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diff --git a/29071-h/29071-h.htm b/29071-h/29071-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..deb3ada --- /dev/null +++ b/29071-h/29071-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11081 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight, by Mathew Joseph Holt</title> + <style type="text/css"> + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h1.pg,h4.pg { + text-align: center; font-family: Times-Roman, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .tdr {text-align: right;} /* right align cell */ + .tdrb {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} /* right align cell */ + .tdrp {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} /* right align with padding */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* center align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tr {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + .poem {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: 85%; } + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight, by +Mathew Joseph Holt</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight</p> +<p>Author: Mathew Joseph Holt</p> +<p>Release Date: June 8, 2009 [eBook #29071]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHIT-CHAT; NIRVANA; THE SEARCHLIGHT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h4 class="pg">E-text prepared by David Garcia, Barbara Kosker,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net/c/">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + Kentuckiana Digital Library<br /> + (<a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/">http://kdl.kyvl.org/</a>)</h4> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through + Kentuckiana Digital Library. See + <a href="http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1&idno=b92-222-31182254&view=toc"> + http://kdl.kyvl.org/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=kyetexts;cc=kyetexts;xc=1&idno=b92-222-31182254&view=toc</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="95%" alt="Mt. Adamello Sled Dogs, Veterans of the Italian Army." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">Winter of 1918. Mt. Adamello Sled Dogs, Veterans of the Italian Army.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1>CHIT-CHAT<br /> +<br /> +NIRVANA<br /> +<br /> +THE SEARCHLIGHT</h1> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/deco.png" width="5%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<h2>MATT J. HOLT</h2> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/deco.png" width="5%" alt="decoration" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>LOUISVILLE<br /> +WESTERFIELD-BONTE CO. Inc.<br /> +1920</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h5>Copyrighted 1920<br /> +By The Author</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" style="font-size: 80%;">CHAPTER</td> + <td class="tdl"> </td> + <td class="tdr" style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">CHIT-CHAT</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp" width="10%">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap" width="80%">Chit-Chat</td> + <td class="tdr" width="10%"><a href="#PAGE_1">1</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Cornwall Meets a Mountain Maid</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_11">11</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">III.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Cornwall Locates in Harlan</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_18">18</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">A Week in a Mountan Home</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_27">27</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">V.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Saylors Move To the Bluegrass</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_39">39</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Cornwall Buys a Home</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_44">44</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">VII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Mary and John Progress</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_60">60</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp" style="vertical-align: top;">VIII.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Dorothy and Bradford—Rosamond and Cornwall</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#PAGE_72">72</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IX.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">The Saylor Family</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_87">87</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">X.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Mary and John Are Married</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_103">103</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">XI.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Home Life</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_114">114</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3"><i>SEEING ITALY AT MRS. O'FLANNAGAN'S EXPENSE</i></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">I.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Seeing Italy at Mrs. O'Flannagan's Expense</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_127">127</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">II.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">"Y" Service</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_139">139</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp" style="vertical-align: top;">III.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">John Cornwall Travels a Bit and Returns Home</td> + <td class="tdrb"><a href="#PAGE_161">161</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdrp">IV.</td> + <td class="tdl smcap">Two Candidates</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_172">172</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">NIRVANA</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" colspan="2">Nirvana</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_181">181</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" colspan="2">A Conscious Mummy</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_198">198</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" colspan="2">Doctor Brown of Danville</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_213">213</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" colspan="2">Richard Hawkwood</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_225">225</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3"> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdc" colspan="3">THE SEARCHLIGHT</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl smcap" colspan="2">The Searchlight</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#PAGE_269">269</a></td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_1" id="PAGE_1">[Pg 1]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHIT-CHAT.</h2> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I thought to write a book entitled: "Yesterday, Today +and Tomorrow." How much is buried in the wreckage +of yesterday—how uninteresting today is and how +little is to be done—our burden we shift to the strong, +young shoulders of tomorrow; tomorrow of the big heart, +who in kindness hides our sorrows and whispers only of +hope. I ended by writing,—this—which I have called +"Chit-Chat," thus classifying the book, knowing that +such a book if true to name will picture the age and find a +publisher.</p> + +<p>I have read in the Arabian Book of Knowledge that +"thoughts are Tartars, vagabonds; imprison all thou +canst not slay," and have seen fit to follow this suggestion +and the advice given a Turkish author—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"That none may dub thee tactless dund'rhead,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Confine thy pen to light chit-chat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rattle on as might a letter!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For ninety-nine of every hundred<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hate learning and what's more than that,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The hundredth man likes berresh better."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>So I present to you, gentle or gallant reader, as the +case may be, and quite informally, John Cornwall.</p> + +<p>He was born at 702 West Chestnut Street, Louisville, +Kentucky, on the 12th day of May, 1872. His mother +was a widow; and before the days of H. C. L, the two +lived comfortably on her income of $1,800.00 a year.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>His boyhood was as that of other boys of the city; an +era of happiness and happiness has no history. He was +considered a good boy as boys go; and good boys have +few adventures.</p> + +<p>Although John never attended Sunday School except +when his mother made him—as she was a Presbyterian, +he wore the honor pin for an unbroken three-year attendance.</p> + +<p>School to him was such a delight, that in a spirit of +emulative self-denial, he never started from home, a +block away, until a minute before the tardy bell rang. +He usually made it. If late, he slipped in, usually walking +backwards, hoping either to escape observation or, +if seen, to be told to retake his seat.</p> + +<p>His vacations were spent on the river where he +learned to handle a canoe and skiff; and before he was +fourteen could swim and dive like a didapper. At that +time his greatest ambition was to run the falls in a canoe; +his next to be a steamboat captain.</p> + +<p>He and two other boys built a camp on Six-Mile Island. +There they usually spent the month of August; +during the preceding vacation days working as bank +runners or messenger boys to raise the money to finance +the camping party.</p> + +<p>He was entered in the graded school at seven, in +high school at fifteen, at which time he put on long +trousers and changed from stockings to socks. He insisted +on discarding his stockings, as the boys had a way +of lifting the bottoms of trousers to see if the one appearing +for his first time in long trousers yet wore his stockings. +He graduated from the high school at nineteen; +and after two years at the local law school and in Judge +Marshall's office, was given a position with the Kentucky +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>Title Company; and for a year had been employed at abstracting +in the Jefferson County Clerk's office.</p> + +<p>One day a prosperous-looking stranger asked where +certain records might be found and he graciously showed +their location. The next day the stranger asked several +questions as to local real estate laws, particularly as to +leases, transfers and the rights of married women. He +introduced himself as Mr. Rogers and asked John his +name.</p> + +<p>The following day about noon he came into the clerk's +office and said; "Mr. Cornwall, I wish you would lunch +with me today." Cornwall, after telephoning his mother +that he would not be home, went with him.</p> + +<p>When they were nearly through eating Mr. Rogers +said:</p> + +<p>"This morning I was at the office of Judge Barnett. +He is attorney for our company, The Pittsburgh Coal & +Coke Company. I asked him the same questions I did +you and he gave similar answers. I have since made +inquiries and believe our company can use you to look +after its local law business in Bell, Harlan and Leslie +counties. In these three counties we own about fifty +thousand acres of coal lands and mineral leases on approximately +two hundred thousand acres more. In addition +we own several old surveys which I do not include in +this acreage.</p> + +<p>"We will pay you $1,800.00 a year, equip and furnish +you with an office in our new building in Harlan and will +make no objection to you attending to such local business +as may come your way, provided it does not take you +away from Harlan. What we need is a man on the +ground. Think this over and let me know in the morning. +I am at the Galt House, room 247. You had better +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>call instead of telephoning. I shall be disappointed if you +do not accept my offer."</p> + +<p>"I thank you and I will take it up with mother tonight, +then call at your room at 8:30 in the morning. +Please excuse me now as I am due at the office."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Mr. Rogers and John Cornwall, several days later, +arrived at Pineville on the early morning train and after +lunch left on horseback, taking the Straight Creek road +to Harlan.</p> + +<p>It was not their intention to ride through that afternoon, +but stop overnight at Simeon Saylor's and the +following morning look over the Helton, Saylor and +Brock coal properties on the south or main fork of the +creek.</p> + +<p>The road follows the creek and is canopied by sycamore, +elm and birch trees or grape vines and other creepers. +It is screened by thickets of pawpaw, blackberry, +sumac or elderberry bushes which grow thick in the +corners of the abutting worm fences.</p> + +<p>It is not a lonely way. Every three or four hundred +yards you pass a small mountain farmhouse overflowing +with children, calling to mind the home of the old woman +who lives in the shoe. Many squads of geese, following +their corporal, march across the road towards the creek +or back again to the barnyard. The thickets are alive +with red birds and ground robins and an occasional +squirrel, who has come down the mountain for a drink, +rustles the leaves in his flight or at giddy heighth barks +defiance at passing strangers.</p> + +<p>Pine Mountain, without a break or scarce a deep cove, +walls in the narrow valley on the south, while on the +north smaller mountains stand at attention. The stream, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>with little chance to wander, bisects the valley in its unvarying +course and perforce pursues its way, true to +name.</p> + +<p>They arrive at the foot of Salt Trace just as the lively +tinkling of cowbells, as well as their own appetites, +and the setting sun, suggests supper time; and their +chafed buttocks, more used to a swivel chair than a +saddle, pleaded for the comfort of an altered position.</p> + +<p>Simeon Saylor lives several hundred yards up the +creek from where the Salt Trace Trail, the bridle path +to Harlan, leaves the main road. His house is the usual +stopping place for travelers. He has imposed the labor +of their entertainment upon his women folks, not so +much for profit as to hear the news and chit-chat of the +outside world.</p> + +<p>The house is a structure of three large pens of logs +with a dog trot (hallway) between. Two front the road, +the third forms an ell at the rear and is flanked by a long +porch. The whole is covered by a rough clapboard roof. +Each pen has a sandstone chimney and each room a large, +open fireplace. The ell is used as a kitchen, dining-room +and storehouse combined. On the edge of the porch, almost +within reach of the well sweep, a bench holds two +tin wash basins; a cake of laundry soap reposes in the +former coffin of a family of sardines and a roller towel, +sterilized and dried by air and sunlight, hangs pendant +from the eaves.</p> + +<p>The travelers as they rode up and stiffly dismounted +noted the many chickens going to roost and the three +cows occupying the road in front of the house. The barn +was rather an imposing structure. These signs assured +eggs, milk and butter for themselves and feed and comfortable +quarters for their horses.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>After supper they sat out in the moonlight on a +crooked, half uprooted elm overhanging the creek, until +the world grew worshipfully still as it does twenty miles +from a railroad; their quiet, contented thoughts undisturbed +by the call of the whippoorwills in the near thickets +and the hooting of a great owl far down the valley.</p> + +<p>Then they were joined by their host, a tall, rawboned, +sallow, sandy-haired man with a long, thin face on which +grew a straggly beard, which had never known shears or +razor. He had come out to hear more news than he had +been able to learn at supper, where table manners demanded +that he should eat and get through with it. At +the table the men ate saying little, while the old woman +and her daughters served them, and in silence.</p> + +<p>His youngest boy, Caleb, came with him, an immodest +little fellow; made so by his father, who it seemed spent +most of his time boasting of the boy's accomplishments.</p> + +<p>"Well, rested yet? Thar's a boy what's gwinter +make a lawyer. He's just turned nine and you can't believe +nothin' he says. He can argy any thing out'er his +maw and the gals and the boys nigh bout hayr haint got +no show with him; somehow he gits every thing they gits +hold on. And you oughter see him shoot with a squirrel +gun! Many a time he's knocked the bark out from under +a squirrel and killed him without raising a hayr. Last +Christmas eve I fotched a jug of moonshine from the +Cliff House Still and hid it in the loft. You know that +boy found out whar I hid her and when I went after hit, +hit was nigh gone. He was snoozing away on the hay. +When he come to, his head didn't hurt narry bit. That +once I shore split his pants for him with a hame strop. +He's got to leave my licker alone; that's one thing he +can't put over on his paw,—no not yit. Down the crick at +the mines is a dago, a fur-reen-er and his folks from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>Bolony. +He's got a boy, Luigi Poggi, about fourteen but +not as big as Caleb. That boy spends all his time with +Caleb. He had jest gone home when you rid up. He +talks dago to Caleb and Caleb gives him back jest plain +straight Crick talk. If he's larnin as much United States +as Caleb is dago, he'll make circit rider preacher in a +few years. Caleb talk dago to the men."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the boy stepped directly in front of Mr. +Rogers and said; "Buona sera, Rogers avete tabacco +meliore di questo?" (Good evening, Rogers, have you +any tobacco better than this?—holding out a plug of +long green.)</p> + +<p>To which Mr. Rogers understanding him, replied:</p> + +<p>"Caro ragazzo, voi mi annoiati oltre mode, buono +notte." (My dear boy, you annoy me considerably, good +night.)</p> + +<p>"Ma non debbo ancora." (But I am not going yet.)</p> + +<p>"Well you speak dago too, he's a great boy aint he, +jest like his paw."</p> + +<p>"What mought yer bissiness be, Mr. Rogers?"</p> + +<p>"I am secretary of the Pittsburgh Coal & Coke Company."</p> + +<p>"Yaah, that's the new crowd what's come in hayr +buying out the old settlers. I hearn you bought that old +Boyd Dickinson survey. Well you didn't git much. +They've been trying for nigh forty year to locate the beginning +corner. The first time Cal Hurst and them surveyor +men came prowlin' round hayr, we got two on them. +How's that trial with the Davis heirs comin' on? Old +Milt Yungthank at Pineville has looked ater their bissiniss +fer nigh twenty year. He had Sim and some of the +boys up thayr with Winchesters about two year ago."</p> + +<p>"Young feller, what's yer name?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Cornwall."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>"Ever been up heyr before? I was in yer town onct. +I rid down to Livingston on the old gray mare, then took +the train thar, toting my saddle bags on my arm. When +I got off the train at the dee-pot, a nigger steps up and +says ter me: 'Boss, give me yer verlisse.' He didn't get +them saddle bags, you bet. I was too sharp for that. I +went to a hotel somewheres. They stuck a big book under +my nose and says, sign hayr. I done hearn tell of +them confidence and lightnin' rod men and I signed nothin'. +They sent me to a room with red carpyt on the floor +and velvit cheers with flowers kinder scotched in them; +and the man behind the counter gave the nigger a lamp +and told him to cut off the gas. That nigger tried to +take them saddle bags but I hung on, when he says, all +right boss and left go. That place had a box lifter to it. +After a while I got tired of settin' in that room and +thought I would go out and see the town; so I locked the +door and come down erbout forty steps to the front door. +Then that first feller what wanted me ter sign the book +says; Leave the key and saddle bags with me. I says, +says I, You can have the key but no man gits holt of them +saddle bags. It's a good thing I brung them erlong, fer +I never did find that place ergin. I went erbout a quarter, +when I met a smart feller and he says ter me; Old man, +where're you gwinter show! I says right here, by gad! +and I run my hand into them saddle bags and brung out +my cap and ball. That feller shore broke the wind, he +showed some speed. What moight yer bissiniss be?"</p> + +<p>"This is the first time I was ever up here. I'm a +lawyer."</p> + +<p>"Yaah, one of them city lawyers; they tell me they is +cute. I have had to do some lawing lately. Down the +crick erbout a mile Elhannon Howard lives. Last winter +I sold Elhannon a hawg on credit fer ten dollars like a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>dang fool and he wouldn't pay fer it, so I lawed him before +Squire Ingram and got jedgment. That and the +costs come ter fifteen dollars and a quarter. The Squire +writ out an execution and I got the constable to levy on +three hives of bees; the constable says that's all he's got +what's exempt. We had a hell of a time moving them +bees, then we had to move them back."</p> + +<p>"How was that?"</p> + +<p>"He got that lawyer from Pineville by the name of +Marshall Bull-it and the squire thinks the sun rises whar +that feller stands. The squire believed what that lawyer +said and jedged that bees is poultry and the statute says +poultry am exempt. I made up my mind that old Elhannon +had to pay that jedgment so a couple of Sundays +ago when they went to meetin', I slipped down to his +house and took a look around, counting off what the +statute said was exempt. He had jest what the law 'lowed +him. He had jest one hoss, one yoke of oxen, Tom and +Jerry, two cows and five sheep. One of them sheep was +the finest Southdown ram you ever laid yer eye on. Monday +morning before day I went out where my sheep was +and there was a little crippled lamb about a day old. I +picked it up and fotched it down to Elhannon's and +drapped it over the fence into his little pasture, where his +sheep were. Then I went down and got that constable +and he come and executed on that ram. Elhannon killed +and et one of his sheep, then he paid me up and took his +ram back. If I had a thousand boys I wouldn't name +narry dang one of them Elhannon. I got another little +case what comes up next fall in the Bell Circit Court, +'taint much. I low ter pay a good young lawyer about +twenty five bucks to git me off. 'Bout a month ago I +shot Caleb Spencer as dead as a kit mackrel. I was going +over Salt Trace to the mill on the river. When I got on +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>top of the divide he raised up from behind a log about a +hundred yards off and drew a bead on me. I saw him +jest before he pulled and I dodged. The ball cut out this +hole in my hat. I rid right peart, till I come to Gabe Perkins' +then I hopped off my mule and, borrowing his Winchester, +I come back the cut-off footpath. There set that +cold-blooded bush-whacker on the same log, looking +down the road the way I had kited, with his gun kinder +restin' on his knees. I rested on a stump and took him +square in the middle of the back. He gave a yell and +jumped erbout five feet, but it was too late to jump. +'Taint nothing to it, a plain case of self-defense and +'parent necessity. But if you stay up in this country, I +like yer looks and will give yer first chance on that easy +money."</p> + +<p>"I thank you for the offer. It is worth at least five +hundred dollars to undertake your defense; as it is not +a case of self-defense and apparent necessity, as you +seem to think. Much depends upon the jury in such a +case. You need a good lawyer who will be well acquainted +with the panel, else you may be sent to the +penitentiary."</p> + +<p>"Son, you've got a lot to larn yit. Man alive! You +folks have talked so much it's nigh erbout bed-time. +Why that boy is asleep. Would you like to turn in?"</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_11" id="PAGE_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Cornwall Meets a Mountain Maid.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>After breakfast, at which the men were first served, +Mr. Rogers, Cornwall, Mr. Saylor and Caleb, mounting +their horses rode over Saylor's three hundred-acre survey +and examined the two coal banks on the property; +which only a short distance from the house had been +opened and worked about twenty feet into the mountain, +for home consumption. One was thirty-eight and the +other fifty-two inches; the thick vein cropped out about +twenty feet above the creek level, the other was at a +higher level.</p> + +<p>After their examination they returned to the house +and taking seats on the wash bench near the well, talked +about every thing but the land of which Mr. Rogers and +Saylor were thinking. Finally Mr. Rogers having waited +some time for Mr. Saylor to begin, said:</p> + +<p>"If our company can buy the Brock and Helton surveys, +we will give you thirty thousand dollars for your +three hundred acres, or twenty thousand dollars for the +mineral rights with timber and right-of-way privileges +necessary to mine and remove the coal and such other +minerals, oils and gas as may be found on the property."