The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, December 15, 1899, Image 7

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    tls * HIS OF HONOR , f
yl Ta/e of the Blue and the Gray fa
il/ BYE WERNER. fa
Copyright , IBM , by Kobcrt Donnor's Sons. J\ }
*
} CHAPTER I.
A Soldier's Honor.
The rays of the noonday sun were
beating down with the scorching glow
known only to the South. In the hot ,
quivering air every object seemed
steeped In radiant light , and even the
forest afforded no coolness , for it , too ,
wna pervaded by the sultry atmos
phere , and beneath the huge trees the
burning breath of noon was still folt.
Under one of these trees , whose
branches , heavy with foliage , extend
ed a long distance , two young men had
flung themselves on the ground , appa-
Jently for a short rest.
' JBoth wore the uniform of the Union
tinny , one being a lieutenant and the
other a surgeon. The latter , who had
a slender figure somewhat below the
middle height , expressive features and
dark hair , lay in a comfortable atti
tude on the turf , listening calmly to
his companion , who had started up and
was pacing hurriedly to and fro. The
powerful form , thick , fair hair and blue
eyes unmistakably revealed . German
ancestry ; but a cloud shadowed the
frank , youthful face , and the voice
trembled with passionate emotion.
"I must go , cost what it may ! Since
I knew that Harrison and his daughter
were on the plantation , I have had no
rest. Say what you please , John , I am
going ! "
"My dear William , you arc on the
eve of doing a very foolish thing , " said
the surgeon , without changing his com
! fortable position. "I advise you , as a
n ! friend , to drop it ; the affair may be
your death. "
"What do I care for that ! Certainty
I will have at any cost A brisk ride
will bring me there in two hours , and
I can return before sunset. I'll venture
it at any peril. "
"And risk a bullet through your
wild ride Into the enemy's country ?
You don't even know whether Miss
Harrison wishes to see you whether
she did not agree when her father dis
missed you so unceremoniously. "
"No , no ! " William impetuously ro-
torted. "Florence has been deceived
forced ; she has not received any of my
letters , as I have not had a single line
from her. Her father was always op
posed to our engagement ; we fairly
extorted his consent. Ho gave it re
luctantly , and promptly availed him
self of the excuse afforded by the -war
to recall his promise. "
John Maxwell shrugged his shoul
ders.
"Well , you can hardly blame him !
He , a secessionist and slave-baron , and
you with your humanistic ideas ! You
harmonize like fire and water , and you
were always a thorn In the flesh of his
nephew , the charming Edward. You
stole from under his very eyes the
wife on whom he had set his heart.
He'll never forgive you. Conditions
were imposed at the outbreak of the
war ? "
"Yes shameful ones ! I was to deny
my convictions , desert and betray the
cause I serve and fight in the ranks of
the enemy against our army. I reject
ed the dishonorable demand as it de
served. "
"With the most reckless bluntness to
the millionaire and future father-in-
law. The Harrisons really are not so
very much to blame. You would be
an extremely troublesome son-in-law.
I should have considered the matter a
little. Where a bride and a fortune
are at stake "
"You would have practiced treason ?
John , don't make yourself worse than
you are. Even you would have been
incapable of it. "
"Who talks of treason ! .You merely
'WILL YOU ACC OMPANY ME ? "
brain. You have probably forgotten
"that we are engaged in a war and that
it is desertion for an officer to be ab
sent from his regiment without leave.
Court-martials are sometimes disagree
able in such cases , and it would be un
fortunate if Lieutenant Roland should
go out of the world by lynch-law. "
The sarcasm of these words succeed
ed in producing an impression where
sensible arguments might have failed.
William Roland started , and answered
more quietly :
"What fancy have you taken into
your head ? Of course , I don't mean to
go without leave. The colonel will not
refuse it ; we are doing nothing here.
