Unfortunate.
"Did you find It expensivo when you
woro In St. Louis?"
"Yes, rather. My wire's relatives all
seemed to bo away from home every
tlmo 1 went around to try to find any
of them."
Only One of His Kind.
"Did you say he was occentrlc?"
"Yes. Ho's afraid of his wlfo."
"Most mon nto afraid of their
wives."
"Hut ho admits It"
Too Cold and Dlctant,
"Aro you familiar with- Haupt-
mann?"'
"No, I can't say that I nm. That's
one of my worst troubles. My wife la
always blaming me for not bolng a
good mlxur."
i Ho Knows.
' The man who known his busluosi
doesn't wanto any tlmo woudorln3
what to do next