</p> + +<p>"By heck! my survey is worth three times that. When +your company planks down fifty thousand in cold cash +we will trade,—not before. Then I will buy one of them +blue grass farms in sight of the distant blue mountains +and an automobile and a pianny and give Caleb and little +Susie a chance to go to the University at Lexington whar +Tom Asher and that Hall boy goes. O Mandy! Mr. +Rogers, hayr, just offered to gin me thirty thousand +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>dollars for our old mountain home which we bought two +year ago from old man Roberts for five thousand. I told +him we would trade her off for fifty thousand; not such +bad intrust for a mountain yahoo and his old woman, +He! Mandy! When that trade goes through; and they +are bound to take her, you can have one of them silk +dresses what shows black and blue and red and green; +and Mary all the books and pot flowers and pictures she +wants. What do you say to that, Mary?" just as Mary +stepped from the kitchen to fill the brass-hooped cedar +bucket at the well.</p> + +<p>Caleb lolled on the steps in such a way as to make it +impossible for any one to descend.</p> + +<p>"Caleb, please let me pass!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, go round Mary, or jump down. What do yer +bother a feller for?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Mary, let me fill your bucket?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Mr. Cornwall." (Caleb laughs.)</p> + +<p>Cornwall took the bucket and twice let it down and +brought it up without a quart in it, while Caleb looked +on and laughed.</p> + +<p>Finally Mary, smiling and blushing, took hold of the +pole and helped to dip and draw up the bucket full to the +brim. Then they laugh too; and the social ice is broken +between Bear Grass and Straight Creek; between the +city-bred young lawyer and Mary, the mountain girl.</p> + +<p>Cornwall carried the bucket into the kitchen; at which +Caleb, in surprise, called out: "Dad, look! That city feller +is helping Mary get dinner."</p> + +<p>After dinner, which Cornwall did not help get, rushing +out of the kitchen as soon as he could let go of the +bucket handle, having heard Caleb's remark; they rode +over the Brock and Helton two hundred-acre surveys and +called at their homes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>Mr. Rogers contracted to purchase their land at one +hundred dollars an acre, the vendors executing bonds to +convey, each receiving one thousand dollars on the purchase +price; the balance to be paid after a survey and +examination of their titles.</p> + +<p>As they were riding home, Saylor saw a drunken man +staggering down the mountain side. When he had gotten +out of sight, he dismounted and began trailing him back +up the mountain. Mr. Rogers called out, "The man +went the other way."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know that! I want to find out where he came +from."</p> + +<p>Saylor returned in a few minutes, his face beaming +with a ruddy, contented smile.</p> + +<p>Then, in his usually talkative mood, he expressed his +opinion of his neighbors and the transaction in reference +to their land. "There are two more dang fools, who will +move down in the blue grass and buy a farm and be as +much at home as a hoot owl on a dead snag in the noon +day sun with a flock of crows cawing at him. In about +two years they will sell out to some sharper and move +back to some mountain cove or crick bottom and start +all over again; or when they gits their money they will +hop the train cars for Kansas and settle on a government +claim twenty miles from a drap of water; then +mosey back here in about five years with nothing but their +kids, the old woman, two bony horses, a prairie schooner +and a yaller dog."</p> + +<p>As they came in the door, Mary was just completing +preparation for supper. The table was made more +attractive by a red figured table cloth instead of the +brown and white oil cloth one. In the center was a pot +of delicate ferns. The regular fare of corn bread, hog +meat, corn field beans, potatoes, sorghum and coffee, had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>been supplemented by some nicely browned chicken, a +roll of butter, biscuits and a dish of yellow apples and +red plums.</p> + +<p>As they came to supper, a gentle rain began falling +which continued long into the night.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, standing by his chair and noticing again +that places were prepared for the men only, said; "Mrs. +Saylor, the rain makes it so cozy and home-like, you, +Miss Mary and Susie fix places and eat with us; I am +sure we will all have a better time."</p> + +<p>Saylor stopped eating long enough to add;—"Do, it +will seem like a Christmas dinner in the summertime."</p> + +<p>While Caleb remarked;—"He's coming along right +peart."</p> + +<p>Mary, with a laugh and blush and an appreciative +smile at Mr. Cornwall, added a place for her mother +and Susie, while she served the supper.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, who had paid little attention to the girl, +furtively watching her, was impressed by her competence +and winsomeness. She was a healthy sun-browned +brunette of eighteen; had attended the Pineville +graded school for three years and the summer before +passed the examination and qualified as a teacher. +She had been given the school at the forks of the creek +and was paid a salary of thirty-five dollars a month, +most of which went to pay her father's taxes and for +books.</p> + +<p>The children of her school were of divers ages and +sizes. There were lank boys taller than Mary and little +girls that needed to be cuddled and mothered. The +native children, mostly a tow-headed lot, were easily distinguished +from the children of the families at the mines, +whose parents were from Naples or Palermo.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>Not even the girls from Southern Italy had blacker +hair or more dreamy eyes than Mary's. Hers was a +seeming nature and appearance made of a composite of +the girls of her school; natives of the hills and the aliens +of the blue Mediterranean.</p> + +<p>Some of the foreign boys who knew little English +were carefully grounded in mathematics and certain +physical sciences. Their proficiency made it a difficult +task for their immature teacher. She was aware of her +limitations and struggled faithfully to overcome them, +spending many hours to qualify herself in mathematics +and as a grammarian.</p> + +<p>That night, as the others were grouped about the +door, talking or listening to the rain, she sat near a table +on which burned a small unshaded oil lamp, studying +out some grievous problems to her, in the third arithmetic.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, noting her worried expression and how +persistently she applied a slate rag, asked Susie, who +sat near the table, to change places with him, and moving +the chair near Mary's took the slate and by a few +suggestions gave just the needed assistance; and in +such a concise way that the quick though untrained mind +of the girl found no further difficulties in solving the +other problems of the lesson.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Mr. Cornwall, for helping me. At least +tomorrow I will have the best of those big boys. It is +surprising how easy the seemingly hard things are after +you have learned to do them."</p> + +<p>Shortly after sunrise the following morning, Mr. +Rogers and Cornwall said good-bye to their host and his +family and rode off down the creek.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>They had gone but a short distance when they overtook +Mary and Susie on their way to school. They rode +slowly keeping pace with the walking girls.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cornwall and I feel we should make our excuses +for the additional labor our visit has caused you."</p> + +<p>"We are glad you stopped over at our home. The +life is lonely at times and the face and talk of a stranger +break the monotony. Besides Mr. Cornwall helped me +with my studies. I hope when you pass this way you +will find time to stop again."</p> + +<p>"I doubt if I shall come, but Mr. Cornwall, who is to +be our local attorney at Harlan, must return in a week or +so to supervise the Brock and Helton surveys and will +be making occasional trips to Pineville. After he becomes +a better horseman you may see him occasionally +riding on his own saddle horse, comfortably seated on +a hard saddle and carrying his clothing and papers in a +pair of saddle bags. Now he finds the trip tiresome, +later he will find the ride exhilarating and your house +a convenient resting place; am I right Cornwall?"</p> + +<p>"I desire to express my thanks and shall be glad of +any opportunity to stop and see you again."</p> + +<p>"Here we are at the Salt Trace road; you follow it +over the mountain to the river, then up the river valley +to Poor Fork which you cross almost within sight of +the town. Goodbye to both and good luck to Judge Cornwall; +come again."</p> + +<p>Their road after crossing the mountains was up the +Cumberland Valley, hemmed in on the north by the +gracefully sloping spurs of Pine Mountain and flanked +on the south by the more rugged and closely encroaching +Cumberland mountains.</p> + +<p>The river gurgles and murmurs and surges along +over a bottom of boulders or lies restfully placid over a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>bottom of sand. In these pool-like reaches many large +rocks, shaken from the mountain tops in ages past, lift +their gray heads high above the water and give to the +scene a touch of rugged grandeur.</p> + +<p>The water is so clear that the natives climb into the +overhanging elms or sycamores, or lie peering down from +a jutting rock and do their fishing with a Winchester.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock the travelers crossed the Poor +Fork and fifteen minutes later rode into Harlan Town; +and to the office of the company; a three-story red brick +building fronting the court house square.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_18" id="PAGE_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Cornwall Locates In Harlan.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>With the exception of a few counties in western +Kentucky, no official survey was ever made of the state. +In the unsurveyed portion grants for land issued by +the Commonwealth varied in size from a few acres to +as many as two hundred thousand; and called for natural +objects as beginning and boundary corners.</p> + +<p>The result of such a lax system was that often the +same boundary was covered by several grants; and the +senior grant held the land.</p> + +<p>Many grants were so indefinite of description, the +beginning corner calling for certain timber or a large +stone in a heavily timbered and, in sections, rocky +country, as to be impossible of identification or location. +Other grants were so poorly surveyed as to be +void for uncertainty and yet other boundaries were +claimed by squatters who held by adverse possession +against any paper title.</p> + +<p>A person owning the paper title to a thousand acre +boundary traceable to the Commonwealth without +break or flaw, might not be the owner in fact of a single +acre of land; as the whole boundary might be covered +by senior grants or the natural objects called for, impossible +to find.</p> + +<p>The only way to be assured of a good title was to +make a careful abstract, following that up by an actual +survey and obtaining from any person in possession a +written declaration that their possession and claim was +not adverse to the title and claim of your vendor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>The public records were imperfectly kept and indexed; +which made Cornwall's work for the company +a series of petty and tiresome annoyances.</p> + +<p>Two weeks after his arrival the Harlan Circuit +Court convened. He was immediately put into harness +and called upon to assist in the trial of several +important ejectment suits.</p> + +<p>The first week of the term was taken up with criminal +business. There were three murder cases, two of which +were tried. The other cases were petty in nature, the +defendants being charged with carrying concealed +weapons, shooting on the highway and boot-legging.</p> + +<p>During the second week he assisted in the trial of +two ejectment cases, one of which was lost. The third +and most important case was set for the fourteenth +day of the term. It involved five hundred acres of coal +land worth more than twenty-five thousand dollars; +and though Judge Finch, local counsel for the company +assured him it would go over, he had the company's +witnesses on hand and carried to the court house the +file, which included the title papers and an abstract; +but he had never examined them.</p> + +<p>When the case was called the other side announced +ready and they, not being able to show cause for a continuance, +were forced into trial.</p> + +<p>While the jury was being empaneled Judge Finch +leaned over and whispered:—"Go ahead and help +select the jury, the panel looks pretty good. I have +to leave." He picked up his hat and hastened from the +court room, giving Cornwall no time to object. In +about twenty minutes the jury was selected; Cornwall +being assisted by one of the company's witnesses.</p> + +<p>Then the court called upon him to state his case to +the jury.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>"Judge I know nothing of the case, Judge Finch +was here a few minutes ago and was to try it."</p> + +<p>"The case must go on; do the best you can. The +court will take a recess of fifteen minutes to give counsel +an opportunity to examine the papers and familiarize +himself with the case. Mr. Sheriff, call Judge +Finch."</p> + +<p>The case proceeded in the absence of Judge Finch +and the next day in the mid-afternoon was completed; +the jury returning a verdict in favor of the company.</p> + +<p>Cornwall ordered a horse and inquiring the road to +Judge Finch's house, who lived on Wallins Creek, rode +out to see him. There he sat on his porch, coatless, in +carpet slippers, playing cinch with three farm hands.</p> + +<p>"Hello John, have a cheer, do you play cinch?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>(One of the hands) "Jedge, your corn is mighty +weedy, you better let us go back to our hoeing."</p> + +<p>"By gosh! You are working for me aint you; and +if I want you to play cards instead of hoe, that's my +business."</p> + +<p>"John, how did you come out with the Asher +case?"</p> + +<p>"The jury returned a verdict for the company. +Judge you certainly left me in a hole running off like +you did."</p> + +<p>"By gosh! the family was out'er meal and I just +had to go to mill for a turn."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>When one of the witnesses in the Asher case told +Mr. Rogers of the desertion of Cornwall and the case +by Judge Finch he said; "I suppose we must depend +upon Cornwall alone or get Mr. Low or Judge Hall to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>help him. This company is through with Finch. I +certainly would have trembled in my shoes, had I +known Cornwall was handling it alone. He's a good +boy. I hope the verdict won't make a fool of him. I +think not, since he never mentioned Finch's desertion."</p> + +<p>Two days later court adjourned and the following +Monday the Bell Circuit Court convened. The first +case of importance on the docket was that of the Commonwealth +against Saylor for the murder of Caleb +Spencer.</p> + +<p>Saturday afternoon, before Mr. Rogers left for +Hagan, Virginia on his way to Pittsburgh, he said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cornwall, go to Pineville Monday and begin +the abstracts of the Brock and Helton titles to the land +the company bought on Straight Creek."</p> + +<p>Cornwall, a poor horseman, not yet hardened to +such exercise, broke the ride by traveling down the +river, Sunday afternoon and over Salt Trace to the Saylor +home; not wholly unmindful that Mary was a good +looking girl and agreeable company.</p> + +<p>When he rode up, the house had a deserted appearance. +Mrs. Saylor and Susie were in the barn milking. +All the rest of the family had gone to Pineville to be +present at the trial, and Susie and her mother were leaving +the next day.</p> + +<p>He lay awake half the night thinking of Mary and +his mother and listening to the penetrating tones of a +hoot owl far up the mountain side. The house did not +seem the same as the one at which he had stopped less +than a month before. He was homesick and felt inclined +to return to Louisville.</p> + +<p>When he rode into Pineville at noon the next day he +found the hotel crowded with visiting lawyers and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>litigants. +The Commonwealth's attorney told him that the +Saylor case was set for hearing the following morning +and that the prosecution was ready for trial. He also +learned that Saylor was treating the case as a joke and +had employed Squire Putman to represent him for +twenty-five dollars; which he said was a big price for the +services he would or could render. "I can always depend +upon the Squire to help convict his client. It is a +mystery to the bar how he ever obtained license to +practice law."</p> + +<p>In the evening Cornwall visited the other hotel and a +large boarding house in search of the Saylors but was +unable to find any of them.</p> + +<p>When the court house bell rang in the morning he +went over, and up the stairway, into the court room, +just as the judge called for motions. Introduced by the +commonwealth's attorney he was sworn in as a practicing +attorney of the Bell Circuit Court.</p> + +<p>He expected to see some of the Saylor family seated +beyond the railing, but again was disappointed; nor did +he find them after a search through the corridors and +public offices. He then went into the county clerk's office +and began making an abstract of the Brock title.</p> + +<p>At noon when he returned to the court room they +were in the trial of the Saylor case. On the right sat +Squire Putman and his client and behind them, Mrs. +Saylor, Mary and Susie.</p> + +<p>Saylor and his counsel had an air of easy confidence; +Mrs. Saylor the set face and look of an unhappy fatalist; +Mary's expression was one of worried interest +and sadness; Susie suppressed an occasional sob.</p> + +<p>To Cornwall the jury seemed a rather unsatisfactory +one, they looked bored and unsympathetic. The panel +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>was made up of business men of Pineville and Middlesboro, +who resented being kept from their occupations +at a busy season. They were new citizens who had +moved into the mountains since the development of the +coal fields and had little use or sympathy for pistol +toters or feudists.</p> + +<p>There was one exception, Elhannon Howard, Saylor's +neighbor. He sat in a listless and inattentive attitude, +probably thinking of his patch of hillside corn or the +Southdown ram.</p> + +<p>Summing up the situation, realizing how kindly and +informally he had been received into and entertained +in the Saylor home, Cornwall regretted that when refusing +the fee of $25.00 he had not volunteered his services +in the defense. He would have done so at the time, +but supposed that Mr. Saylor would employ competent +counsel to defend him.</p> + +<p>The trial was a short one. The Commonwealth, in +addition to making out its technical case, proved threats +on the part of Saylor and that Saylor admitted the +killing.</p> + +<p>Saylor on the stand told the same story he had told +Cornwall. The defense then introduced two witnesses, +who swore that the deceased had threatened Saylor; +Spencer sending word by them to Saylor that he intended +to kill him; the squire attempted to show by the doctor +that when Spencer was told by him that he could live +but an hour or two, the dying man had said: "I am to +blame for the trouble," but the court excluded the declaration +from the jury.</p> + +<p>The squire in making his argument for the defense +grew quite stentorian of voice and excited in manner. +He had a way of half stooping until the long coat tails +of his black frock coat touched the floor, when he would +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>suddenly spring upright and exclaim: "Now, gentlemen +of the jury, wouldn't you be danged fools if putting yourselves +in Saylor's place you had not done as he did."</p> + +<p>In one of these paroxysms his coat tail flapped to one +side and hung pendant on the handle of a six-shooter +protruding from his hip pocket. This explained to the +jury why in midsummer he wore a frock coat. They considered +the pistol a silent witness and protest against +Saylor's acquittal and a clarion call to do their duty in +upholding law and order.</p> + +<p>Shortly before six the jury retired. They were out +fifteen minutes and brought in the following verdict: +"We, the jury, agree and find the defendant guilty and +fix his punishment at three years in the State penitentiary. +Elhannon Howard, Foreman."</p> + +<p>When the verdict was read, the face of the squire +turned red with surprise. Saylor's face for the first time +assumed a serious expression; Mrs. Saylor burst into +tears; Susie cried aloud and hung to her father's arm; +Mary grew as pale as death and her body shook as from +intense cold.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, who had come into the court room during +the squire's argument and who, after bowing to Mary +and Mrs. Saylor, had taken a seat behind them, came +forward.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Mary, we shall find a way to get him +off. Let me go with you and your mother to where you +are stopping. I tried to find you last night."</p> + +<p>The sheriff came forward and, taking Saylor by the +arm, said: "Come on, Mr. Saylor."</p> + +<p>The woman kissed the condemned man a hasty farewell. +He and the sheriff went out one door toward the +jail; the Saylor family and Cornwall another, walking +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>up the street to old Pineville, to the home of Mary's +aunt.</p> + +<p>In the morning Mary and her mother came by the +court house and asked Cornwall to go with them to the +jail, as that afternoon they had to return home.</p> + +<p>It was a sad group that gathered in the little jail +parlor, while the jailer stood at the door.</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, I guess you know more law than +me or old Putman. I seem to be in bad because I did +not take your view and advice, instead of hiring that +cheap lawyer. We had only Mary's money; I did not +want to sell or mortgage our home, and if I had not +killed Simpson, he would have got me shore."</p> + +<p>"You may have a chance, Mr. Saylor, with the Court +of Appeals. I do not think the court should have excluded +Simpson's dying declaration; it seemed relevant."</p> + +<p>"I shorely hope so on account of the old woman and +the kids. Mary will lose her school on my account; she +can't keep those big boys quiet now. You look after my +case for me and write Mr. Rogers that I will sell his company +the home place."</p> + +<p>"Do not sell your place to pay a fee to me. You can +pay that after you are out. Mary and I will attend to +the costs of the appeal, which will not be much, as the +record is small."</p> + +<p>Saylor's wife and daughter bid him a rather stoical +farewell, so far as tears and talk were concerned, though +their pallid faces indicated the pain of separation was +heartfelt. Mountain women have not a fluent line of +chit-chat, nor are they demonstrative in their griefs.</p> + +<p>They walked with Cornwall back to the court house, +where, after thanking him for what he had done and +expressing a wish to see him soon, they left, returning +home in the afternoon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>Cornwall sent Mr. Rogers the following telegram: +"Saylor convicted, three years penitentiary. Offers +Straight Creek land for thirty thousand. Hope company +can afford to pay thirty-five. John Cornwall."</p> + +<p>He received this answer: "Land worth thirty-five +thousand, company will pay that amount if title and +survey hold three hundred acres. H. M. Rogers."</p> + +<p>For the next ten days Cornwall was very busy at Pineville. +He found the paper titles to the Brock and Saylor +surveys perfect. The Helton boundary necessitated a +suit to clear the title to about one-half of the survey. He +filed a motion for a new trial in the Saylor case, which +the court promptly overruled; then asked and was +granted an appeal to the Court of Appeals. The court +stenographer made a transcript of the testimony; a bill +of exceptions was filed and approved and within ten days +after Saylor's trial and conviction; his appeal was formally +filed at Frankfort.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_27" id="PAGE_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">A Week in a Mountain Home.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>There are some free-thinking souls who love nature +and the primitive so well as to believe that Providence +made a mistake in permitting men to pass beyond the +pastoral stage.</p> + +<p>There are many who, though they love art, literature +and the other gifts and comforts of civilization, would +trade all to live in a primitive mountain home; to call +their time, a house of logs and a few barren fields, "my +own."