I must see and speak to Florence ones
more , even though I hazard my life to
do' it ! "
"You lovers are always ready to risk
your lives , " said the young surgeon ,
carelessly. "Your feelings are forever
at the boiling point. A strange con
dition of affairs. Let me feel your
ipulse ! "
< "Cease this jesting ! " cried William ,
furiously. "Can't you curb your spirit
of mockery even here ? But how could
I. expect sympathy or appreciation
froni you where affairs of the heart
are co'ncerned ! "
"From the heartless American ! " re
torted John. "Of course , heart and
feeling are the prerogatives of the Ger
man. You have taken out a patent on
them , and consider yourselves actually
insulted if other people claim a little
of the article , too. Here we are back
again at the old point of dispute , over
which we wrangled sufficiently as boys-
the honor of our different nationali
ties. "
"In which you usually came off
worst"
"Yes ; you had an abominable way of.
cudgeling German supremacy into me ;
and as you were the stronger , I gen
erally yielded .to your palpable argu
ments. But when there was anything
which required brains and reflection ,
John Maxwell was summoned. Then
you submitted to my authority , and , at
the utmost , appeared on the scene
when there was a drubbing to be given.
' Will let us discuss
Don't look so gloomy , ;
cuss the matter sensibly. What do
you really expect to accomplish by this
needed to have remained passive and
not fought at all , either for or against
the Union ; that would have been the
wisest course. "
"And a cowardly , pitiful one into
the bargain ! Am I alone to lag be
hind , when every one springs to arms ?
Let us drop the subject. Our views
on this point are very widely sun
dered. "
"They are on all points , " said Max
well , dryly. "I stick to it this visit
to the plantation is as useless as it is
dangerous , but I don't flatter myself
in the least with' the hope of detaining
you. You'll have your own way under
all circumstances. "
"Of course , I shall. I'm going to.he
colonel at once to ask for leave of
absence. Will you accompany uie ? "
The young surgeon sighed. He was
probably loath to resign his comfort
able resting place , yet he rose slowly.
"I wish Colonel Burney would put
you under arrest for three days , in
stead of giving you leave of absence , "
he said , emphatically. "But unfortu
nately , you are a favorite , and besides ,
it's an established fact that , if a man
wants to commit a folloy , everybody
hastens to help him. So let us go ! "
The regiment to which the young
men belonged was stationed in the
next village. After severe battles and
arduous marches a short respite had
been granted , but the men were to
move in a few days. Constant bustle
pervaded the usually quiet hamlet and
was specially noticeable around the
colonel's quarters. When Roland aad
Maxwell entered , they found several
officers there. The commander him
self , a man advanced in years , with a
grave but kindly face , stood among a
group of his'subordinates , apparently
discussing something with them.
"I am glad you have come , doctor ! "
he said to the surgeon. "I was just
going to send for you. Lieutenant
Davis has reported that two of his men
are ill , and the symptoms appear very
grave ; he fears fever , and begs to have
medical assistance as soon as possible.
You will ride .over to the outposts. "
"I'll go at once- " replied Maxwell.
"I hope it will prove a false alarm , as
has happened several times , but we'll
soon ascertain. "
' "Certainly. I am especially anxious
to have reliable information concern
ing the nature of the disease. The
outbreak of an epidemic would bo ex
tremely inconvenient just now. When
do you expect to bo back ? "
"In three Lmurs , if necessary. But I
had Intended to ask leave of nbaence
until evening -on account of another
matter , which I should like to attend
to at the same time. "
"Of course , If you wish , " said Bur
ney , absently. "Only send me some
good news. "
"The best In my power. At any rate ,
there is no time ( to lose. I will go at
once. "
The colonel nodded assent , and the
other officers now joined in the con
versation. The subject was discussed
in all Its bearings. If these cases were
really the first In an impending epi
demic , the matter was very serious.
At last Maxwell took his leave ; but ,
In the act of going , approached his
friend , who was standing silently at
the window.
"Do you still persist in your re
solve ? " he asked , under his breath.