</p> + +<p>They care not for the smoke of many chimneys, or the +surging crowd or the ceaseless din of commercial centers. +They love the view from mountain tops, where hills peep +over hills and pinnacles are clothed in clouds. They love +the peace and quiet of the sheltered coves; where the +timber grows verdant and strong, fern-bordered fountains +burst forth to life, and the squirrels and other free +things dwell. They love a home site in a secluded valley +near the head of a gurgling, restless, mountain river and +think to live a life of peace, dividing the glories of mountain +and plain. But wherever man would rest and hide +his head and heart, giant care comes with a club and the +huntress misfortune finds her way with a full quiver.</p> + +<p>Mary, who had done no wrong and expected no punishment, +when she returned home, found these two unbidden +guests awaiting her. Her eyes were opened to +see sorrow; which all the world knows.</p> + +<p>The following morning when she walked up to the +school house door the children stood in groups talking +in subdued tones. The little girls for the first time since +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>the early days of the term failed to rush forward and +greet her. She rang the bell; they came in slowly and +rebelliously, the big boys last of all. Several of the +children, among them those of one of the trustees, were +absent.</p> + +<p>Tim Fields, a lanky, overgrown boy of sixteen, after +having been reproved, continued talking to his desk-mate. +When Mary told him he must behave or go home, +he arose and, starting towards the door, said: "I guess +I will go anyway; pap said, last night, he didn't think +a convict's daughter oughter handle this here school and +he was going to see the trustees and the county superintendent +and git ma's sister in."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, Luigi Poggi, whose seat near +the window overlooked the creek, saw him on the bank +throwing small boulders at a flock of geese.</p> + +<p>He raised his hand, and snapping his fingers to attract +attention, asked, and was given permission, to go +to the spring for a bucket of water. When out of sight of +the teacher he whistled for Tim and walked on slowly +down towards the spring, until he came to a dusty, bare +spot in the path under a tree, where the boys played +keeps.</p> + +<p>"Tim, what did you say that to teacher for; she's +good to all of us?"</p> + +<p>"What you got to do with it, you Dago?"</p> + +<p>"This," and he struck Tim in the face with the empty +water bucket.</p> + +<p>They fought in the sand path for about five minutes; +when Luigi, throwing Tim face down, rubbed and bumped +his head in the sand until Tim could scarcely breathe +through his bleeding nose and his mouth choked with +dust and sand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>When he said, "'nuff," Luigi let him up, and returned +to the school house with a dirty, scratched face, +but a full bucket of spring water.</p> + +<p>"Luigi, what made you so long?"</p> + +<p>"I fell down."</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No'm."</p> + +<p>"Go down to the creek and wash your face."</p> + +<p>"Yes'm."</p> + +<p>On Friday morning not more than half of the school +were present.</p> + +<p>Saturday afternoon the county superintendent called +at the Saylor home and, telling Mary that several of the +trustees objected to her keeping the school, asked for +her resignation, which she wrote out and handed him.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The days were pleasant and busy ones for Cornwall. +He looked forward with pleasure, as to a vacation, when +he should return to Straight Creek and make the survey +of the Brock, Helton and Saylor properties, and for that +purpose chose that delightful season in October; last +harvest time for man and beast, when the corn is ripe +and the nuts loosened by the early frost are showering +upon the ground like manna for all. It is the beginning +of Indian summer, when nature, festive and placid of +mood, clothes the hills in shades of red and brown; and, +fearful that man, who is inclined to overlook nearby joys +and pleasures for more distant and less certain ones, +might overlook the familiar hills, even though freshly +painted, hides her far-off attractions with a hazy curtain.</p> + +<p>As the party came down over Salt Trace into the +Straight Creek valley, in full accord with the perfect day +and as gay of heart as the trees were gayly colored, they +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>met Caleb going down the creek road with the old squirrel +rifle, longer of barrel than the small boy.</p> + +<p>"Where now, hunter, just at sunset, when most hunters +seek the camp?" was Cornwall's greeting.</p> + +<p>"I'm going down to Elhannon Howard's. Ma told +me he sent pap to jail. I shore will fix him if this gun +don't bust."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute. That's a fine gun; let me have a +look at it. It's mighty heavy. I'll ride down with you +and carry it until we get within sight of the house. Has +Elhannon any boys?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, two."</p> + +<p>"How old are they?"</p> + +<p>"John is eleven; Henry is nine."</p> + +<p>"John is a big, strong boy. I bet you are afraid of +him. If you were not, it would be great fun to beat him +up with your fists or kick him in the slats, or throw him +in the creek and make him holler "'nuff." Why not +save Elhannon for your dad when he gets out? He might +not want you to do his fighting for him. Did he ask you +to take a shot at old man Howard?"</p> + +<p>"No, I ha'int thought about that."</p> + +<p>"You didn't say you were not afraid of John Howard."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm not. Why?"</p> + +<p>"If you were not afraid of him, you would leave your +gun at home and tomorrow beat him up at school."</p> + +<p>"I believe I will go back home and beat him up at +school tomorrow; but recess will be plenty long to wait."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we better go on; he's older and bigger than +you; you are afraid of him. You better tackle him with +your gun."</p> + +<p>"Waste powder and ball on that chump? Not me; I'm +not afraid of any of them Howards. I'm hungry; <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>supper's +about ready; let's go home. I shore hope he comes +to school tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Say, boy, are those your hogs? Why don't you +feed them some corn?"</p> + +<p>"They shore am poor. Them's old man Lewis'. He +lives down the crick below here. This time last year he +turned them out to eat the mast. After the mast was +gone he still let them run and would go out with a basket +of corn and feed them. He's dumb, he can't holler. He +called them by pounding with a rock on a dead snag. +Since the woodpecker's came this spring them fool hawgs +have nigh 'bout run themselves to death."</p> + +<p>"Here, boy, take your gun; there's a squirrel."</p> + +<p>"That's right; give her here."</p> + +<p>"He's a nice fat one."</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's plenty of nuts now."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I would reload her now; there's the +house."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cornwall, I'll loan you my gun tomorrow and +you can go hunting."</p> + +<p>"You better let me have her all the time we are surveying +the land."</p> + +<p>"All right."</p> + +<p>Cornwall was met at the gate by Mary and her mother; +they both seemed pleased to see him. Caleb took +his horse to the barn and, removing the saddle, turned +him loose for a roll in the dusty lot. Then he was put +in a box stall and given three sheaves of oats.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Saylor, you see I am back and have brought +three others with me. We will be here a week. I hope +you will not find us too troublesome. The two chainmen +will sleep in the loft on the hay, so as not to crowd you."</p> + +<p>"We are glad to have you; come right in."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>"Miss Mary, you must treat us like home folks; no +extra work now or we will move down to old man Howard's. +Your school and those big boys are enough of a +worry."</p> + +<p>"I have more time. They have another teacher at +the school, Mrs. Field's sister. They removed me because +of father's conviction."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"The county superintendent and the trustees."</p> + +<p>"When we buy your father's land, why don't you go +east to school?"</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking of that. What school would +you suggest?"</p> + +<p>"Go to one of the best—Wellesley."</p> + +<p>The next morning at sun-up the party started surveying +the Saylor property. This they completed in two +days; the boundary held three hundred and five acres.</p> + +<p>Cornwall insisted on carrying Caleb's rifle; but the +only squirrels they got were those killed by Henry Saylor. +He was sixteen; a good axeman, and employed to blaze +the lines and locate the corners.</p> + +<p>Saturday morning they started on the Brock boundary; +but quit work about four o'clock in the afternoon +and had a most refreshing swim in a deep pool of the +creek before supper.</p> + +<p>Sunday afternoon the family went down to the school +house, "to meeting." It was the first time Mary had +been in the building or seen many of her acquaintances +since the school had been taken from her.</p> + +<p>When she walked in accompanied by Cornwall and +Duffield, the surveyor, her face shone with happiness. +Cornwall had dispelled the cloud of misfortune that had +overshadowed it by the assurance that her father would +be given a new trial and acquitted. Since her active, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>ambitious mind was building glorious castles of hope on +the prospects of refinement and education, she found +much joy and comfort in the company of the young lawyer; +more than she admitted even to herself; and the +young surveyor and his assistants were a source of +amusement and entertainment.</p> + +<p>She was so occupied with and hedged about by the +two "furreeners" that young Doctor Foley, who had +come to church with the hope of taking her home in his +new buggy, had but time to greet her and pass on.</p> + +<p>Several of the girls, who had rejoiced at her humiliation +were disappointed when they saw how happy she +seemed, saying: "She's a cool one; she don't care if her +pap is in jail, now that she is bent on catching that city +lawyer."</p> + +<p>The preacher, a circuit rider, who during each month +tried to preach not less than once at more than a dozen +small log churches and school houses, many miles apart, +was a godly man who traveled over the hills on an old +gray mare, carrying most of his earthly possessions in +his saddle-bags. His hair was thin and his frame almost +a shadow. His deep-set eyes and strong face had an +expression of righteousness and peace. Years before he +had loved a young woman, but knew that he could not +continue preaching in his district and support a wife. +One day he came to her home and in tears, holding her +hands, made and told her his choice.</p> + +<p>Since then, with quivering voice but calm face, he +had married her to a friend, and baptized her two children +and had buried her husband. He loved her still, +but his earthly treasurers were as meager as when she +had wedded another.</p> + +<p>The crowd was too great for the little school house, so +they came out and sat upon the green under two great +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>twin oaks, while God's ambassador, standing upon a rude +bench nailed between the trunks, gave to them his message +of simple words in the voice and tone of friend and +neighbor.</p> + +<p>Since early morning he had preached two sermons, +christened a half dozen infants, baptized three confessors, +visited a bed-ridden man and a feeble, old, blind +woman, and given burial service to one of his congregation. +Far in the night, when the day's work was done +and he slept, his were dreams of peace. Two angels with +forward pendant wings formed a mercy seat above his +bed and on it sat One a thousand times brighter than the +sun, who in a voice that might be heard through space, +though softer than the music of riffled waters, spoke to +him.</p> + +<p>"Well done, good and faithful servant, continue in +the labor of the Lord."</p> + +<p>"But, Lord, I am lonely and weak and homeless and +would rest."</p> + +<p>"Weary not in well-doing. My grace is sufficient for +thee; My strength is made perfect in weakness—you +have a home not made with hands, eternal in the +heavens."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On Tuesday the surveying party began work on the +Helton property. This was so distant from Saylor's that +they thought of moving headquarters to Asher Brock's +at the head of the creek valley; but as a couple of days +would complete the work they concluded to remain where +they were, riding forth in the morning and back in the +evening.</p> + +<p>Mary fixed a lunch, which was placed in a grain sack +and tied behind Cornwall's saddle. Near noon they +stopped to rest and eat under some elms in the upper +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>creek valley, when Cornwall discovered that the lunch +was gone, the sack having been pulled off while he was +riding through the dense underbrush.</p> + +<p>Their appetites were whetted by the smell of frying +ham, wind-wafted down the creek from Asher Brock's. +They rode to the house and asked to share the meal. The +maintainer is like the Arab; he never refuses to entertain +a guest.</p> + +<p>The old man sat at the end of the table, with Duffield +on his right and his daughter, a girl about seventeen, and +barefooted, next beyond. The family circle was large +and, with the four guests, the table was crowded.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the meal they were startled by the +girl who, crying "Ouch!" jumped up from the table.</p> + +<p>Her father, looking at Duffield with murder in his +eye, said: "What's the matter, Cinthy?"</p> + +<p>"The cat scratched my foot."</p> + +<p>The old man looked under the table for confirmation; +and there sat the old, black cat, looking as innocent as a +Madonna. And the family resumed the meal.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, as they were running one of the lines, +Cornwall said to Duffield: "That cat saved your life."</p> + +<p>"Heck! That cat scared me to death."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm on to you; I have heard of your tricks when +you were surveying in Clay and Leslie."</p> + +<p>"You mean that time over on Red Bird; that is the +greatest fishing stream in Kentucky, and most appropriately +named, as each papaw bush and hazel and blackberry +thicket is the home of a family of red birds.</p> + +<p>"From Big to Bear Creek it is a succession of riffles +and smooth pools. These pools are the favored haunts +and playgrounds of bass, perch and soft-shell turtles. A +single drag with a minnow seine in one of the feeding +brooks will give you an ample supply of bait. When +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>carefully keeping behind the overhanging shore brush +and exercising caution not to knock brush or clod into +the stream, an hour's mediocre effort is rewarded by a +dozen bass of uniform size, weighing about a pound each. +Should you make an unusual noise, break a twig or cause +the sandy bank to cave and ripple the water, you must +pass on to the next pool and use more caution.</p> + +<p>"We were stopping at old man White's. The house +had three rooms in the front. It was in the spring, and +at night we sat in the big middle room around the open +fireplace and joined in the family conversation. This +was the bedroom of the old folks. Their grown daughter, +who attended school, sat by the table worrying over +her lessons in compound interest, the practical application +of which in after years would be as needful as a +mariner's compass to steer her father's log canoe, tied +to the root of a sycamore. I went over and helped her +a bit and she became quite cordial in manner.</p> + +<p>"When I handed back her slate, I wrote upon it: 'By +moonlight, when all is still, I will play Romeo under +your window.' I saw that she read it when, with a half-blush, +half-smile, she applied the rag with vigor to her +slate. I knew she understood. All the girls in this +broad land, though they may not know the sum of seven +times eight, are familiar with the story of Romeo and +Juliet and the balcony scene in ancient Verona.</p> + +<p>"Coleman Reid was with me. You know he is always +butting in when there is a girl around. He came over +and began drawing cartoons on the slate and, satisfied +with prospective arrangements, I gave him my seat, taking +his by the fire.</p> + +<p>"In a short while the girl and her sister went to their +room on the right end of the house and Reid and I to +ours on the left.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>"Reid wore his hair long and roached back; mine I +have always worn short. We undressed and went to +bed, both pretending to be sleepy.</p> + +<p>"After an hour I got up, dressed, and started out, +when my friend, who had been playing possum all the +time, said: 'Where are you going?'</p> + +<p>"'I'm not sleepy; I think I will take a little walk.'</p> + +<p>"'Don't you want your hat?'</p> + +<p>"'No.'</p> + +<p>"And so I walked around to the north end of the +house, where our host's daughter sat at the open window.</p> + +<p>"I said something about it being a pleasant night, +to which she replied:</p> + +<p>"'Ayr you the long-haired or the short-haired one?'</p> + +<p>"'The short-haired one.'</p> + +<p>"'Bend over so I can feel and see.'</p> + +<p>"So I bent over, happy to have my clipped locks +caressed by her capable hands, when she gave me a crack +with a rolling pin or some other delicate instrument. +And, without a word, half staggering, I walked out from +the shadow of the house into the moonlight and sat down +on the stile blocks until I could distinguish the real from +the artificial stars. Then I went in and to bed.</p> + +<p>"Reid was half-dressed when I came in and, about +the time I climbed into bed, he went out the door for a +walk, blaming me for waking him up.</p> + +<p>"In a little while he came back, looking the worse +for wear. A few drops of blood discolored his cheek near +the ear. He never told me what happened. I only know +that after that night he was not so restless and took no +moonlight strolls.</p> + +<p>"The next night I helped the girl again with her +compound interest, but Reid talked to the old man about +running logs down the river on the June tide."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>Thursday morning, Cornwall and his party, having +completed the surveys, returned to Harlan.</p> + +<p>A week later Mrs. Saylor met him by appointment in +Pineville. They went to the jail with a notary, when she +and her husband executed a deed to the Pittsburgh Coal +& Coke Company for the Straight Creek place, and were +given a check for the purchase price, thirty-five thousand +dollars.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_39" id="PAGE_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">The Saylors Move to the Bluegrass.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>In November the Court of Appeals reversed the case +of Saylor against the Commonwealth and remanded it +for retrial. Saylor gave bail in the sum of three thousand +dollars and was discharged from custody.</p> + +<p>He passed the first two or three days of his freedom +at the old place on Straight Creek; then he and his wife +took the train at Pineville for Richmond and spent more +than a week driving through the country examining +farms on the market in Garrard, Madison and Clark +counties. They finally purchased one in Madison County, +between Silver Creek and Paint Lick.</p> + +<p>Then they returned home and, after preparations were +completed for their departure, loaded their household +goods into a two-horse wagon and drove through, nearly +a hundred miles, to the new home. The women folks +rode in the wagon. The old man and the boys preceded +them on horseback, driving their small bunch of cattle +and sheep.</p> + +<p>Before the move, Cornwall received a letter from +Mary asking that he write Wellesley, making inquiries +as to the cost of the course and the preparation necessary +to matriculate. This he did and forwarded the reply +to her on Straight Creek. A few days later he received +a short note of thanks for that and the many other services +he had rendered them. She also asked that he +come and see them before their removal and gave the +new home address.</p> + +<p>He intended riding over to Straight Creek before they +moved, but court was in session and he was very busy. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>When he did make the trip, he found the house deserted.</p> + +<p>He saw no member of the family until the February +term of the Bell Circuit Court, which Saylor and his wife +attended for his retrial.</p> + +<p>He received a Christmas card from Mary, mailed at +Wellesley, and wrote her a note of thanks for the remembrance, +of congratulation at the realization of her +desire, and a wish that the New Year might prove one +of happiness and further realization.</p> + +<p>Old man Saylor, dispensing with the services of +Squire Putman, insisted that Cornwall try his case alone +and fix his own fee; but not being acquainted in the +county, he asked Judge Hurst to help, particularly in +selecting the jury, and paid him $150.00 of the $500.00 +fee charged Saylor for services in the Court of Appeals +and the retrial of his case.</p> + +<p>All new residents of the county on the panel, if not +excused for cause, were peremptorily challenged. The +case was tried by a native jury that had respect for Saylor's +plea of self-defense and apparent necessity and who +understood what Simpson's threat meant. They were +out about twenty minutes and returned a verdict of "not +guilty."</p> + +<p>Cornwall, knowing with what anxiety Mary would +await news of the trial, telegraphed her: "All court matters +concluded and to your entire satisfaction"; so wording +it that she might not be embarrassed.</p> + +<p>Saylor and his wife after the trial exhibited no haste +to return to the Bluegrass or to re-establish social relations +with their new neighbors. They spent several days +visiting up the creek and in old Pineville.</p> + +<p>One night they called at Cornwall's hotel. Little was +said about the trial, though Mrs. Saylor shed a few tears +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>and called Cornwall a good boy. As usual, the old man +did most of the talking.</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, how are you coming on up to Harlan +Town. I shore do miss old Pine Mountain and the +rocks and trees; the jingle of the bells as the cows at +evening hasten homeward from the timbered hills; the +big, open fireplace with its light and glow of burning oak +and chestnut where we huddled in happy talk and kinship; +the darkness of the night where even the moon came +slowly over the mountain and peeped timidly through the +trees; the stillness of the night when all in the house +might hear Susie whispering her prayers and the whippoorwills +calling in the thickets.</p> + +<p>"The first thing in the morning I used ter go by the +friendly, old well and drink a gourdful of the soft, cool +water, then feed Tom and Jerry and bring in an armload +of wood. As I came in the door the frosty air was sweet +with the smell of home-cured bacon which the old woman +was fixing fer breakfast and when I sat down there it +was jest right, a streak of lean and of fat showing in +thin layers. And the big pones of cornbread hot from the +Dutch oven; of meal fresh from the old water mill and +sweet to the taste; a big dish of fried apples, a jug of +sorghum and a glass of milk. It was a nice place to live. +I would not care to pass the old house now. The door +might be shut, the fireplace cold; I would find no welcoming +face."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Saylor, what about the new home?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it does pretty good; the cattle are picking up, +but Tray sits in the open o' nights and howls at the moon. +We have three hundred acres, mostly pasture, with a few +oak, walnut and wild cherry trees and a muddy pond or +two and a thimble spring. There's one little thicket in +a draw big enough to hide a cotton tail. The world is +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>too big down there and I can see too far all ways at once; +too many homes and men and too few hills and trees. +The house is of brick with a porch and big pillars three +feet through that reach to the roof. We sleep upstairs; +there are ten rooms; but there is no place to sit and toast +your shins. Can't see a fire in the house and it is as hot +and stuffy as hell; got one of them hot-air things down +in the cellar; she shore eats up the coal. There are no +whippoorwills and no hoot owls, but lots of crows and +jay birds and meadow larks. I like to hear that little, +yaller-chested feller whistle from the pasture gatepost. +Far off to the south, when the air is keen and the sun +shines bright, you can see the blue mountains. The window +of the barn loft looks that way. When I ain't feeling +right peart, I go out to the barn and climb up to the loft. +I used to keep a joint of stove pipe up there. When I +held that tight to my face I could look through and see +nothing but them hills. Last month down at Richmond +town I bought me a spy glass. It's a good one and she +brings them close.</p> + +<p>"One day a young feller who lives on yan side of +Silver Creek rid up in a side bar buggy. I thought he +was kinder expecting to git acquainted with Mary. He +tied at the gate and come in. I met him in the front +yard where we keep the calves and let the sheep run. He +walked up and shook hands and says: 'I'm Bradley +Clay.' I says: 'Dang it, I can't help it.' He kinder stiffened +his back, then he laffed and says: 'Mr. Saylor, +there is a stock sale down at Paint Lick Saturday; come +down; you might get some good cattle and sheep cheap +for your fine pasture lands.' I says: 'All right, young +feller, I'll be thar. Will you come in the house and have +a cheer?' He says, 'No,' and rides off. I went over and +bought some right good stock pretty cheap.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"The men were right friendly, specially Jack Gallagher, +the auctioneer, and we passed a few jokes. There +was a whole bunch of wimen folks there, but I didn't +meet none of them and they don't seem to visit round +much, at least they don't come much to our house. I +sometimes think the old woman is most as lonesome as +I be.</p> + +<p>"Caleb went over to the Paint Lick school house after +Christmas; kept it up three days and had a fight every +day, then he had the mumps. That boy is young yet, jest +ten, so we let him quit the school, 'cause the teacher called +him a mountain wildcat. He traded a feller out of a fox +hound; now he and his houn' dog hunt rabbits and 'possums +nigh 'bout all day long.</p> + +<p>"Mary went east to school about Thanksgiving. It +cost me nine hundred dollars, but she's a good girl and +helped you git me off. She writes her mother nearly +every day. I do hope you git down to see us soon. They +tell me there are some nice-looking gals 'round our settlement. +You can have the big boy's buggy which he +bought ter take Clay's terbaccy tenant's darter buggy +riding. Do you dance? So do I, but not their kind down +there. They hug each other tight and slip erlong, while +we shuffle our feet and swing.</p> + +<p>"Before I go back I am going up to Berry Howard's +and try to buy a hundred-weight of home-cured bacon. +Well, old woman, I think you and this here young lawyer +have talked erbout enough. Let's go on up to Aunt +Mandy's and go to bed. Come down soon; good luck and, +as Caleb learned from that Dago, 'boney sarah.'"</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_44" id="PAGE_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Cornwall Buys a Home.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>About eight months after Cornwall settled in Harlan, +an old brick house fronting the principal residence street, +with a large yard of forest trees and behind it a garden +extending back to the river, about three acres, was offered +for sale. Cornwall, who was present as a spectator, +became suddenly and irresistibly possessed with a +desire to purchase it, and did so for fifty-eight hundred +dollars, paying one-third of the purchase price down, +which was all the money he had, borrowing the remainder +from the local bank.</p> + +<p>After a careful examination of the house and grounds, +which he had not done in advance of the purchase, he +became convinced he had made a bargain and was confirmed +in that idea when, two months later, Mr. Neal, +the owner of some coal properties on Clover Fork, who +had brought his family from Louisville to Harlan, offered +seventy-five hundred dollars for it.</p> + +<p>This offer he declined, because he had already written +his mother of the purchase, telling her the place was +to be their home, and how well satisfied he was with his +work, and of the prospect for better things the little +mountain city offered. She had answered that it was +her intention to visit him as soon as the railroad was +completed, when, if he was as well satisfied and she found +the place one-half as nice as he declared it to be, she +would remain and they would try to make the old place +a comfortable home.</p> + +<p>He answered at once that: "Several Louisville and +Lexington families have recently moved here, quite nice +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>people, and you will find sufficient social entertainment +for one of your quiet disposition. When we can afford +to repair and remodel the house and furnish it, using +your handsome, old furniture, we will be very comfortable. +Personally, I can conceive of no more satisfactory +arrangement. The railroad from Pineville will be completed +in less than a month, which will give connection +by rail with Louisville. Then you can ship our household +effects through and find the trip a reasonably comfortable +one."</p> + +<p>Upon the completion of the railroad the little mountain +city assumed quite a metropolitan air. Many +strangers came to town. This made business; and Cornwall +had as much to do as he could comfortably handle +and retain his position with the company.</p> + +<p>While at breakfast on the 6th of July, he was handed +a telegram announcing his mother's arrival on the morning +train. The hotel was crowded, but he procured a +comfortable room and made arrangements to meet her +with a carriage. Then he went to the office and worked +until it was time to drive to the station.</p> + +<p>As he came out upon the platform the train pulled in; +and his mother, whom he had not seen for a year, waved +to him from the rear platform. He caught her in his +arms and lifted her down, while she shed a few happy +tears and responded to his caresses. Then taking her +hand baggage in one hand and her arm with the other, he +started towards the carriage.</p> + +<p>"One moment, John; I beg your pardon, Dorothy. +This is my son, John Cornwall; and John, this is Miss +Dorothy Durrett, a niece of Mrs. Neal's. She is making +her a visit and expects to remain during the summer. We +came all the way together. I met her just after the train +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>left the Louisville station; we had opposite berths last +night and breakfast in Pineville at the same table, so we +are fairly well acquainted."</p> + +<p>"Miss Durrett I know your uncle very well and have +met your aunt. I do not see either of them here."</p> + +<p>"I should have telegraphed, but am careless about +such matters."</p> + +<p>"I have a carriage at the door and lots of room; +mother and I will be glad to drive you to your uncle's."</p> + +<p>"I have found your mother such agreeable company, +I would like to continue the journey with her, even to +uncle's door."</p> + +<p>The three walked to the street together, entered the +carriage and drove first to the Neal residence, where they +left Miss Durrett, then to the hotel.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cornwall liked the town. Its location on the river +bank and the sloping foothills of Pine Mountain, the +murmur of the river, and the quiet, practical lives of her +neighbors, all fit into her idea of a place to live. The +yard and garden of the place her son had purchased she +found charming and in sweet concord with the river and +the hills. She was not a critical woman, but all she could +say in favor of the house was; "It is substantial and +seemingly built to withstand the incursions of time." +Though it had been built before the Civil War, the +foundation of stone, the wails of red brick and the roof +of steel gray slate, were as sound as when first constructed. +The arched front door, bordered with a transom +and small panes of glass, was the one artistic thing; +and she declared must not be altered. But the small iron +porch, little longer than the width of the doorway, must +be supplanted by a broad veranda, the roof of which +should be supported by massive colonial pillars, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>keeping +with the grounds, and curative of the barrenness of +the house.</p> + +<p>The interior, she said, was a desecration of architecture +as an ornamental science, a waste of room and a +destruction of grace and beauty. Though John would +not concede the waste of room, since every thing was built +on a right angle plan and nothing appropriated room but +the partition walls and a narrow stairway. The interior +looked as though it were fashioned by artisans who were +zealous disciples of a carpenter's square and who carried +it about for insistent and perpetual use. She pointed out +where many new windows must be cut or old ones enlarged +and considerably modified in form.</p> + +<p>"John, you and I must save our money for the next +year, then we will have an architect give our modifications +the sanction of his approval. We must not be too precipitate +with alterations; living in the old house as it is +a year, will settle just what we desire. In the meantime +we can find plenty to do in the yard and garden.</p> + +<p>"I have four thousand dollars in bank which I have +been saving for you. We will use it to pay off the balance +of the purchase price and to supplement my furniture, +which is not more than half enough for the house.</p> + +<p>"How happy we shall be planning and changing the +house and grounds to suit our mutual fancy. It will be +the second time for me. When your father was thirty +we had saved three thousand dollars, just enough to buy +a little home. Then we changed our plan and built one +fresh and new. He died before the newness wore away +and the place really looked like home. I believe your +plan the better one; to buy an old home with a large +front yard of great forest trees and a garden back of the +kitchen, a house of substantial wall and foundation and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>living in it, as fancy dictates or need requires or purse +affords, make your alterations; then the place grows from +strangeness to sympathy and takes on individuality.</p> + +<p>"These old cherry and pear trees we will make room +for in our plans. But you must cut out the dead tops +and spray the trees. We want even these old trees to +look comfortable and happy. Oh, they are sickle pears +and nearly ripe. Just such ones as grew on father's +place near Middletown; and I, a girl in sun bonnet and +gingham apron, climbed the trees or picked them from +a ladder. I must have a sun bonnet again and some +gingham aprons. When you come home in the evening +I will stand erect or walk with a sprightly step as a +young girl and the sun bonnet will hide my gray hair +and pale face and you will say; 'I wonder who that +slender country girl is out under the trees? I suppose +mother has gone to the house for something.' When +I turn round you will say; 'Why, it is little mother; the +mountain air and sunshine and the garden are doing +wonders for her.' John you are a good boy and you are +helping too.</p> + +<p>"Look, John, there's a whole row of snowball and +lilac bushes, and here are some early yellow roses, and +over there a border of golden glow and a bed of lilies of +the valley, and yet further on some hardy lilies and peonies, +and beyond the walk a strawberry bed and sage, and +gooseberries and red raspberries and an arbor of grape +vines and a rustic bench.</p> + +<p>"We are at home, John. The garden makes me young +again and I see your father's face in your own. It is as +though God had given me the two in the one body. John, +brush off the bench and let us sit here and watch the +shadows lengthen and fade and the coming darkness add +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>zest and brilliance to the full moon. Then we'll go to the +house hand in hand and you can help with the supper. +You are not too hungry to wait a bit, John?"</p> + +<p>"No, mother."</p> + +<p>They sat for some time in silence as the twilight +deepened.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Neal and her niece, Dorothy Durrett, called today. +You must take me over some evening to see them. +I must not forget that you are a man and that some time +you will be looking for a wife. You must go out occasionally, +else you will appear awkward in the presence of +young ladies or be considered a crank."</p> + +<p>"I like to go, mother, but I have not much time since +I've been up here. Everything was new and I had to +work hard and, even with that, have got many a knock +I might have dodged; and lost once or twice because of +inexperience. Experience in the practice is the best professor +in law, but rather hard on the client. * * * I +met one nice girl. Though her family were homely mountain +people, she was making the best of her opportunities. +Last winter she took a preliminary course at Wellesley +and this fall enters the college as a freshman. I believe +you would like Mary; I did, anyway. This is Thursday; +suppose we go over to the Neals' Sunday afternoon +or Monday evening."</p> + +<p>"I will go with you Sunday afternoon at four +o'clock."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Neal home was within easy walking distance of +the Cornwall place. John and his mother made their +visit as planned. Their reception was cordial; Dorothy +showed that she was glad of the diversion.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>She was quite popular with the boys of her set at +home; and it was an unusual experience when she was not +called upon to entertain one or more young men Sunday +afternoon and evening.</p> + +<p>She and Cornwall sat upon the porch, joining in the +general conversation. After a time Dorothy suggested +that he carry the chairs out in the side yard, where they +sat under the shade of two wide spreading elms.</p> + +<p>They talked of several recently published romances; +of mutual friends in Louisville; of their amusements, +coming out parties; engagements and of the marriage of +two of their friends, which had proven a disappointment +to each party.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Durrett, what about the mountains; do +you like them?"</p> + +<p>"They are all right for the summer if you could +have a big house party, bringing your friends with you. +I must confess that I have done little but read the week +I have been here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, make new friends; adapt yourself to your environment; +I can do so with the men. There are some fine +young fellows here; though they are usually at work, except +when they are hunting, or swimming or fishing. I +believe girls are scarce; at least I know very few. I will +bring Duffield and Reid around from our office and ask +young Cornett to come with us. How will it do for +Wednesday evening. If you feel unequal to entertaining +the four, your aunt might ask a couple of girls in. We'll +be very glad to go for them and take them home again. +Give me their names and I will arrange with the boys."</p> + +<p>"How very kind; you are just the sort of friend one +needs. Let's go at once and speak to Mrs Neal."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>"Aunt, Mr. Cornwall and I are planning a little party +for Wednesday evening. He is to be responsible for the +young men and you are to ask three of the girls who have +called;—and serve some light refreshments, else Mr. +Cornwall will have to take us to the drug store. Does +Wednesday evening suit you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed; what girls would you suggest Mr. Cornwall?"</p> + +<p>"They've hardly been in my line since I have been +up here. I only know one or two. It's nice to come not +knowing who you will meet;—besides I am not as deeply +interested as the other three men. I shall speak for Miss +Durrett in advance and have the pick of all possible +prospects."</p> + +<p>They returned to their seats under the elms and completed +their plans; Mrs. Neal having announced that she +would ask Bessie Hall, Mary Norwood and Helen Creech.</p> + +<p>Dorothy said; "The young men suggested shall go for +them while you come ahead and make yourself generally +useful. This is the penalty for being so presumptuous as +to demand me as a partner before I have seen the other +gentlemen."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Mrs. Neal and Dorothy were both experienced entertainers +and the little party was a complete success.</p> + +<p>From Wednesday evening the Neal home became the +center of gaiety for more than a dozen young persons. At +night when Dorothy was at home each window seat and +rustic bench was the stage of a scene from the first act of +a seemingly serious love affair, had not the actors +changed partners and rehearsed the same scenes.</p> + +<p>By day there were picnics to the mountain tops, fishing +and bathing parties, horseback rides up Clover Fork +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>and down the river and at night card parties, informal +dances, hay rides and suppers.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, who for more than a year had been very +studious and unduly sedate, went everywhere; making repeated +apologies to his mother for leaving her so much +alone all the while declaring that he thought a thousand +times more of her than any girl in the world.</p> + +<p>She and Mrs. Neal became great friends. Mr. Neal +said, when his wife was not at home he knew she was +over at the Cornwalls', and John, who heard the remark, +replied; "I am always coming over to your house hunting +mother," at which the young crowd on the porch +roared with laughter.</p> + +<p>Dorothy was the most popular of the girls and in her +bird-like way a beautiful little creature. A blonde of the +purest type, of petite and perfect form, weighing about +a hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>Every boy that came to the house, at one time or +another, gave her a great bouquet of roses or mountain +laurel or a box of chocolates. Among themselves, they +called her Dolly Dimples Durrett. All the household and +the girls called her Dolly; even Cornwall unconsciously +called her Dolly several times; once in Mrs. Neal's presence. +After he left the house Mrs. Neal asked Dorothy +when he began doing that. "Oh! He did it unconsciously; +he is around and hears it so much; I am expecting every +day to call him John and probably have. It doesn't +mean anything. I'm almost sorry to say."</p> + +<p>She seemed not to care in the least who of the boys +was her cavalier, making it a point rather to keep the +whole company entertained and in the best of spirits +though Cornwall was most with her and they were such +good friends as to feel privileged not to weary each other +with forced conversation, taking time to think a little.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>She was as vivacious and light of heart as a feathery +summer cloud; and, I was about to say, reminding one of +a butterfly; but there was nothing of the sedate, slow, +hovery movement of that beautiful insect. Her's was an +extremely animated, aggressive daintiness. She always +seemed to be hovering near or peeping into a bunch of +flowers or carefully selecting a piece of candy for her +dainty little mouth.</p> + +<p>Her costumes were filmy creations of silk or other +soft fluffy stuffs that gave forth the iridescence and +sheen of a perfect opal; a coal of unquenchable, oscillating +ruby fire in the heart of a milky diamond. She was +a gorgeous little humming bird. So John described her +to his mother and she knew he had not found the girl he +wished for his wife.</p> + +<p>One Sunday Dorothy and Mr. and Mrs Neal came +from church to dine with them.</p> + +<p>After dinner, while the others sat in the cool, darkened +library, Dorothy and John wandered about the yard +and garden.</p> + +<p>They passed a bed of flowers in full bloom, over which +darted and poised a pair of humming birds. The flowers +were not attractive to the eye or of pleasant odor; but +the long corollas held a pungent, honeyed sweetness that +attracted the birds and many insects. Its technical name +was Agave Americana. The seed had been brought from +Mexico by the former owner of the place who, after making +a great fortune in mining, had first settled in Harlan, +but moved away, as the place offered very limited opportunities +for spending his income.</p> + +<p>When Dorothy passed the flower bed she gathered a +handful and held them to her face with evident relish as +they walked through the garden and found seats on the +bench under the arbor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>They had been seated a few minutes when a messenger +came from the public telephone office calling for John to +answer a call from Pittsburgh. Knowing it was urgent, +he excused himself, asking Dorothy to wait in the arbor, +expecting to be gone five minutes. He was delayed at +least twenty. When he returned she was peacefully +sleeping on the bench. To awaken her he held the bunch +of flowers to her face.</p> + +<p>She smiled, sat up and stretching out her arms moved +them up and down more rapidly than he thought humanly +possible; the vibration or arc described, being one +eighth of a complete circle. She bent forward, placing +her lips above first one corolla then another. Her actions +were unmistakable imitations of a humming bird. During +the whole time she kept up an incessant humming or a +chirpy little chatter, when John, almost in tears, taking +her by the arm, awoke her.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! While you were away I slept and had the +funniest dream. Come with me to the hammock under +the oaks in the yard and I will tell it. Tell me the name +of those strangely familiar flowers? Why they are the +very ones I saw in my dream!"</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">THE DREAM.</p> + +<p>"I sat on a bare twig, far from the ground, feeling +safer at that giddy height than nearer earth, preening +pinions, polishing beak and uttering the while a plaintive +little chatter.</p> + +<p>"There was a whirry buzz from above, a breeze of +swift motion, a tremor of my perch, and beside me sat a +gorgeous little knight, dressed even more brilliantly +than I.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>"His general body armor was of shining golden green, +duller and giving gradual place to an opaque black underneath. +He wore a crown of metallic violet and gorget of +emerald green; his tail feathers were a brassy sheeny +green and upon his breast and near his eyes were a few +feathers of snowy white, as though he had been caught +for a second in a snow storm.</p> + +<p>"As he moved in the sunlight those colors shifted and +changed until, if I had not been restrained by modesty, in +ecstasy I must have cried;—'What a gorgeous being you +are!' and he, doubtless reading my thoughts and more +than pleased that I liked his appearance, moved yet +closer and whispered words of love to me.</p> + +<p>"From our perch we looked out upon the land, the +foothill country. It was loved and kissed by the sun. +The scent of fragrant blossoms filled the air and the +fields were dotted with vari-colored flowers. Far above +to the north was a mountain range, the highest peaks of +which were covered with snow, and far below to the south +was a lazy tropic river hemmed to the water's edge by +forests of dense shade. There we never ventured though +sometimes when the sun was hottest we flew to the very +edge of the snow fields and sipped the most delicious +nectar from the white wax-like flowers that grew on their +moist border.</p> + +<p>"It was a life of freedom and movement. Not a +moment of inactive discontent; to dart with the speed of +an arrow but pursue as variant a course as fancy dictated; +from twig top to field, feeding upon honeyed nectar +and small insects which also loved the flowers and fed +upon their sweets. Not perching in sluggish dumbness +at the place of feeding but hovering in a fragrant flowery +world over the red or white or blue corolla cloth of an +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>ever changing dinner service, leading all the while a life +of intense movement, to pass as a bar of light, to stop +and rest and as suddenly depart.</p> + +<p>"There is a flash of green, red and purplish light, as +the iridescence of the purest gem. Was it the airplane +of a fairy passing by that gave forth all those gorgeous +hues, or had an angel in passing from heaven to earth +dropped a jewel from his crown? I saw no wings in +motion, but I have grown to know and love the sound I +heard; 'tis Sir Knight returning from one of his excursions.</p> + +<p>"He alights, and preening his feathers a second, the +while humming a little love ditty comes very close and +whispers; 'Love, will you be mine?' And the answer is so +low that nothing but a humming bird may hear.</p> + +<p>"So we leave the twig and skimming over field and +rill come into a land of flowers; and many of them are +such flowers as I had just gathered.</p> + +<p>"No longer alone, we mingle with the bees and +butterflies and many insects and others of our kind, all +intent upon a breakfast of honey dew freshly garnered +and served each morning; and such a service! The very +air is alive with the gathering; our ears are deafened by +the whistling sounds of flight, from a plaintiff treble +to a resonant bass, mingled with cries of joy and greeting +and quarrelsome chatter. It is the chit-chat of the +insect world.</p> + +<p>"My mate on vibrant invisible wing is immovably suspended +in a near vertical position over a large bell white +corolla, while I feast from a platter with a scarlet border +and a golden center.</p> + +<p>"Ye men who would learn to fly, take the humming +bird for instructor; and be taught that the most powerful +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>flight is not given to breadth of wing but to swiftness of +motion or vibration; and in watching Sir Knight poised +above a flower you may solve the mystery of a suspended +flight.</p> + +<p>"Finally we fix upon the place to build the nest, on +a limb overhanging the eddying pool of a mountain torrent, +just above the foam and spray of a waterfall.