"Certainly. As soon as I get my
leave I shall ride over. "
. "And perhaps be shot on the way !
Good luck to you ! "
"Thanks for the kind wish , " said
William , angrily. "Perhaps it will Ls
fulfilled. "
"Hardly. Men who , like you , are
forever butting their heads against a
wall , generally have uncommonly good
fortune. Where the rest of us crack
our skulls , they push the stone apart.
Farewell , Will ! "
He left the room. Doctor Maxwell"
did not spoil his friend by pretty
speeches ; that was evident He took
leave of the young officer who might
"perhaps be shot on the way" as care
lessly as if there was nothing in pros
pect save an ordinary ride. William
scarcely heeded it ; his mind was filled
with other thoughts , and he availed
himself of the first pause in the con
versation to approach the colonel and
request a brief private interview.
Burney opened the door of a small
room adjoinfng , and the two men en
tered.
"Well , Lieutenant Roland , have you
anything important to ask ? " said the
colonel , when they were alone.
"I merely wished to request a short
leave of absence , " replied the young
man , with apparent calmness. "There
is a family matter to be arranged
which is of the utmost importance to
me. "
"And which you can arrange while
on the march ? "
"At least I hope so. I intend to visit
relatives who live on a plantation only
a few miles from here. I have just
learned that I was in their immediate
neighborhood. "
The request was not singular , and
was easily granted , yet something in
the young man's face attracted the
colonel's attention , and he inquired :
"What is the name of the .plantation
you desire to visit ? "
William hesitated a moment , then
slowly answered :
"Springfield. "
Burney started.
"Springfield ? That is beyond our
outposts. Are you not aware that it is
in the enemy's country ? "
"I know it"
"And yet you wish to go there ? It
won't do. I cannot permit it. "
"I took a similar and far more dan
gerous ride a week ago on staff duty , "
replied William.
"That was in the service ; duty re
quired it : but this is a private affair ,
and I cannot permit one of my officers
to risk his life for such a matter. No ,
Lieutenant Roland. "
( To he continued. )
WHEN MEN MISS SUCCESS.
Idleness and IncompeJoncy Keep the
Itusiness Novice Down.
Walter P. Phillips , the founder of
the national newsgathering corpora
tion known as the United Press , and
the inventor of Phillips' telegraphic
code , a typical , energetic American ,
who has put many young men in the
newsgathering business , believes that
the cause of failure everywhere among
young business beginners lies in in
competence. Nine-tenths of the young
men who are struggling for a name
and place in the world are unfitted
for the callings they have picked out
for themselves. Besides an unlimited
supply of energy and wholeheartedness -
ness in the work before him , the suc
cessful man of the future must know
his business from A to Z. The next
greatest drawback to success is idle
ness. Nothing worth while is accom
plished without work , and plenty of
it. Things do not happen without a
cause , and behind every great life
there are years of concentrated energy
and tireless industry. Idleness will
make any man a failure ; intelligent
v/ork will land any man among the
successful. It is all so simple and sol
trite that one hesitates to put the fact' '
down in cold blood , and yet how few *
men recognize or , recognizing , live up
to the axiom , that labor conquers all
things ! Idleness and the conscious
ness of incompetency should make any
man ashamed of himself and drive
him to do something that is worth the
doing. It is within the grasp of every
one to learn some one thing that will
yield both pleasure and profit. Suc
cess comes only to those who seek it.
The young man who is really in
earnest will not have to be advised
how to succeed. He may learn much
by studying the failures of others ,
however , and he will always find , after
a sasvey of the great legion of the un-
suci&ssful , that two causes have
brought them to their present misery
idleness and incompetency. Satur
day Evening Post.
WHTWEGIVE THANKS
REASONS FOR OBSERVING THE
NATION'S FEAST DAY.
The Exceptional CHUSPM for Thankglv-
1ns Set Forth by rrotldent McKlnley
In UU lroclninntion Appointing Thurs
day , Nov. 30 , For That Purpose.