</p> + +<p>"Equally careful search is made for material. The +foundation is made of moss plastered into a mass and +saddled on a limb. Then it is lined with white vegetable +lint or down.</p> + +<p>"I now lead a more sedate life as becomes one assuming +the responsibilities of rearing a family; and, a believer +in a small and well-groomed family, lay but two +snow-white eggs.</p> + +<p>"While I am busy on the nest, Sir Knight pugnaciously +guards bride and home and, having much leisure, +becomes an exterior decorator of the nest, dressing it in +a becoming coat of gray lichens.</p> + +<p>"A small hawk lights in the treetop; he is scarcely +settled before our guard makes swift and vicious charge +at his head and eyes with needle-like beak. The hawk +in trepidation soars away, pursued for many a yard, too +slow to strike back effectively.</p> + +<p>"When the little fellows are old enough to make trips +alone to the flowery feeding grounds I fly to the edge of +the forest and there, tempted to feed from the cone-shaped +flowers of a pendant vine, become enmeshed in +the web of a great tropical spider.</p> + +<p>"The spider stealthily approaches, watching a chance +to spring when I have grown even more helpless from futile +struggle. There is a whir of wing, a dart of rainbow +light, a hole torn in the net. The spider is tossed from +his footing and falls wounded to earth. There is another +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>welcome whir of wings and I, torn loose, half flutter, half +fly to a nearby limb. Sir Knight has rescued his lady +love!</p> + +<p>"It was then I awoke and found you standing beside +me with those flowers in your hand."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>John did not think it necessary to tell the girl what +she had done before he aroused her. This knowledge, +with the dream, was to him an uncanny thing. The girl's +experience he felt was in some weird way a call from a +misty and long-forgotten past. The dream but emphasized +comparisons he himself had made. He had even +told his mother the girl reminded him of a humming bird. +This conception, with the dream, blotted out all thought +of the consummation of a slowly growing love. Though +he tried to conceal this feeling, the girl in a subtle way +perceived it. They returned to the library, and the Neals +shortly after returned home.</p> + +<p>That night the girl was depressed and could not sleep. +She found herself repeating: "Oh, why did I tell John +that dream! He did not like it; I wonder why."</p> + +<p>The long-distance call was a request from Mr. Rogers +to come to Pittsburgh. He left the next morning on the +early train, without seeing Dorothy, and was detained +ten days. When he returned she had gone home. He +wrote an almost formal letter explaining his sudden departure +and expressing regret that upon his return he +had not found her in Harlan. She answered, acknowledging +the receipt of his letter and expressing the hope that +when he came to Louisville he would call upon her.</p> + +<p>As a business proposition, the trip to Pittsburgh had +been a complete success. The company had contracted +to purchase some valuable mining property in West <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>Virginia +and had sent for John to make a careful re-examination +of the title and check up the abstract furnished +by the vendor. This work required more than a week +and when completed the company found it so satisfactory +they paid him a bonus of $250.00 above his expenses +and salary and informed him of a raise of his salary on +the first of the month, when his first year would be completed, +to two thousand dollars. This, with his practice, +assured an income of four thousand dollars a year.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_60" id="PAGE_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Mary and John Progress.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>The experiences of Mary on her trip East to Wellesley +and the first few months of college life were such as to +try her courage and earnestness of purpose. Her traveling +experience, until the family moved to Madison +County, had been limited to trips to Pineville, Middlesboro +and Harlan. Since moving, she had been to Richmond, +Winchester and Lexington.</p> + +<p>A week or so before she went East, she and her mother +had gone to Lexington to purchase her clothing. Her +father had given her one hundred and fifty dollars for +the purpose, to which she had added fifty dollars of her +own money.</p> + +<p>Before she bought anything she insisted on sitting +an hour in the hotel parlor and then walking about the +street for the purpose of noting the costumes of girls her +own age. She had gone to church at Paint Lick and, +sitting near the pew of the Clays, had seen Bradley Clay +and his sister, Rosamond, come in. Watching the girl, +she had thought what a becoming costume she wore. It +was a dark blue dress, very simply, though carefully, +made. With this limited experience, when she began +purchasing, going to a neatly dressed clerk and asking +that she show her some costumes, and such as she herself +fancied; her purchases, when completed and fitted, were +appropriate and becoming and almost transformed the +girl.</p> + +<p>When the time came to leave home, her resolution was +near the breaking point. She feared her father might +be convicted, though she had faith in Mr. Cornwall, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>which had been strengthened by his predicted reversal +of her father's case. She had never been separated any +length of time from her mother, except when at school in +Pineville. Then she had lived with her mother's sister, +her aunt Mandy, and went home every Saturday. Now, +for many months, she would be away from all kindred +and acquaintances, depending for sympathy and companionship +on yet unmade friends.</p> + +<p>Her father said: "Don't go, little girl, if you don't +feel like it," while she cried in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Father, I shall go; be good to mother, and when +Mr. Cornwall gets you off never touch a gun."</p> + +<p>"Alright, Mary."</p> + +<p>Her mother accompanied her to Winchester and there, +with face stained by tears and the coal dust of the local +train, bade her good-bye. Mary bought her ticket by +way of New York, on the C. & O. At the advice of the +agent, who was a kindly man and had grown daughters +of his own, she purchased a Pullman ticket and was told +when she arrived in New York to go straight to the +traveler's aid matron in the station.</p> + +<p>When the train pulled up, her cheap, little trunk was +put in the baggage car and she, with a paper shoe box +of lunch under her arm and a cheap handbag in the +other hand, boarded the train and took a seat in the day +coach, where she would have remained, except that the +agent, seeing her talking through the window with her +mother, pointed her out to the conductor as a Pullman +passenger. After the train started, the conductor piloted +her to her section and, as he went out, whispered to the +car conductor to shoo off the drummers.</p> + +<p>In New York the station matron put her aboard her +train and sent a telegram to the college, asking that some +one meet her, which Mary signed and paid for.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>She was unable to qualify for the freshman course, +but was permitted to enter on probation. Her natural +ability and application were such that in a few months +she had qualified herself to continue in the class and at +the end of the spring term was ranked among the most +proficient of the freshmen.</p> + +<p>Upon her arrival she had been given a room with a +little snob, the only child of a newly rich couple who +lived in a suburb of Boston. Her roommate did everything +she could to make Mary as miserable as possible. +She made fun of her clothes, ridiculed her local idioms +and expressions and laughed at her inexperience. She +would not study and tried to keep Mary from doing so. +She rolled on Mary's bed, keeping her own tidy; appropriated +three-fourths of the closet and most of the drawers +of the dresser and washstand, leaving for Mary the +bottom drawer of each and closet hooks in the dark corner. +She reported to the matron that Mary was not neat +and quarrelled all the time. But the matron, wise to the +girls of her day and generation, had her suspicions, and +by a careful and unsuspected surveillance soon became +cognizant of true conditions.</p> + +<p>Mary was changed to share the room of a girl from +Austin, Miss Litton, whose disposition was more like her +own. From then on conditions became comfortable.</p> + +<p>After Dorothy returned home, Cornwall's friends said +he was hard hit, because he turned his back on social +diversions. He merely reverted to his habits preceding +her visit. For a while he was invited everywhere, but +declined; finally they discontinued sending invitations +and left him to his hermithood.</p> + +<p>His sole recreation was the improvement of the old +place, at which he spent all the time not given up to his +law business. That grew steadily, so that in 1900, six +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>years after he had established himself in Harlan, he had +an income in excess of $5,000.00. This, with his mother's +annuity of $1,800.00, gave them more than three thousand +dollars a year in excess of their actual needs.</p> + +<p>The leisure of the fall and winter of 1895 was spent +in cleaning up, trimming the trees, transplanting shrubs +and vines, including border beds of hydrangeas which +were planted around the walls of the house and out-buildings. +When spring came and the garden had been +plowed, rolled and planted, the grounds were in perfect +condition.</p> + +<p>The yard and garden, so artistically laid off and perfectly +kept, emphasized the unattractive appearance of +the bare, red-brick house until John and his mother felt +forced to alter its rectangular barrenness. Since paying +for the house they had saved something over $2,000.00 +for that purpose and felt justified in commencing its alteration.</p> + +<p>Duffield, the company engineer, was possessed of considerable +artistic taste and an amateur architect. It so +happened a friend of his from Pittsburgh, an architect, +whose specialty was suburban homes, was spending his +summer vacation camping and fishing on the Poor Fork. +Duffield, who was with him, finally prevailed upon John +to join the party. He rode up to the camp on Friday +afternoon and remained until the following Monday.</p> + +<p>The visiting architect, the afternoon of his arrival in +Harlan, passed the Cornwall home with Duffield. He +commented upon the artistic arrangement of the +grounds; the contrast between them and the house; and +the opportunity the house offered for easy and artistic +improvement.</p> + +<p>John, not knowing the visitor was an architect, or +that he had even seen his home, but seeking Duffield's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>approval of the contemplated modifications, disclosed his +plans and asked for suggestions.</p> + +<p>The architect, recalling the house, began making suggestions, +in the main approving John's plans. After they +had discussed them for some time, the visitor stated that +when the fishing camp broke up he would take a look and +help out a bit. It was then John learned that Mr. Bradford +was an architect and regarded as an authority on +suburban homes.</p> + +<p>"Unless you stay up here and fish a few days with us, +Bradford and I will not help you change the sober face +and severe interior of your old, red-brick house. A home +should suggest the character of its occupant, and your +character is growing more in concord with your house +each day; your affinitive expressions in a year or two will +be perfect."</p> + +<p>"I must go to town Monday morning; it is county +court day, but will return Wednesday evening and remain +until I have persuaded Mr. Bradford to make his +home with me while I pump him dry of plans for the +improvement of the old house."</p> + +<p>And so Cornwall had the cheerful and gratuitous assistance +of an architect in remodeling his home, who +otherwise would have charged more than he contemplated +spending for improvement. When they returned +to town the three, with Mrs. Cornwall, spent several +pleasant evenings discussing and drawing up plans for +remodeling it, Mr. Bradford and Duffield becoming almost +as interested as John and his mother.</p> + +<p>When the time came for Mr. Bradford to return home, +John and his mother exacted a promise from him to return +the following summer and pass his vacation as their +guest.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>By the first of November the improvements were completed +at a cost of $3,300.00, making the total cost of the +place nearly $10,000.00. It was conceded to be the most +attractive and modern home in the county, though not +the most expensive. Mr. Neal liked it so well that he +offered John $15,000.00, which was declined.</p> + +<p>The little mountain city in growth kept pace with +John's improved conditions. There were many new brick +business buildings. The character and appearance of +the stores were modified from a general to a specialized +stock. When you bought a saw you might have to go +round the corner to buy a sack of flour or a pair of shoes. +The names of the old merchants, such as Nolen and Ward +and Middleton, disappeared and the new signs and advertisements +read: "Shoes greatly reduced because of +our fire last week; going at half price. Leo Cohen." +"We cut everything half in two to make room for our +new stock. Herman Mann." "Linens at less than +cost. Jacob Straus."</p> + +<p>A new bank and trust company were opened and the +old bank, The Harlan National, doubled its capital stock. +The ice and lighting plants were enlarged, and the city +bought a site up the river, built a dam, installed pumping +engines and constructed water mains into the city. An +opera house was built, which, though its walls never +re-echoed to the high soprano notes of a prima donna; +had trembled to their foundations at the invectives of +E. T. Franks; had shed sections of blistered plaster at +the sad wailings of Gus Wilson, and had been moved by +the matchless eloquence of A. O. Stanley when telling +the tale of his setter dog.</p> + +<p>The company's demands upon Cornwall's time had +grown so that he asked for and received an increase of +salary of $50.00 per month to be used in the employment +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>of a stenographer. The young woman in the main office +who had formerly done his work was now scarcely able +to answer the company mail.</p> + +<p>It being impossible to procure a competent unemployed +local stenographer, he inserted an advertisement +in a Louisville paper. The answers he received were +varied and in some instances amusing. One or two sent +their pictures. Several desired in advance to know the +age of their prospective employer and whether he was +blonde or brunette. One even asked that he send his picture, +as she did not care to travel two hundred miles from +home to face a fright.</p> + +<p>He finally employed a little Jewess, whose reply dwelt +particularly on the question of compensation; demanded +Saturday afternoon off; and if the place did not prove +satisfactory, even after several months' trial, that her +return expenses to Louisville were to be paid. Her name +was Rachael Rothchilds. She stated she was a sister of +Mrs. Mann, whose husband had bought out the Middleton +general store. She remained with him seven years +until she married, and he never once regretted the selection.</p> + +<p>When she came into the office the following Monday, +Duffield was present; they were going over a survey together. +After taking a good look at her he said: "Well, +she'll not waste much time in flirtations. This office will +give her the go-by." She weighed about ninety pounds, +was twenty years old and had a sallow, scabby complexion. +She evidently thought that her face called for +an apology, and stated that she had just recovered from +a spell of sickness, and her father thought the mountain +air might do her good.</p> + +<p>Her hair, however, was of remarkably fine texture and +color, of a light chestnut, giving forth flashes of gold. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>She was of slight though good figure, was quick in catching +a suggestion and endowed with considerable business +sagacity.</p> + +<p>As her father had expected, the mountain air did her +good. Within three months her complexion cleared up +and she took on several pounds in weight; color came into +her lips and a snappy expression into her formerly dull +eyes. Duffield, who had been so severe in his criticism +of her appearance, began to take notice and to extend +invitations to go driving, or to lunch, or for a walk, but +she invariably answered that she could only go out with +Jewish boys.</p> + +<p>She must have been with Cornwall a year before he +realized how she had improved in appearance. When +sitting one day where the light and angle brought out +the perfect profile of her features and the golden sheen +of her hair, he first became aware that she was a beautiful +woman, with as clear-cut and classic a face as the +best cameo might exhibit.</p> + +<p>She was so smilingly cheerful and sweet-tempered +that the boys of the office gave her the name of +"Cricket," and so competent that suggestions and directions +were superfluous in the performance of her efficient +work.</p> + +<p>Slowly there crept into Cornwall's heart a tender +feeling for the girl and when, several months later, Leo +Cohen, the shoe merchant, began calling upon her and +playing the devoted, and he saw how she responded to +his attentions, even when walking with him, taking side +steps to look up into his face with eyes of love and happiness, +Cornwall suffered many jealous pangs.</p> + +<p>In a way that women have, not known to men, she +found out that Cornwall was a devoted and consistent +admirer. While she was fond of him in a companionable +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>way, the shoe merchant was too strongly entrenched in +her heart to leave the least room for another.</p> + +<p>The houses of Kentucky mountaineers are usually +built upon a water course. Every native family living +on Cumberland River, or its forks or tributaries, had a +flock of geese which are kept to supply feathers for their +feather beds. The geese are rarely eaten. It is bad +enough to be plucked twice a year; the sensation is not +pleasant and nights in the mountains are cool.</p> + +<p>Even sadder days were in store for the geese after +the establishment of the Jewish colony in Harlan; the +average life of a goose is fifty years and this for the Harlan +County flock was considerably reduced. The colony +found no trouble in purchasing plucked geese at bargain +prices for food and grease.</p> + +<p>Leo began his regular Sunday call on Rachael Rothchilds +at 11 a. m. and continued it without break or intermission +until 11 o'clock every Sunday night.</p> + +<p>Rachael, during each of three winters, expended a +month's salary buying geese to feed Leo and he grew +fat and slick, the sly, old fox, on hot-baked goose for +dinner and cold roast goose for supper. Every time he +sneezed she pressed upon him the gift of a jar of goose +grease with which to anoint his chest, and he blackened +and sold it to his customers for shoe oil.</p> + +<p>Leo was slow and careful in making proposals and +suggesting a wedding day. For three long, suspensive +years he called from two to three times weekly upon the +girl and each Sunday feasted upon the fat of Gooseland, +which is at the headwaters of the Cumberland River—all +the while making the girl believe that she was to be his +wife, though she was made to understand that the date +was far ahead in the dim vistal future when his financial +position justified marrying one who bore the name of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>that celebrated family of bankers. The day of the girl's +contemplated happiness might have been moved forward +with satisfactory celerity had not Leo inquired of his +friend Simon, of Louisville, as to old man Rothchild's +bank account, and learned that he had nothing that +sounded like real money but his name, whereas to Leo +a rich Jewess by any other name would have seemed +sweeter.</p> + +<p>After the courtship had continued three years, the +shoe merchant in preparing for a fire sale left too many +tracks in the snow. The fire marshal reported that the +fire was caused by an Israelite in the basement and Leo, +after many worries and the loss of his insurance, sought +other goose pastures.</p> + +<p>In the early summer Cornwall wrote Howard Bradford, +reminding him of his promise to spend his summer +vacation with them, and received an answer saying he +looked forward with pleasure to the time of keeping it, +which would be about the 20th of July.</p> + +<p>The first week in July, John, passing the Neal home, +was surprised to see Dorothy Durrett standing on the +porch. She had arrived the day before. He was glad +to learn that she expected to spend the summer with her +aunt. They had a pleasant chat, for the most part, about +their parties of the summer of two years before. Dorothy +was now nearly twenty-one and in appearance even more +attractive than when he had first known her. He told +her of Howard Bradford's contemplated visit, and they +began formulating plans for the summer.</p> + +<p>"You have not seen our house since it was remodeled +according to Mr. Bradford's suggestion, nor have you +seen my mother; come with me now. I am thinking of +giving a dance in honor of our guest. Three rooms of +the lower floor are so arranged that they can be made +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>into one, giving us plenty of room to dance. Will you +please help me out?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will, John. You used to say we were +meant to help each other. Let me get a hat and tell Aunt +Anna where I am going."</p> + +<p>"How the place is improved! The grounds were always +delightful; now the whole is toned and in concord; +a very delightful picture. There is your mother at the +door waiting for her John. The woman who takes you +off her hands gets an armload of responsibility. A man +always compares his wife with his mother and you, John, +will expect your wife to love and mother you as she has +done."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dorothy! I am glad to see you! I did not know +you in the start, or John, either. I do not see so well +and I did not expect to see John with a woman. When +did you come? You are even more attractive than when +you were here two years ago. John has acted like an +old man since then. I wish some nice girl would marry +him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, John and I understand each other; we could +be the best of friends, but never lovers. I will have to +find him a good wife, else in his inexperience, with his +head buried in a book, he may make a mistake. I know +the very girl—Rosamond Clay, of Madison County; she +visited me last winter. I shall have my aunt ask her to +visit us while I am with her. Then I shall assign John +to her and depend on Mr. Bradford or Mr. Duffield to +entertain me. Watch what a match-maker I am, Mrs. +Cornwall. Let us go through the house and then into the +garden. My aunt insisted that I hurry back. What a +delightful place for your dance! We can decorate with +hydrangeas and golden glow. John, the garden looks +just the same as it did that Sunday afternoon two years +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>ago when we sat on this same bench under the arbor of +ripening grapes and I told you my dream of the humming +birds. For a while I regretted having done so, +knowing that you saw too deeply into my heart and was +not wholly satisfied with the vision. What you saw was, +in a way, the soul of Dorothy. Now I am glad I told it. +We would never have been real happy, John, though we +were beginning to think so. I hope before I marry the +one I love will tell me even his dreams; they sometimes +lift the curtain to the inner self. I must go now."</p> + +<p>"Mother, I am walking home with Dorothy and shall +come right back."</p> + +<p>"Don't say that, John; no sentiment; that day is gone, +perhaps for our mutual happiness. You are my friend, +John Cornwall, and always will be. Come over tomorrow +evening and tell me about yourself and your friends. +When Mr. Bradford comes I imagine I will like him. +Good-night, John."</p> + +<p>The following evening John called on Dorothy. He +found Duffield and Helen Creech there. Duffield, rising +when he came in, resumed his seat beside Dorothy, while +he sat on the opposite side of the porch talking with +Miss Creech. He remained an hour, walking home with +her. As they were leaving, Dorothy said: "Aunt Anna +wrote to Miss Clay today. Good-night, Mr. Cornwall. +Come again whenever you can, Helen."</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_72" id="PAGE_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Dorothy and Bradford—Rosamond and Cornwall.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>Howard Bradford arrived on the 21st of July. As he +and Cornwall drove through the gateway, he had an excellent +view of the Cornwall home. He declared the +house charming as modified and complimented John on +his efforts as a landscape gardener.</p> + +<p>They spent the afternoon loafing around home, except +an hour when John went to the office, while Bradford +slept, fanned by a breeze that blew down the river and +sang in softest murmurs through the windows of his +corner room.</p> + +<p>When Cornwall returned, Duffield came with him and +remained for dinner and until a late hour. Bradford, +when he learned that they each owned a saddle horse +and that those for hire were saddle-galled and the free-goers +nearly ridden to death, handed $250.00 to Duffield, +who had said that he knew of a horse for sale at that +price and worth the money, saying: "Though I shall be +here but two weeks, the horse can be sent to Pittsburgh, +or sold again if I do not like him."</p> + +<p>They had intended camping on Poor Fork at the camp +site of the preceding summer; but as each would have +his own horse, and the fishing was better just at that +time five miles from town than near the head of the river, +they concluded to remain at home, spending the mornings +fishing and the afternoons boating, swimming or +mountain-climbing. At least this was the agreed programme +until Duffield should complete surveying the +Lockard grant in Leslie County, when his vacation commenced.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>The next morning Cornwall sent Dorothy a note, telling +her of his guest's arrival and asking permission to +bring him around that evening. She answered: "You +are to come at six and dine with us, remaining for the +evening. I have a surprise for you, John. It is unnecessary +to answer unless you find my invitation impossible. +Dorothy."</p> + +<p>At six o'clock the young men, looking fresh and comfortable +in their white flannels walked over to the Neal +home. Mrs. Neal and Dorothy were sitting on the porch +and after greetings all found seats. Rosamond Clay, +Dorothy's guest, came out and joined them.</p> + +<p>She was a tall, athletic, strikingly handsome brunette, +just eighteen and, as the boys subsequently found out, a +better shot, swimmer and mountain-climber than either +of them. In disposition and appearance she seemed the +very antithesis of Dorothy, though Dorothy enjoyed an +open-air life, and her wiry, little body was capable of +withstanding great physical strain.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bradford, this is Miss Clay, and, John, this is +Rosamond. She had just gotten in when I received your +note and is the surprise I mentioned. She is to remain a +month and I am counting on you helping to entertain +her."</p> + +<p>"May my surprises always be as agreeable. With +Miss Clay's permission I shall do all in my power to +make her visit a pleasant one. If she is fond of out-door +sports, riding, fishing, boating and mountain-climbing, +which we have a right to assume since she has come to +the mountains, we can promise her a good time."</p> + +<p>"That is just what I adore. I have brought my own +saddle, fishing tackle and swimming suit. I wanted to +bring a canoe, but Bradford said I could easily procure +a dug out and refused to express anything but the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>paddles. +I even thought of sending my horse, but father +said that would scare Mrs. Neal to death, as she was +expecting a visitor and had not offered to adopt me. I +understand you have a fine saddle mare; I shall ride her +and you can get a mule."</p> + +<p>"You have mentioned just the things she loves. She +constantly wants to be doing something or going somewhere. +She rides, drives, swims, shoots, climbs cliffs and +trees and is a good, all-round sportsman. I'm not sure, +but I think she keeps several fox hounds. Her brother, +Bradley, says they belong to him to save her reputation. +As soon as she wrote she would visit me, I ordered some +hob-nailed shoes and a bathing-suit from Louisville and +sent to the drug store for a bottle of iodine, some surgeon's +tape and several sheets of adhesive plaster. If +you gentlemen can work in a dance in the evening after +each mountain climb, her happiness is assured. Here +comes father. Mr. Bradford, you are to sit beside me +at dinner and you, John, with Rosamond."</p> + +<p>After dinner Duffield and Miss Creech and Mr. Cornett +and Miss Hall came in; and the time until eleven +o'clock was spent in chit-chat on the porch or, when Mrs. +Neal could be prevailed upon to play the piano, in dancing +in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>Before the party broke up Bradford and Cornwall +made an engagement to take Dorothy and Rosamond up +the river fishing at 6:30 the next morning.</p> + +<p>As the boys went home they stopped by the livery +stable to hire three saddle horses. Finding this impossible, +they engaged a light jersey wagon, which Cornwall +and the girls were to use, while Bradford was to +ride Cornwall's horse.</p> + +<p>They had an early breakfast and left on time. When +near the ford of Poor Fork, Bradley discovered that he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>had left his tackle at the stable. He rode back for it +while the others, crossing the river, drove up the fork.</p> + +<p>When they came to the creek, where it was planned +they should seine their minnows, they waited some time +for Bradford; then Cornwall tried to seine, but the stream +was too deep and the seine too large for individual effort.</p> + +<p>This Rosamond, the young and enticing Diana of the +party, noticed and, gathering up the cotton lap-robe, a +coffee sack and some twine, which she found in the box +under the wagon seat, retired to a clump of elder bushes +and in a few minutes came forth draped in the lap-robe +and moccasined with coffee sacking.</p> + +<p>Cornwall was a slave to her most fantastic command +from the moment she stepped forth from her screen of +elder bushes, topped with their white, pancake flowers, +and, taking hold of one end of the seine, jerked and +floundered him around while he attempted to retain possession +of the other, dragging him barefoot over sharp +pebbles and, when on a smooth ledge of rock, sat him +down in water to his shoulders. He rejoiced at Bradford's +absence and that no other man had seen her loveliness, +half-hidden, half-revealed.</p> + +<p>They soon had a bucket of minnows and as they drove +up the river were overtaken by Bradford, who, mistaking +the road, had ridden quite a distance down the main +stream.</p> + +<p>Miss Clay, Dorothy and Bradford had no trouble in +landing a nice catch, but Cornwall's eyes were never on +his float, which the fish converted into a submarine when +baited and after the minnow had been stolen reposedly +floated upon the surface, the resting-place of a big, lace-winged +snake doctor.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cornwall, why don't you rebait your hook and +try to catch something? What was the good of my <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>going +to all that trouble in helping you seine if you will +not use the minnows? You look everywhere, except at +your float; first at me, then over the treetops as though +you wished I were at home or in Heaven."</p> + +<p>"That's right, I look first at you. The minnows have +helped you land the fish. I feel like a crappie on a dusty +turnpike. You have caught more than one variety today! +Let's go home. And I am not going to drive those +sleepy, old plow horses unless you sit on the front seat." +And so they rode home together.</p> + +<p>The next afternoon they planned to climb the mountain, +but when Bradford and Cornwall came to the house, +he said to Rosamond: "Let us drive up the river to +Helen Creech's; Bradford and Dorothy can find something +else to do," to which she assented.</p> + +<p>Driving slowly along the narrow, shaded road that +bordered the river bank, he held her hand and called her +"dear," and told her the love story that Kentucky boys +tell the girls with whom they go; and she parried and +checked him as she had several times before been called +upon to do with other boys.</p> + +<p>Thus each day, either paddling on the river or riding +horseback, or fishing, or bathing, or mountain-climbing, +the four were together or paired off; he with Rosamond +and Bradford with Dorothy; and each repeatedly declared +that they had never before had so glorious a +holiday.</p> + +<p>Cornwall, at the end of two weeks, made up his mind +to propose; and Rosamond, expecting it, had decided she +would accept—if he would consent to defer the marriage +a couple of years.</p> + +<p>Strange that Cornwall and Bradford should each have +decided to propose at the same time and place; that is, +the night of his dance and on the bench in the garden. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>Bradford, because he expected to leave the following +Monday, his stay already having consumed more than +the intended two weeks; Cornwall, thinking that he +would first like to show Rosamond through his home.</p> + +<p>While they were decorating the house, in which Mrs. +Neal, Dorothy and Rosamond assisted Mrs. Cornwall, he +showed her over the house and grounds and, pointing +out the bench in the arbor, said: "Tonight, Rosamond, +at eleven I shall bring you out here and ask you something. +Watch the time and save that dance for me. If +you do not, I may take it for your answer."</p> + +<p>When the hour came he claimed the dance. After +dancing a minute or two, they passed into the dining-room +and out the side door into the moonlit garden.</p> + +<p>As they drew near the arbor they heard Bradley say: +"This was my dream, Dorothy." Cornwall, thinking of +Dorothy's dream of two years before, and remembering +what she had recently said to him about dreams, was +slightly startled. He let go Rosamond's arm and unconsciously +turned towards the house. Rosamond, surprised +and conscious of some subtle change in his mood, suggested +that they return to the ballroom.</p> + +<p>Bradford, without giving Dorothy time for thought, +brought her into the garden and told his dream of the +night before.</p> + +<p>"Last night I came directly home after I left you +and went to my room. Feeling I could not sleep, I sat +in the window, looking out upon the moonlit mountain +side and the silent river, the moon seeming to make a +path of silver on the water to the base of the little trail +up the mountain where yesterday I told you that our +friendship, at least to me, grew stronger with each succeeding +day. Then I said the simple prayer my mother +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>had taught me when a little boy and went to bed and to +sleep.</p> + +<p>"I dreamed that mother let go of my hand and I +went forth alone, a little boy in knee trousers, walking +along a narrow path that followed down the bank of a +tiny rivulet. As I walked along I grew older, my clothing +changed to suit my age, the path began to broaden +and the stream to deepen, and I passed along through +the school days and other experiences of my boyhood, +still following the broadening path and deepening stream +and passing one by one the experiences I have known. +The start was at sunrise and the day perhaps a third +gone when, I, a grown man, came out into a valley and to +a river over which was a fragile bridge. I saw that thousands +of trails like my own converged at its approach +and spread out fan-like from the other end. As I stood +and looked, the trails around faded out, except the one +down which I had come and another. A short way above +the bridge a stream like the one I had followed flowed +into the river and along its bank was a path much like +the one I had followed. As I looked a young woman +came round the turn and saw the river and the bridge +and that I stood waiting at its approach. She hesitated +for a moment and then came slowly on. When she drew +near I saw it was you and, going up, took your hand and +together, hand in hand, we crossed the bridge. Looking +ahead, I saw that the many trails at the farther end had +disappeared except the small one up the mountainside; +this we took.</p> + +<p>"The trail gradually broadened into a bright, smooth +way and the ascent, though unbroken, was not difficult. +All the time I held you by the hand. One day your step +grew slower and, looking for the cause, I noticed that, +though I still held your left hand, a small boy walked +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>on the right and held the other. I felt some small, warm +thing take hold of my left hand with a tender, warm pressure +and, looking down to see the cause, saw it was another +Dorothy, a miniature of your own sweet self; and +would have taken her up on my arm, but you, wiser than +I in such things, said: 'She must walk the trail—all you +can do is to go more slowly and lead her by the hand.' +After a time I noticed that these two found no trouble in +keeping up with us and, before we reached the top, they +occasionally restrained themselves to keep pace with us. +When at the top, the boy, unknowingly, let go your hand. +He followed a trail to the right along the comb of the +ridge, which you and I could not follow, though we tried. +The girl with a cry of joy released my hand and took +that of a young man who seemed waiting for her, and +they journeyed on to the left. I, taking both your hands +in mine because our idle hands seemed lonely, looked into +your face, as I had not done since first we met by the +river. Your face had grown more thoughtful and more +calm, more patient and more kind; the lovelight in your +eyes spoke of the soul. Your hair, though white, was +more beautiful than when pure gold. I knew your unspoken +thoughts; and, with the lingering kiss of yesterday +and a smile for the morrow, we turned our faces +and journeyed downward into the vale of years. Dorothy, +shall we make the dream come true or must I go back +to the bridge and hunt another trail?"</p> + +<p>"If you are quite sure you wish it above all else the +world can give, we will live the dream."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Cornwall spent the entire day after the dance at his +office. He found a note from Mary in his mail. She was +at her home in Madison County. He wondered how she +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>might look after three years at Wellesley. She mentioned +that one of her neighbors was visiting in Harlan, +Miss Clay, whose brother, Bradley Clay, had called the +evening before, and stated his sister had written she was +having a perfectly glorious time.</p> + +<p>The thought occurred to him that if Mary were near +enough, he would go to her. Rosamond I love when near +her; I think of Mary every day—yet I have not seen her +for three long years.</p> + +<p>When Bradford, entering the room and all smiles, +said: "Come, let's go to the Neals,'" he answered: "No, +I think I shall rest tonight; I am moody and prefer +solitude."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll go for Duffield. Pleasant dreams, John, +as happy as mine shall be; so long!"</p> + +<p>John went into the library and read the first few +pages of Machiavelli's "History of Florence," about a +king of the Zepidi and his daughter, Rosamond, and he +slept, and as he slept he dreamed.</p> + +<p>It seemed to him that his Rosamond, perhaps ten +year older, came into the room. She was clothed in vivid +draperies and wore a circlet of old gold upon her brow, +heavy bracelets upon her upper arm and a chain-like +girdle of gold around her waist, from which hung a jeweled +dagger.</p> + +<p>As he looked she spoke:</p> + +<p>"I rarely see father, except in armor. Day after day +mother and her maids work at bandages and wound +dressings. The halls of the castle are littered with arms +and the courtyard and plain surrounding the walls is the +assembly ground of armed horsemen preparing to go +and returning from distant camps. It has been thus since +Narses drove our kinsmen home to Pannonia, after several +years' quiet occupancy of northern Italy.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>"Now, Alboin, King of Lombardy, instigated by +Narses and aided by the Avars, following after our expelled +kinsmen, has invaded our country even to the +plains of the Danube. We can see from the castle walls +not only our own, but his invading host as they make +preparation for final battle to determine the sovereignty +of Pannonia.</p> + +<p>"With such a drama pending, I am not content to be +a bandage and salve-maker in the women's quarter. Who +would, if brought up to ride and fence and wrestle with +brothers and cousins, when they had all gone to war? I +desired to go, but was not permitted. Now with Maria, +my maid, I have found a good observation point in the +tower and watch the opposing forces maneuvering for +position in advance of hostilities.</p> + +<p>"Maria, I make out father's standard on the hillside +near the grove; and just across the small stream, not +more than five hundred yards away, that of Alboin, King +of Lombardy. See! they charge each other; you may +hear the din and shouting even at this distance.</p> + +<p>"Maria asks: 'Mistress Rosamond, no matter what +happens, will you care for and keep me with you?'</p> + +<p>"Do not be afraid; father will win. Our men heretofore +have fought under other leaders not so brave, while +he massed this force for the supreme struggle. * * * +They seem to have fought for hours, neither side gives +an inch. * * * See! the stream which runs through +the field of battle and flows by the castle is red with +blood. * * * I fear 'tis a sad day for Pannonia. +Oh! our army gives on the north wing, * * * but +father holds firm in his position * * * Oh! the +north wing has broken and flees toward the castle! +All seems lost! Father will be surrounded! See +how our men and the enemy are intermingled in their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>flight. They will reach the castle gates together; it will +be impossible to let them in. Maria, run to the gatemen +and tell them to close the gates and let no one in till +father comes. That cowardly mass if they entered, +would be no protection but surrender the castle. But +wait; we will go together to the gates.</p> + +<p>"Gatemen! Friend and foe come together. Raise the +draw! Close the gates! Let the first to flee be the first +to die, and at the castle gates! Let them make an unwilling +stand in defense of their own lives and so defend +the gates! They tell me a coward fights hard when cornered. +Dare disobey at your peril! It is the command +of your king.</p> + +<p>"The princess is right; to let this fleeing mob enter +is but to surrender the castle. Raise the draw! Drop +the portcullis!</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes there was a struggling mass in +front of the gates. Our men, finding them closed and no +way to escape their assailants, fought with the desperation +of cornered beasts.</p> + +<p>"The standard of Pannonia still floated where first +the conflict began, showing that my father, the king, +made desperate resistance against overwhelming odds. +* * * But even as I looked I saw it swept down under +a driving charge and knew he was of the dead and +the battle lost.</p> + +<p>"In a short while the fighting ceased around the +gates. Alboin, King of Lombardy, riding up. I ordered +the bridge lowered and the gates raised, when he rode +unopposed into the court yard.</p> + +<p>"Those were fierce, wild days. A feast in celebration +of the victory and of Alboin's coronation as King of +Pannonia was held in the castle and a week later I was +forcibly made wife of the victorious king. I was told +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>my father's skull had been shaped into a drinking cup +and used by Alboin at the feast of victory.</p> + +<p>"He was comely and commanding; demanding and +receiving homage and instant obedience from all. In +time I might have loved him, except for the drinking +cup.</p> + +<p>"So Alboin reigned King of Pannonia and I his +queen for more than two years.</p> + +<p>"Then Narses, who commanded the forces of Justinian +in all Italy until the Emperor's death, was deposed +by his son and successor, Justin, who, at the instance of +his Queen, had Longinus appointed in Narses' place. In +revenge he invited my husband to invade Italy.</p> + +<p>"Alboin consented; and was so successful in the undertaking +as to gain possession of all Italy from the +northern boundary to the Tiber. He established his capital +at Pavia and his household and court were moved +from Pannonia to that city.</p> + +<p>"A great feast was held at Verona to celebrate his +victories and the establishment of the new kingdom. I +sat across the table from him. The ferocious and heartless +man ordered the drinking cup made from the skull +of my father and filling it with red wine to the brim, +passed it to me, saying: 'It is but fitting in celebration +of our great victories that you should drink with your +father.' I tossed the contents into his face, threw the cup +from the window into the Adige and fled from the banquet +hall.</p> + +<p>"From that night my sole purpose in life was to +avenge the insult. I determined that he should die by +my procurement or at my hand.</p> + +<p>"The maid, Maria, who in devotion would have given +her life for mine, had a lover, Helmichis, shield-bearer of +Alboin. I plotted with her that he should become the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>instrument of my vengeance and so had her bring him +to my chamber. There I soon discovered he was not sufficiently +in love with the maid to assume any risk on her +account or at her solicitation.</p> + +<p>"Willing to take any risk or make any promise to +accomplish the assassination, I finally agreed to marry +him, if he would kill my husband. This he did.</p> + +<p>"The Lombards were so exasperated over their +King's death we dared not remain in Pavia or even in +Lombardy; but, seizing the royal treasure and leaving +Maria behind, we fled to Ravenna, where Longinus, +Narses' successor, had his capitol. There we were royally +entertained and most kindly treated.</p> + +<p>"It was not long before Helmichis grew disgustingly +wearisome to me. He quarreled much about the possession +and division of the royal treasure, which was very +great, but never once did he see within the chests. He +was anything but a model husband, delighting in low +company, flirting with every maid and peasant girl and +by nature fiercer and much less refined than Alboin, +whom I had found endurable, except when drunk.</p> + +<p>"Longinus, on the other hand, was a refined and +courtly man, having been brought up in the palace of +Justinian. I admired him much. He was wise, brave, +ambitious and most prepossessing in appearance. He +had told me several times that had I come to his court +a widow, his disappointment would have been great had +I not remained as his Queen.</p> + +<p>"About this time the Emperor Justin died and was +succeeded by Tiberius. He was so occupied by his wars +with the Parthians as to neglect his Italian possessions, +leaving them masterless or to be ruled by Longinus as +the real, though not the nominal, King.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>"I had become the confidential adviser of Longinus; +and in discussing matters of state and the condition of +the empire, we concluded it was a most opportune time +to take possession of northern Italy to the Tiber; and +were convinced that by pooling our resources this could +be accomplished, were it not for Helmichis. The first +step in the consummation of our plan was to be rid of +him.</p> + +<p>"Each day he took a hot bath. He always came forth +thirsty and demanded that I prepare a cool, acid drink +and hand him. Longinus, knowing this, gave me a +strong poison to put in his drink, and when next I mixed +and served it I used the poison.</p> + +<p>"Helmichis drank more than half when, noticing the +flavor, his suspicion was aroused, and, knowing that he +knew, I smiled. He snatched up his short sword, caught +me by the hair and, handing me the goblet, shouted: +'Drink or lose your head.'</p> + +<p>"Preferring to die from the poison than be a disfigured, +headless corpse, I drank what remained, and died +within five minutes of my despised husband."</p> + +<p>John awoke with a start, considerably disquieted by +his dream.</p> + +<p>The next evening, with Bradford, he called at the +Neals'. Dorothy met them at the door and they found +seats. Rosamond, tall, graceful and queenly, came into +the room. To John it seemed a shadow followed after +her; the wraith of the widow of Alboin, co-conspirator +with Helmichis and Longinus.</p> + +<p>It was impossible to live down this unpleasant impression +for a day or two. While doing so, Rosamond +took offense at his coolness and announced her intention +of returning home the following Monday. Dorothy expressed +disappointment at this and Saturday afternoon +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>stated that she, too, would leave on Monday. Bradford +left on the same train. The three traveled together as +far as Stanford, where Rosamond left them; then Bradford +and Dorothy rode on to Louisville.</p> + +<p>There Dorothy was met by her mother. Mr. Bradford +was introduced and drove with them to the Durrett home. +He remained in Louisville several days and called at the +Durrett home every afternoon, remaining for dinner and +until a late hour.</p> + +<p>The morning of his departure, glancing through the +personals—a suspicious act, as it was rather unusual for +him—he read of his departure after a brief visit, and at +the head of the column that Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Durrett +announced the engagement of their daughter, +Dorothy, to Mr. Howard Bradford, of Pittsburgh.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_87" id="PAGE_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">The Saylor Family.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>While Cornwall prospered financially and established +an enviable reputation as a lawyer, fortune did not overlook +the Saylor family.