The president of the United States
has issued his proclamation naming
Thursday , Nov. 30 , 1899 , as a day of
general thanksgiving and prayer "td be
observed as such by all our people on
this continent and in our newly ac
quired Islands , as well as by those who
may he at sea or sojourning in foreign
landsj * In his customary crisp phraseology
elegy , always admirable for its incisive
directness and its freedom from verbi
age , President McKinley points out the
facts that support his statement that
"Seldom has this nation had greater
cause for profound thanksgiving. "
Seldom indeed has this nation , and
never has any other nation , had equal
cause to give thanks. Here are some
of the causes as set forth in the presi
dent's proclamation :
"No Rroat jcstllence lius invaded our
shores. "
See national election returns 1898 ,
1898. The pestilence of free trade has
ceased to aftlct us.
"Liberal employment traits upon
labor. "
See American Protective Tariff
league's industrial census for March ,
1899 , showing an increase of 39.56 per
cent in amount of labor employed ,
54.09 per cent in amount of wages paid
and 10.49 per cent ia wage rate per
capita.
"Abundant crops have rewarded tlio
efforts of the husbandman. "
Also higher prices for these crops by
reason of the larger employment and
the greater consuming capacity of
American work people.
"Increased comforts hare come to the
home. "
The people of the United States were
never before so well fed , so well
clothed , or so well housed.
"The national finances have been
strengthened and public credit has been
sustained and made firmer. "
Owing to a sound financial and eco
nomic policy which has increased in
dividual and national wealth to a de
gree never before known.
"In all branches of IndusTry and trade
thcro has been an u-icqualed degree of
prosperity , while there lias been a steady
gain in the moral and educational growth
of our national character. Churches and
schools have flourished. "
The three things go together : pros-
perity.rnorality , intelligence. These are
conspicuous in Republican policies
and practices.
"American patriotism has been es-
alted. "
It always was and always will be
exalted by a thoroughly American gov
ernment such as that which now di
rects affairs of state.
Such are the chief causes for thank
fulness suggested by the president in
his proclamation. They are splendid ,
extraordinary , exceptional causes which
appeal to the pride and excite the
gratification of every true American.
Happy is the fortune of the president
who can cite such an array of reasons
for general thanksgiving. His prede
cessor in office could not do it four
years ago.
PROOF OF PROSPERITY.
Notable Decrease in the Amount of
Child Labor Employed.
The enormous amounts of work be
ing done in the factories of Grand
Rapids , and the increased number of
men employed , clearly indicates that
this city has not failed to get its share
of prosperity. According to figures
compiled by Deputy Factory Inspector
Addison , of the Michigan Factory In
spection bureau , the number of em
ployes in the factories in this city has
been increased to a. total of 13,193 since
the first of May , the number on that
date being 12,729 , an increase of 464.
There is also a noticeable decrease in
the number of children- and boys under
16 , their places being taken by men
and older boys. The companies have
decided that they are better off with
the older employes , and they do not
care to take the chances of prosecution
for violation of the law which pro
hibits the employment of boys under
1C years of age. Again , under more
prosperous conditions the necessity for
every member of a family to be earn
ing something does not exist as it did
once , and that fact has considerably
thinned the ranks of child labor
throughout the country as well as in
this city. Increased trade and in
creased employment are sure signs of
prosperity , and if Senator Jones of Ne
vada , who -lately expressed his belief
that there was no real prosperity in
the country , will come to Grand Rapids
he will be speedily convinced that
present prosperity is something very
real , after all. Grand Rapids ( Mich. )
Herald.
There Are Others.
Will some one please name a great
trust magnate v-ho is not a Repub
lican ? Eureka Union.
Well , there is Havemeyer , the sugar
king , to start with. There are others ,
however. Eureka ( Kan. ) Herald.
It Is to Laugh.