</p> + +<p>Old man Saylor and his wife were thrifty souls. +Though their farm, with its fine colonial dwelling, was +one of the best in their end of the county, they had never +been given the opportunity to entertain extensively or +had occasion to maintain a stylish and expensive establishment.</p> + +<p>Mary's four years at Wellesley had cost about +four thousand five hundred dollars. This outlay old man +Saylor would never have consented to, looking upon it as +an absolute waste of good money, except that he gave +Mary as much credit for his acquittal of the Spencer killing +as he did John. He had the money to spare, having +each year cleared more than that sum on his tobacco and +speculations in the mule market.</p> + +<p>He was a great judge of mules. Bradley Clay said +when a mule colt was foaled Saylor could look at it and +tell within five pounds of its weight as a four-year-old.</p> + +<p>Caleb had been sent to Lexington to school. He remained +during the fall term and until after the spring +races. Then he returned home, having been expelled because +every day he had attended the races and bet on +the horses. It was even said that he had procured a +jockey to throw a stake race. He announced that he +had finally quit school, which he argued was a waste +of time, as he intended to practice law and enter politics.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>He was the owner of a fine saddle mare and a gelding +that could trot a mile on the smooth turnpike to a light +side-bar buggy in 2:45. Either riding the one or driving +the other he attended all the farm auctions; nor did he +ever miss a county court day or jury trial at either Richmond +or Lancaster. At these trials he first sat back of +the railing; then, making friends with the sheriff, the +clerk and the younger lawyers, he sat within the reservation +for members of the bar. The sheriff and clerk had +each offered to appoint him a deputy, but these honors +he declined with thanks. When he was twenty-one he +was more than six feet tall, weighed a hundred and seventy +and, as the sheriff said, was the hustlingest politician +in the county. He had been voting for several years.</p> + +<p>Though his folks were Republicans, and had been +since the Civil War, he deemed it a political mistake to +vote that ticket in a Democratic county. At an early +age he began voting and working in the Democratic primaries +and soon acquired considerable influence with +farm laborers and tenant-farmers, the men who usually +do the voting in country primaries.</p> + +<p>One summer morning (he was not yet twenty-four) +he told his father he was going to put one over on old +man Chenault and beat him for the Legislature. Colonel +Chenault was a native of the county; he had been a lieutenant +in the Confederate army, was a rich farmer and, +it was generally supposed, would have no opposition for +re-election.</p> + +<p>Caleb began riding over the county, telling the tenant-farmers +and laborers that they should send from a farming +community a representative who was a laboring man +like themselves, instead of a land-grabbing "Colonel," +a man who thought himself better than anybody else. +"Has Colonel Chenault or his wife or his daughters ever +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>been in your house? You see them often at the house on +the hill. Did he ever speak to or shake hands with you? +Yes, when he was a candidate for the Legislature; then +he wipes his hand on the seat of his pants."</p> + +<p>"That's right; I never thought about that; but who'll +we run?"</p> + +<p>"You run."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I ain't got no education much; I've got to harvest +this crop."</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll find somebody, even if I have to run to +beat the damn aristocrat. You keep still about it, but +be sure and come to the convention at the court house +next Saturday at two o'clock."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll do that; so long."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Colonel Chenault, with about twenty of his friends, +all of whom were good judges of horses, whiskey and tobacco, +and who could tell a pair of deuces from a full +hand, came rather late to the convention, not having the +least intimation of opposition.</p> + +<p>They were surprised to find the court room filled with +farmers and men of the hills, from the eastern side of the +county. This gathering the Colonel appropriated as evidence +of his popularity and as a spontaneous endorsement +for his renomination. Obsessed with this thought, +he strutted up the aisle like a pouter pigeon.</p> + +<p>The temporary chairman of the meeting, Chesley Chilton, +who expected to be nominated for sheriff the following +year, and who saw that a surprise was about to be +sprung on the Colonel, called Caleb to one side and asked +the cause of the gathering.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you stand by us and we'll help you out next +year. I know what you want. Chenault is a dead one +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>and don't know it. We are after his scalp. Here he +comes with his collection of fossils; time's up; call the +convention to order."</p> + +<p>Caleb moved that the temporary be made the permanent +chairman; this was done without opposition. Then +a secretary and three tellers were chosen—all friends of +Caleb's. One of Colonel Chenault's friends complained +that all this was a waste of time, as the Colonel had no +opposition.</p> + +<p>Then the chairman called for nominations and Colonel +Chenault was pompously nominated by Colonel Shackelford, +who closed his remarks by moving that nominations +close and the Colonel be unanimously declared the +nominee.</p> + +<p>At this suggestion there was a stentorian clamour of +noes. In the midst of the uproar Webster James, a candidate +for county attorney, who had the promise of Caleb's +support and an understanding with him, rose and +was recognized by the chairman.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Chairman: I have always felt that office should +come unsought; should seek the man. I know not how +many appreciate the special fitness of the young man +whose name I am about to present to the democracy of +this county, suggesting his nomination from this the +Seventy-second Legislative District. I know he will be +surprised when he hears his name, but this great gathering +is in his honor and he must regard the call as one +to duty and service, which, though it comes unsought, +can not be disregarded. The office seeks the man and +it is tendered by his fellow-citizens. I have the honor to +nominate Hon. Caleb Saylor, of the Paint Lick precinct."</p> + +<p>At the mention of Saylor's name and the resounding +cheers which greeted it, Colonel Chenault nearly collapsed +with surprise and indignation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>He turned to Colonel Shackelford, saying: "I am +beaten and by that mountain upstart. I would not let him +in my front door."</p> + +<p>The chairman directed that those favoring Colonel +Chenault should gather on the right side of the center +aisle, while those favoring Hon. Caleb Saylor should +gather on the left, so they might be counted without confusion +by the tellers.</p> + +<p>This was quickly done. Though it was midsummer, +the Chenault men gathered about the court-house stove.</p> + +<p>In ten minutes the vote was counted and reported by +the tellers. The secretary announced the vote:</p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="40%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="vote"> + <tr> + <td class="tdl" width="75%">Colonel Hamilton Chenault</td> + <td class="tdr" width="25%">23</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdl">Hon. Caleb Saylor</td> + <td class="tdr">217</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p>Whereupon the Colonel marched out, followed by a +mere squad, and, there being no other business, the convention +adjourned.</p> + +<p>At the following November election Caleb Saylor beat +his Republican opponent by more than three hundred +majority.</p> + +<p>On the first day of January, several days before the +Legislature was to convene, he came to Frankfort, desiring +to be on hand for all party caucuses. He soon became +a familiar figure around the hotel lobby and the corridors +of the Capitol.</p> + +<p>He made it a point to meet all State officials and +every prominent politician, Democrat or Republican, who +visited the Capitol. When the lower house was not in +session and the Court of Appeals was, he attended its sessions +and sat within the space reserved for attorneys. +He and Judge Singer, whose judicial ear was attuned to +the hum of the gubernatorial bee, became great friends. +As a member of the Judiciary Committee he supported +a pending bill allowing to each judge of the court a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>stenographer, +and helped through the committee other bills +that Judge Singer and the several members of the court +favored.</p> + +<p>Having procured the necessary certificate of good +character, he made application for admission to the bar +and was given an examination by Judges Grinder, Singer +and Dobson.</p> + +<p>Among certain questions propounded by the court and +all of which he answered—he always had an answer +ready—were the following:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Saylor, define the difference between real and +personal property."</p> + +<p>"If I had a hundred dollars in my pocket, that would +be real property; if I had your note for a hundred, that +would be personal property."</p> + +<p>"When, in a criminal trial, is the defendant declared +to have been placed in jeopardy?"</p> + +<p>"When he acts like a jeopard."</p> + +<p>"Do you deem yourself qualified to render valuable +and efficient assistance to a client or to appear as +amicus curiae?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; especially in the trial of a jury case; but +he's had more experience that I have; he's now assistant +city attorney of Louisville."</p> + +<p>"Where do you get that idea?"</p> + +<p>"Judge Dobson, that is what this court says in the +case of Ewald Iron Company against The Commonwealth, +140 Ky. 692: 'Clayton B. Blakey and Amicus +Curiae, attorneys for the City of Louisville.'"</p> + +<p>"What law books have you read?"</p> + +<p>"I have read Bryce's American Commonwealth, +Cooley's Constitutional Limitations and a work on Constables. +I have been too busy getting practical ideas +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>about courts and juries to read much law; with me the +main thing is to know the judge and the jury."</p> + +<p>His examiners issued a license. Judge Dobson at first +demurred, but finally consented when his colleagues explained +what efficient service Saylor had rendered as a +member of the Judiciary Committee, saying: "I ought +not to do it, but his neighbors will soon find out what +he knows and leave him alone; he will not have opportunity +for much harm."</p> + +<p>After the adjournment of the Legislature Caleb +moved to Richmond and formed a partnership with Webster +Jones, who was a graduate of an eastern law school. +Jones prepared their pleadings and attended to all equity +practice, while Caleb solicited business and tried their +jury cases. The firm obtained its share of the business +and Caleb met with more than average success in the +handling of his jury cases.</p> + +<p>His vanity was tremendous. No one had ever succeeded +in satisfying its voracious appetite; it would +swallow anything and hungrily plead for more. His +father, having started early and knowing what pleased +his boy, was his most satisfactory feeder. It was Caleb's +practice to drive out to the farm on Saturday afternoon +and remain until Monday morning, boasting of his successes +in business and politics and listening with satisfaction +to his father's unstinted praise.</p> + +<p>One Sunday afternoon, about a year after he began +practicing law, his father being ill and there being no +one about the house who cared to spend the afternoon +talking with him about what he had done; he decided to +drive over to Colonel Hamilton Clay's and call upon his +daughter Rosamond.</p> + +<p>He had tried it once or twice before. She had sent +word she was not at home, then made it a point as he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>drove away to show herself at a door or window, so he +might know that another call was not expected. But this +species of reception did not deter Caleb or penetrate the +armor of his conceit. It was impossible for him to believe +that Miss Clay, or any other woman, might not find +his attentions desirable.</p> + +<p>As he drove up before the old Clay homestead, which +had been the birthplace of a General, a Governor and an +Ambassador, Rosamond, reading near an upper window, +saw Mose, the stable man, take his horse. She thought: +"Here comes that conceited boor, Caleb Saylor, to see +me again; I shall send word I am not at home; * * * +but it is dreadfully dull this afternoon, no one else seems +to be coming, this book is the worst ever, he might prove +entertaining; I'm twenty-nine and can't be so particular; +I'll go down and see how the clown talks."</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Saylor, it has been quite a time since you +called. Take this seat," and Rosamond sat down on the +other end of a large hair-cloth sofa, where her Aunt Margaret +had sat and entertained her Sunday afternoon visitors +more than thirty years before.</p> + +<p>She was the same queenly, thrilling Rosamond that +John Cornwall, ten years before, had loved for a few +days. Her beauty was certainly none the less; her maturer +form, more charming, was becomingly exhibited in +a closely fitting dark blue gown.</p> + +<p>After a few commonplace remarks, Caleb Saylor made +himself the sole topic of his own conversation. This was +the subject nearest his heart and one upon which he +elaborated with minuteness and eloquence. As she +looked at and listened to him the thought at first unwelcome, +entered her mind that here was a man she might +have, and without effort, for a husband. And as she +listened to his tale of "I done this" and "I done that" +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>and "I will do this and that" she thought how she, a +woman of tact and judgment and refinement, might take +into her hands this thing and, in a sense, make it plastic +clay, and use its elements of life, and power, and energy, +and unscrupulousness, and nerve, and egotism, and +mountain courage, and almost make a man like her great +grandfather.</p> + +<p>The experiment was a fitting opportunity for an ambitious +and courageous woman who, though she might +not find full measure of happiness and love which only +comes with respect, yet would meet with adventure, +would dare fate and hazard chance with fickle fortune. +The prospect to her mind was more pleasing than to be +the wife of a gentleman farmer and grow fat and matronly—the +other chance just then offered.</p> + +<p>For the first time she appraised his virtues and was +pleased with his appearance. She wondered if he had +sense enough to keep still when silence was golden, and +could be taught at opportune times to shift the shower +of his eloquent eulogy of himself to an ambitious friend.</p> + +<p>Caleb and Rosamond passed two hours of the afternoon +together in the parlor of the old mansion undisturbed +in their communion by the portraits of her patrician +ancestors; the living members of her family +walked softly, even when they passed the closed door. +When she received they dared not intrude, though they +had never felt more curious or been more surprised than +at this protracted visit.</p> + +<p>As Caleb rose to leave, he took her hand and said: +"I have shorely enjoyed my call and am coming again +next Sunday afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Do, Mr. Saylor! I shall keep the date for you. It +is not becoming in neighbors to be so unsociable or see +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>so little of each other," and slowly, after a lingering +pressure, she withdrew her hand.</p> + +<p>The next Sunday afternoon Caleb called again. He +came at two and when he left the spring sun had kissed +the fields goodnight. To Rosamond's great surprise, he +proposed.</p> + +<p>"We are scarcely acquainted, Mr. Saylor. Though +we have been neighbors for years, you have denied me +the pleasure of your visits. You know a girl can not call +upon a man. How do you know that you love me as you +should? I have never thought about you as a husband, +though I find your company most agreeable. You must +give me another week before you press for an answer."</p> + +<p>"I will press you now and let you say 'yes' again next +week."</p> + +<p>And they laughed and the bride-to-be blushed, and +with downcast, dreamy eyes, slowly yielding to the increasing +pressure of his strong, young arm, unexpectedly +found her head nestling in contentment and happiness +upon his broad shoulder.</p> + +<p>That night she disturbed the peace and quiet of the +family circle by announcing that she was to be a June +bride and Mr. Saylor was to be the groom.</p> + +<p>Her mother rose and kissed her and in tears resumed +her seat without speaking. Her father grew red of face +and swore that the upstart should never again put foot +upon the place, at which she informed him that his remarks +were uncalled for and his energy wasted. Her +brother told her she was lowering herself and disgracing +the family name, but, he supposed, taking advantage of +what she must consider a last opportunity. To which +she replied: "I did not expect such remarks from you, +Bradley, as three years ago you asked Mary Saylor to +be Mrs. Bradley Clay, an honor she declined with +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>thanks." Nothing more was said in opposition to the +marriage.</p> + +<p>During April and May, Rosamond and her mother +were busy preparing for the wedding, which occurred on +the 5th of June and was attended by the aristocracy of +four counties. There were a few guests from even a +greater distance. Judge Singer and his wife were present, +as was a former Governor; Dorothy and her husband +came on from Pittsburgh, Mrs. Neal from Harlan, and +Mary from Wellesley; but John Cornwall was not invited.</p> + +<p>Two years after his marriage Caleb was made a member +of the Democratic State Central Committee and a +member of the Campaign Committee from his district in +a close race for Governor. Taking the advice of his wife, +which was becoming a habit, he made a liberal contribution, +sending it directly to the candidate, and rendered +very efficient and valuable service. He made two very +good speeches, which were written by his wife, who also +drilled him in preparation for their delivery. She long +since had spread the information throughout the State +that his mountain idioms and ungrammatical lapses were +affectations to catch the uneducated voter.</p> + +<p>The Governor, shortly after qualification, appointed +Saylor as a Colonel on his staff, and he and his wife were +entertained at the mansion. His wife was named as +among those to receive at a reception given by the Governor +to the newly inducted State officials and the General +Assembly.</p> + +<p>About this time a very wealthy man who owned a +farm near Lexington died. The State became involved +in litigation, seeking to recover inheritance and ad valorem +taxes from his estate, claiming he had died a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>resident +of Kentucky. Similar litigation was pending in the +State of New York.</p> + +<p>Upon the recommendation of the Attorney General +that special counsel was needed, the Governor appointed +Colonel Caleb Saylor and ex-Chief Justice Dobson to represent +the State. Without a great deal of trouble they +collected eight hundred thousand dollars and were paid +a fee of fifty thousand dollars for their services, thirty-five +thousand of which by contract went to Colonel Saylor +as senior counsel.</p> + +<p>He and his wife had spent a pleasant week in New +York while he made his investigation and compromised +the State's claim. The day before they returned home +they visited Tiffany's. Mrs. Saylor's love and respect +for her husband were in no sense lessened when he invested +three thousand dollars in two rings, which, though +they were flawless gems, could scarcely be said to adorn +his wife's tapering fingers and patrician hands.</p> + +<p>His friends noticed that now, instead of singing his +own praises, he could never say too much in laudation of +his wife; and she clung to his arm and whispered sweet +speeches into his ear as a bride of eighteen might do.</p> + +<p>It was noticeable that the Colonel had grown to be +adept at showering compliments upon his superiors and +always had pretty speeches for their wives. On county +court day he went out to the cattle market and shook +hands all round with the farmers.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the spring of 1899, about seven years before Colonel +Saylor's marriage, Cornwall received an invitation to the +commencement exercises of Wellesley and noticed that +Mary was named as salutatorian of her class.</p> + +<p>He sent her a set of "The American Poets," gilt-edged +in white leather bindings, and received a note of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>thanks and an invitation to visit the Saylor home any +time he found it convenient during the summer.</p> + +<p>Mary came home the first of June and for a while +enjoyed undisturbed the quiet of the old farmhouse. The +neighbors, including Bradley and Rosamond Clay, were +just beginning to call upon her and ask her to their entertainments +when she received and accepted an offer as +assistant teacher of mathematics at Wellesley. The first +of September she returned to the college, stopping for +several days in Washington and New York. The following +summer she spent traveling with several girl graduates +and the teacher of French in England, France and +Italy. She sent Cornwall a remarkably fine photograph +of herself taken at Rome.</p> + +<p>This he framed and kept upon his dresser. His +mother, seeing and admiring the picture, asked;—"Who +is the young lady, John?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know, but as soon as I can discover her +name and domicile, I propose to propose."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is time; you are nearly thirty. I hope +to see you married before I go, John."</p> + +<p>"Mother, I know no argument against that ancient +and hallowed institution, and would not advise a friend +against taking such a step, even at the present and ever-increasing +high cost of living. I do not use such language. +Since I first put on long trousers I have hunted high and +low for a wife, and with a persistence equalling that of +a young penniless widow, but without success. Just when +it seems that within a few days I shall be the happy recipient +of the congratulations of my friends who in their +hearts feel certain I am about to fall victim to the wiles +of a designing female person, cruel fate steps in and with +peremptory halting gesture and commanding voice has +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>always said;—thus far, but no father. You will doubtless +live to see me at fifty struggle through a dance with +the daughter of my old sweetheart while the son of another +breaks us; and I, broken of wind and mopping my +bald head, shall retire to a corner and rest while conversing +with the hostess' grandmother. Seriously, mother, +I intend to marry just as soon as a girl as good and sweet +as you are will have me. I am beginning to think it will be +Mary, or my stenographer. I have not seen Mary for +more than five years; it is nearly a year since I heard +from her. In some ways the photograph of that beautiful, +fashionably-gowned girl reminds me of her. Do you +suppose that's Mary? But she surely is not in Rome!—How +do you like this, mother?" And John, whanging an +accompaniment on the piano, sang this Arabian song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">"The Mother.</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"My daughter, 'tis time that thou wert wed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ten summers already are over thy head;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I must find you a husband, if under the sun,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The conscript catcher has left us one.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">"The Daughter.</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dear mother, ONE husband will never do:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I have so much love that I must have two;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I'll find for each, as you shall see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">More love than both can bring to me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"One husband shall carry a lance so bright;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shall roam the desert for spoil at night;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when morning shines on the tall palm tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shall find sweet welcome home with me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>"The other a sailor bold shall be:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shall fish all day in the deep blue sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when evening brings his hour of rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shall find repose on this faithful breast.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">"The Mother.