Prosperity has laid its hand on the
Sunflower state , and a journal ac
knowledges it by saying , "Laugh , and
the world will be likely to take you for
a Kansas fanner/ ' Carlsbad ( N. M. )
Argus.
SSSS
SOME OF THE CAUSES FOR THANKSGIVING.
LYING UNDER A MISTAKE.
Sheer Ucmagoglsni to Charge the Ito-
r.ublicau Farly wllh Trusts.
Increased prices with no increased
salaries or wages is a lop-sided pros
perity that follows with peculiar pro
priety in the wake of the party that
by restrictive tariff called trusts into
existence. So-called Democratic or
gan.
gan.The
The opposition organs are filled with
just that sort of political stuff. In the
paragraph quoted there is one unim
portant truth. A few articles have
been advanced slightly in price , per
haps , but that has been much more
than counterbalanced in the increased
demand for labor , and the general ad
vance In wages.
It is not true that there has been a
"recent marked increase in the price
of every day necessities , " nor is it true
that there have been "no increased sal
aries or wages. " Wages have been
generally increased , and in many cases
largely increased.
As for trusts , so far it has not been
a political quest ! i ; individuals of all
parties have been and are mixed up"
with them , so are free-trade countries.
And it is sheer demagogism for the or
gans of that party to charge that
trusts were organized by the Repub
lican party or that that party is in any
way responsible for them more than
any other party. Such a charge would
be at variance with the truth , and none
know it better than those organs
which are continually mouthing it
over. In fact it is a part of their
political stock in trade. That is only
another way of politely saying to any
one who ventures to make the charge :
"You lie. sir under a mistake. " Norwalk -
walk ( Ohio ) Reflector.
No 3Ioro Use for ropul.'sm.
Edgerton , S. D. , September 30 , ISM.
To the Editor : I have noticed of late
several statements in the Journal re
lating to the deposit per capita of resi
dents in different parts of the country.
I do not consider any of them , talcing
into account our handicap of no rail
road towns , as good as Charles Mix
County's. There are four banks in the
old part of the county now having de
posits of over $20 per capita. There
are no manufacturers' , large ranchers' ,
stock or grain buyers' deposits , and
half of the merchants keep their ac
counts at their railroad shipping
points , or use the "sock. " Ninety per
cent of the deposits belong to the
farmers and the balance to a part of
the merchants. This county went Pop
ulist last year , but it will never hap
pen again as long as the present condi
tions of the country will last.
T. E. ANDREWS.
When prosperity comes in at the
door Populism flies out at the window.
That is the burden of a brief but sig
nificant communication from Charles
Mix County , S. D. The statement that
the farmers of that county have nearly
$20 per capita laid away in the banks
before marketing this year's fine crops
[ orms the basis of the prediction.
Sioux City ( la. ) Journal.
IJryan Applauded.
Mr. Bryan is reported to have ap
plauded a speech of President McKin-
ey at Canton , 111. As the brief address
was principally devoted to the martial
triumphs of this country , and to the
greater triumph of "overcoming the
enemies of prosperity" and scattering
their forces , Mr. Bryan was either
sincere or has decided that prosperity
3 something more than a semblance.
The former asserted that "this nation
has been greatly blessed , and at this
lour we are a united and prosperous
-eople. " Col. Bryan continues to harp
ipon the doleful theme of a suffering
people , ground down by the money
) ewer , plutocrats and octopuses whose
> rains and money are actively engaged
n the work of oppressing labor. Facts
and conditions prove which of the two
men is right. Tacoma ( Wash. ) Led
ger.
Would ie a Sad Revenge.
If the people want the predictions
of Demo-Pops to come true , all they
have to do is to vote for them , as was
done in 1892 , and they will see a repe
tition of history. The year 1899 has
so far been .the most prosperous the
nation has ever known , and it would
be a sad reverse to destroy it that Bry
an and his supporters may hold office.
Medford ( Okla. ) Patriot.
Keeps Him Hustling.
The show has caught up with the ad
vance agent of prosperity , and it keeps
the avant courier hustling to avoid be
ing actually run over. Benton (111. )
Republican.
WE'RE PROSPEROUS ; THAT IS
ALL.
Fact i Known to Every Intelligent Alxn ,
but Worth ICeading Just the Samp.
A famous epitaph commemorates the
virtues of a Roman woman who , In an
age of frlvolty , "staid at home and
span her wool. " She did not promenade
abroad until her household was clothed
in purple and fine linen of domestic
manufacture. So , with but two Inter
vals in the past generation , the United
States has been engaged In providing
for its own people enough food , enough
clothing , enough manufactures of
every sort to supply every reasonable
American want by the proceeds of
American industry. It has stayed at
home and spun its wool with success ,
and now it is ready to go abroad in
search of markets for the irrepressible
surplus of its industry.
For a long time we were accustomed
to speak of 1892 as "the McKinley
year , " as "the record-breaking year of
exports. " But the inevitable trend of
Republican policy has carried us far
and away beyond the figures of 1892.
For example , during the whole fiscal
year of 1892 our exports of copper and
copper manufactures were worth $7-
226,392 ; during the first eight months
of 1898 they were worth $22,925,485 ;
during the first eight months of this
year they have amounted to $25,197-
056. Our exports of iron and steel , ex
clusive of iron ore , were worth $28-
800,930 during the twelve months of
the fiscal year 1892. They were worth
? 68,008,071 during the first eight
months of 1899. Our exports of leather
and its manufactures were worth $12-
084,781 in the whole of 1892 , and $17-
413,458 during the first eight months
of the present year.
We exported agricultural implements
to the value of $3,794,983 during the
twelve months elapsing between June
30 , 1891 , and June 30 , 1892 , and to the
value of $11,495,450 between January
and September , 1899.
A phenomenal increase of exports is
noticeable in almost every branch and
department of manufactures. Simul
taneous with this there has been a vast
extension of the production of goods
for home use. Never have the de
mands of the home market been more
pressing ; never have William J. Bry
an's "common people" been so well
fed , so well clothed , so well housed , so
well supplied with money to spend , as
at present.
But there has been one decrease in
exports. In 1892 our exports of pro
visions , exclusive of breadstuffs , were
worth $140,362,159 ; for the first eight
months of this year they are worth
$121,651,443. We have now more money
to spend on food , and we are eating
more and better food. The time seems
not far distant when the American people
ple will be able to consume all of the
choicest products of American farms.
All these are hard facts , known to
every intelligent man , but it is worth
while to gather them and read them
occasionally as long as the voice of the
Democrat is heard in our land. Chicago
cage Inter-Ocean.
Railway Prosperity.
The railways of the country are do
ing an unparalleled business at the
present time. Not only are people trav
eling in greater numbers than in or
dinary times , but there is an equally
heavy amount of freight traffic. So
much freight is to be transported that
the railways are finding it diGcult to
provide enough cars to meet the De
mand for them. The " situation is
summed up by an Eastern railwaj offi
cial as follows : "With the enormous
business in sight it will be a crime if.
for the next six months at least , tthere
is a single rate cut or an unemployed
car east of Chicago. There is sufiicient
business to keep every road busy. "
The great amount of business done
by the railway companies is a sure in
dication of the great prosperity that
prevails in all parts of the country.
It re 1ects good times for all the people.
The crops are large , causing unusually
heavy shipments of grain and agricul
tural products , which means increased
freight business for the railways , while
the great amount of manufacturing
and our large exports to foreign coun
tries contribute to a great extent in
giving the railways new business.
Then the people are traveling more
than usual , because they feel that they
can afford it. The prosperity of the
railways is an infallible test of the
prosperity of the country. As they
have never known a period when their
receipts were greater , it may be as
sumed that the country is enjoying
greater prosperity than ever before.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
Chickamauga is to have a confeder
ate monument to cost $65,000.