</span><br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There's no chance my child, of a double match,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For men are scarce and hard to catch;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So I fear you must make one husband do,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And try to love him as well as two.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Goodbye, I must go to the office; kiss me, mother!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Well, good morning, Miss Rachael, junior partner; +how is the firm business coming on? What must we take +up first? You have been with me more than five years +and it's always a smile and a pleasant word. You are +twenty-five and not married. Some one of your race and +faith is very slow finding out what a fine wife you would +make. My mother was after me today, saying; 'John, +you must get married; you are nearly thirty;' and I said; +'mother, if I do, I guess it will be Mary, or Rachael.' +You don't know Mary, and I doubt if I would if I met +her; I have not seen her for five years."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Cornwall, there's lots of mail to answer and in +an hour you are to take depositions in the Asher case."</p> + +<p>"Rachael you are too practical. Why don't you let +me love you. I am convinced that with just a little encouragement +I would propose. It's time we both were +married. We have never had a quarrel in all these years. +I am worth twenty-five thousand and have a good business. +You can have everything you want. Why not, +Rachael?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>"That's just why I am practical; to keep my head and +my place; I like the work.—Yes, you can hold my hand +if you wish and kiss me just once. But if you ever try +it again, I must return to Louisville. Were you of my +race and faith, you would not have to ask me twice. I +hope when I do marry the man will be much like you; but +he must be a Jew. We are a scattered people, without +flag or country; yet a proud nation, seeking no alliances +with other people. Your religion, founded on my faith, +holds mine in both reverence and abhorrence. We have +different sacred and fast days. I must eat other foods. +We follow different customs in rearing our children. If I +should marry you I must become a stranger to my own +people and will be despised by yours. I will bring neither +riches nor position and, like Ruth of old, must turn my +back upon my own people. Thy people are not my people. +For this time I will call you John, and again say it cannot +be. I am crying; Oh! please! please let's work!"</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_103" id="PAGE_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Mary and John Are Married.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>About two weeks after Caleb Saylor and Rosamond +were married, John Cornwall left Harlan on a business +trip for Boston and Pittsburgh. As he had never gone +east over the C. & O., he concluded to travel that route, +boarding the train at Winchester.</p> + +<p>His intention was to travel direct to Boston, where he +was to make settlement with the executors of the estate +of Giusto Poggi, who had died some months before, a resident +of that city. He had left $20,000.00 to Cornwall's +client, Luigi Poggi, a miner living on Straight Creek +near the old Saylor home.</p> + +<p>After this settlement was made it was his intention to +return home by way of Pittsburgh, stopping there to attend +a stockholders' meeting of the Pittsburgh Coal & +Coke Company, of which corporation he had been a director +for more than three years.</p> + +<p>As he took his seat in number 9 he saw that quite +an attractive-looking young woman occupied the opposite +section. Her face seemed quite familiar, in that she +might have sat for the photograph which occupied so +conspicuous a place on his bedroom dresser. He watched +her, hoping that she might glance up from the book which +claimed her whole attention.</p> + +<p>On the front seat of her section, from beneath a summer +wrap thrown over the back, the end of a small leather +handbag protruded and on it he read; "M. E. S. Wellesley, +Mass."</p> + +<p>He felt a thrill of surprise and pleasure. Taking a +second and very careful look at the lady, he was convinced +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>that he had found the original of the photograph and discovered +the identity of the attractive stranger, though it +was more than twelve years since he had last seen her.</p> + +<p>How Mary had changed! Her beauty was none the +less than when he had first seen her, a rosy-cheeked +mountain girl, who looked at every strange thing in wide-eyed, +timid wonder; who blushed when she was spoken +to; and finally, when her timidity wore away, talked with +him in her crude mountain idioms and localisms. He felt +sure that when this cultured creature, who radiated poise +and refinement, should feel inclined to speak after a most +formal introduction, her voice would be soft and low, +her words precise and her accent give certain identity +of Bostonian culture and residence.</p> + +<p>So the mountain lawyer, too snubbed by even this +thought to rise and speak, sat in confusion across the aisle +and made timid inventory of the charm and grace of his +traveling companion.</p> + +<p>She looked up from her book at a screw head in the +panel about two feet above John's head, with a fixed +thoughtful glance that saw nothing else; and John +blushed. Her dreamy brown eyes spoke of a shackled +or slumbering soul, voluntarily enduring the isolation of +cultured spinsterhood, in search for the higher life. He +felt the cold, bony hand of death reach out and crush his +dream of love. After another hour of observation, the +sun came through the window and shed its bright warm +rays upon her hair and he revived a bit when he discovered +there the warmth and color and glow of the +southland. She put down her book and walked down the +aisle; then he saw that her figure, though tall and slender, +possessed a freedom of movement, healthy vigor and +curves that told of a clean and vigorous life from early +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>girlhood. When she returned to her seat he studied her +face with care and knew it as the one he had seen in his +dreams for years and each time had yearned to kiss.</p> + +<p>At one of the stops a knight of the road, whose business +was selling women's ready-to-wear garments, came +into the car and walked down the aisle past several vacant +sections to number 10, where, pausing, he said complacently;</p> + +<p>"Miss, may I occupy the forward seat of your compartment, +until the conductor assigns me one?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, the space is unoccupied."</p> + +<p>"You probably find it tiresome traveling alone?"</p> + +<p>"I usually find it more comfortable without company."</p> + +<p>"Are you traveling far?"</p> + +<p>This question the lady seemed not to hear, but rang +the bell for the porter.</p> + +<p>"Porter, please tell the conductor I wish to speak to +him."</p> + +<p>"Conductor, this gentleman has expressed a wish to +be assigned a seat; he probably desires one in another +section."</p> + +<p>"There's plenty of room; I told him as he came in to +occupy number 4. 'Porter, put this gentleman's baggage +in number 4.' This is number 10; yours is the third +section forward."</p> + +<p>Another half hour passed. John opening his handbag, +took out some papers; then, reversing the end, moved +it so the bag protruded slightly from under the arm-rest +into the aisle. He took the forward seat and read a while; +then, resting his head against the window frame, pretended +to sleep.</p> + +<p>The young lady finished her book. She looked out +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>her window until the view was blotted out by the nearness +of the hillside; then indolently turned and glanced out +the opposite window at the swiftly running little river +and a narrow valley hemmed about by timbered hills. +Then her glance rested for a moment on the protruding +handbag, and she read; "John Cornwall, Harlan, Ky."</p> + +<p>There was an exclamation of surprise; a slight blush +of anticipation; a look of joy; and she glanced up into the +face of the sleeper, whose dreams were evidently pleasant +as he slightly smiled. She saw a man past thirty, of +strong and thoughtful face, whose hair was slightly thinning +over the temples. The dozen years since she last +had seen him added much to an expressive face; his +shoulders had broadened and he weighed perhaps a pound +or more for each year;—but it was the same John, her +John,—and she sat and looked into his face and two tears +stole down her cheeks. He stirred, and she turned her +face towards her window.</p> + +<p>The twilight shadows deepened into night. A waiter +came through calling; "Last call for supper." She arose +and walking down the aisle towards the diner, heard her +neighbor move and come following after. When she +reached the vestibule she dropped her handkerchief and +as she stooped, he picked it up. Then the little comedy +of surprise and recognition was acted;—"Oh, John!" "Oh, +Mary!"</p> + +<p>As they passed into the diner a wise old waiter, who +knew he made no mistake when he spoke of a handsome +woman to a man as his wife, though she might not be, +said; "Will this table suit your wife, Sar?" Then John +found that Mary could blush like the mountain girl of old.</p> + +<p>They ate slowly, talking of the many things that had +happened since last they parted on Straight Creek at the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>foot of the Salt Trace trail, and until the waiter told +them; "Boss, this car is drapped at the next station and +they's blowin' fer her now." Then John paid the check +and gave him a dollar. As the waiter closed the door +after them he said to another; "There goes a sure nuff +Southern gentleman."</p> + +<p>They took seats in Mary's section and continued their +talk several hours; about the marriage of Caleb and Rosamond; +Mary's school days; her trip abroad and her experiences +of five years as a teacher; and John of his business, +of his mother, of Bradford and Dorothy and Rosamond; +he even told how near he came to proposing to +Rosamond.</p> + +<p>"That explains why you were not invited to the wedding. +I quarreled with Caleb and Rosamond when I +learned you had not been. Caleb said he supposed you +were; while Rosamond made the excuse that she intended +to but overlooked you in the rush. She calls her +husband John Calhoun and Caleb has promised to change +the sign on his office door and to order new business +stationery, which is to be embossed with the name, John +Calhoun Saylor."</p> + +<p>The conductor passing through the car glanced at +them several times as did the drummer who occupied the +seat forward. They met in the smoking compartment +and the drummer handed the conductor a cigar.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr. Drummer, she seems to like the other fellow; +at least she hasn't sent for me. He must have nerve +to tackle her after he saw her squelch you. But you +can never tell what a woman is going to do."</p> + +<p>"If you had kept off a bit I would be sitting right +there now instead of that young fellow. They seem to +chatter away like old friends."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>The next morning John and Mary ate breakfast together +in Washington and that afternoon journeyed on to +New York. When they went into the diner for supper +and the waiter referred to Mary as John's wife, she did +not blush, but touched his arm and looked at him with a +smile of confidence and love. As he returned the glance +a close observer would have said; "They are newly married."</p> + +<p>The next morning Mrs. Cornwall received a telegram: +"Have followed your advice. Married Mary last +night. Her picture is on my dresser. You can wire us +at The McAlpin. John."</p> + +<p>Mary and John also telegraphed her mother announcing +the marriage and stating that they would stop over +ten days on their way home to Harlan.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>John accompanied Mary to Wellesley, where she finally +succeeded in explaining why it was necessary that she +should be permitted to resign as teacher of mathematics.</p> + +<p>The girls at first sight of John were quite hysterical, +exclaiming: "What a handsome man Miss Saylor's +brother is!" When they learned his identity and that he +came to take her away, he was condemned as a horrid +old baldheaded man. This opinion was mildly modified +at the farewell dinner the school gave to Miss Saylor, +where John at his best gave the young ladies an informal +talk on,—"School Days, School Teachers and Matrimony." +More than half of the girls were so impressed +by the sense and sentiment of his talk that for a day or +two they thought seriously of becoming teachers and +waiting until they were thirty, when they would marry +a nice-looking and prosperous young lawyer like Miss +Saylor's John.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>John rushed through his business engagement in Boston; +then they went down to Atlantic City for several +days.</p> + +<p>He had written Bradford and Mr. Rogers telling of +his marriage. They had each telegraphed congratulations +and insisted that John wire the time of their arrival +in Pittsburgh. This he did.</p> + +<p>They were met at the station by Bradford and Dorothy +and Mr. Rogers and his wife. Both families insisted +that they should be their guests while in the city. A +compromise was effected by going home with Bradford +and Dorothy and accepting an invitation to be the guests +of honor Thursday evening at the Rogers home, where +they were to remain for the night after a reception and +dinner, leaving the next day for Kentucky over the Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Saturday noon they arrived at Paint Lick and were +met at the station by Mr. and Mrs. Saylor, Sr. in the +family carriage drawn by two sleek black mules; and Mr. +and Mrs. Saylor, Jr. in their new Pierce Arrow.</p> + +<p>Rosamond had consented to come over, having forgiven +John, because she thought he had in a spirit of +disappointment at her marriage, rushed to Wellesley and +married Mary.</p> + +<p>The more than a dozen years that had gone by since +John had seen Mr. and Mrs. Saylor had been kind to +them. Mr. Saylor had the look and ways of a prosperous +farmer. He had grown stout and seemed to enjoy the +good things of life. His was a jovial, easy-going disposition. +He considered that fortune had been kind, now +that Mary was married to Mr. Cornwall and Caleb, his +boy, was a big man and married to one of the Clays. +He owned a farm of more than four hundred acres and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>each year had saved some money, so that now he was +considered one of the rich farmers of the county.</p> + +<p>He stood in dread and fear of only one person in the +world and that was Caleb's wife. The lady, disputing the +family record which he had made when she was a little tot, +rechristened his Caleb, John Calhoun Saylor, and he +dared not protest. It was several months before his hard +head adjusted itself to the new name. He reached perfection +by gradation; from Caleb to John Caleb and finally +mastered John Calhoun.</p> + +<p>Upon receipt of the telegram from New York, opening +the big family Bible to make an entry of Mary's marriage +in the family record, he was surprised to find that the +entry of birth of Caleb Saylor made by him in 1885 had +been changed by Mrs. Saylor, Jr., to John Calhoun Saylor, +1883 which only left his son about two years his wife's +junior. Subsequently he discovered that his son and +Rosamond were each born in 1883 when he examined a +carefully mutilated record in the Clay Bible.</p> + +<p>John liked Mrs. Saylor. She was a most unselfish +soul, giving every thought of mind and every movement +of her body to service for her husband and children.</p> + +<p>She was a slender, large-framed woman, with snow-white +hair and a wrinkled, tired, though kindly face. The +face was a happier one than when he first knew her;—then +it seemed all joy had departed from it. She never +whimpered or found fault or raised her voice in anger. +She was a woman of few words and few tears. Her +hands, while not those of a lady, were those of a capable, +hard-working mother and had a touch of gentle softness +for the cheek of those she loved. Only when Mary and +Susie were both home did she find time to rest.</p> + +<p>Caleb was even more an egotist than when a boy. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>When he did not talk about himself his other subject of +discussion was the charms of his wife, yet John, and +others thrown with him, discovered he was not a fool. +Under the tutelage of his wife he was gradually acquiring +another faculty or subject of conversation, and that +was the power unstintedly to praise any vain person who +might prove of service to him. He had improved in +speech and knowledge, but by contact. He scarcely ever +looked into a book, except to memorize a passage. He +always carried a pocket dictionary and when an unfamiliar +word was used in his presence, surreptitiously +consulted it and, familiarizing himself with the meaning +of the word, used it the first time occasion offered. If he +once heard a thing he seemed never to forget it, nor a +man's name or face. If his wife wrote out a speech and +read it to him a couple of times it was his for delivery in +practically her words. He struck John as a man devoid +of conscience, yet, at first blush, of pleasant manner and +appearance.</p> + +<p>To John it seemed the years had made Rosamond +nearer the Rosamond of his dream than the youthful +Rosamond who had wandered over the hills with him and +to whom he had made love. The thought occurred that +Caleb must prove a strong and zealous contender for this +world's honors to satisfy his wife's ambition, else he +might lose his handsome wife to a greater champion. He +spoke of this impression to Mary and she shared his view, +though Rosamond was in no sense flirtatious.</p> + +<p>"Mary, I love all your family, except John Calhoun."</p> + +<p>"Well, John, you married me, not the family, though +I would have been unhappy had you not liked mother, +father and Susie."</p> + +<p>"You must make your mother visit us as soon as we +are settled. I believe she really needs the rest. I know +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>that she and mother will be great friends and I know +your father would like to put in a month hunting up old +friends and knocking about the hills; he must come, too."</p> + +<p>They remained at the Saylor homestead for three +days. The night before they left for home, they were entertained +by Mrs. John Calhoun Saylor, who was really +proud of these two members of her husband's family and +desired to exhibit them to the friends and relatives of +the Clays.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>As the train drew near Harlan, winding in and out +along the river and the foothills of Pine Mountain, Mary +nestled close to John and, dreamily watching the big +mountain, whose shadow was reflected in the deep pools +of the river, said:</p> + +<p>"I no longer call to you through space, John, wondering +if you hear. Now we travel side by side our narrow, +little way of life and read its meaning in each other's +eyes. We will soon be home, John; and I for one am glad +we are to live in the mountains. I love them more than +plain, or rolling pasture, or woodland, or the sea. One +of my favorite poems is:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Thou art a mountain stately and serene,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rising majestic o'er each earthly thing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I a lake that 'round thy feet do cling,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Kissing thy garment's hem, unknown, unseen.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I tremble when the tempests darkly screen<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thy face from mine. I smile when sunbeams fling<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their bright arms 'round thee. When the blue heavens lean<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon thy breast, I thrill with bliss, O king!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou canst not stoop—we are too far apart;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I may not climb to reach thy mighty heart;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Low at thy feet I am content to be.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>But wouldst thou know how great thou art,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bend thy proud head, my mountain love, and see<br /></span> +<span class="i2">How all thy glories shine again in me.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Will your mother be glad to see me, John? Will +she fear I shall steal too much of her boy's love?"</p> + +<p>"Mary, mother is a little, old woman with a wonderfully +big, young heart and a grand soul filled with tenderness +and grace and love. There's not a joy in all the +world she would not share with you. When she shares +your sorrows, night changes quickly to the dusk of morning +and as the day comes they flit away like shadows on +the dewy grass. When she sees you she will kiss you +and cry a bit and call you 'John's wife' for a day and +then it will be 'Mary dear.' Were you a stranger, whose +name had never been mentioned, she would take you in, +first for my sake, then love you for your own. One day +I said: 'Mother, your aim in life seems to be to live for +and wait on me.' 'No, John, my aim in life is to live +like Him!' She has kept some of earth's clay out of +my soul."</p> + +<p>As the train pulled into the station, Mary surreptitiously +powdered her nose. Mrs. Cornwall, Mrs. Neal, +Duffield and several other friends were there to meet +them.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Cornwall seemed not to see John. As she took +Mary in her arms she called her "John's wife"; they +cried a wee bit and as she let her go, John heard her say +"Mary dear"; and he knew his mother's heart approved +of his wife. Then he kissed his mother and they greeted +his other friends.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Neal was greatly surprised at Mary's appearance. +"Mrs. Cornwall, you really mean to tell me that +she was born on Straight Creek?"</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_114" id="PAGE_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Home Life.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>Mrs. Cornwall, upon the receipt of the telegram notifying +her of John's marriage, went to his room and taking +Mary's photograph, carried it to the window and +in the strong light of the June day studied the face.</p> + +<p>Even under her critical analysis, that of a mother-in-law +whose love was centered in her son and who believed +that he was entitled to the world's best, the picture +met her approbation.</p> + +<p>She held it in her arms, as one who loved might have +held the original; and after a few tears of mingled sadness +and joy—sadness for what had gone from her life +and joy for what she thought had come into her son's—and +after a prayer that God would bless the union of her +son and this woman, making their life long and true and +completing their happiness by giving them sweet children +to make the union one of body and soul, she carried +it down to her parlor and placed it on the center table +beside that of her son's, wreathing and clustering them +round with deep-red, velvety roses from the garden, and +each day until they came gathered fresh ones, replacing +those that withered. She telegraphed her blessing and +love to them both and wrote Mary a long letter, telling +her how happy she should be to welcome her home as +John's wife and her daughter.</p> + +<p>Though Mary several times had asked, John had told +her very little about their home. She knew from descriptions +Rosamond and Dorothy had given her that it +was an attractive place. When they drove into the yard +and up to the porch with its colonial pillars and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>old-fashioned, +arched doorway, he could see that she was +artistically satisfied.</p> + +<p>Then as they passed through the portal into the hall +and the double parlors, she gave voice to her appreciation.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Cornwall, you have made the house indeed a +home. No wonder John was so near remaining a bachelor. +You made him entirely too comfortable; he will expect +too much. John, see how your mother has bordered +our photographs with roses."</p> + +<p>"I hope you and John will be pleased with your +rooms. If they are not just what you wish, satisfy yourselves; +the house is large enough. Mary, you know the +house is yours. I have been after John for ten years to +marry and give me a chance to shift the responsibility of +housekeeper to younger shoulders."</p> + +<p>"You know they say comparisons are odious. I am +sure if you were to force me to assume instant charge, +John would never believe I could make a good housekeeper. +Were the house inartistic or disordered, I might +be tempted to do so, but everything is so harmonious, so +comfortable, so home-like, that I must serve a long apprenticeship +before you should force the responsibility +upon me. You know I have been a teacher; I must be +gradually taught housekeeping, and in the meantime am +to be your daughter as John is your boy."</p> + +<p>"Mother, when did you have all this done?"</p> + +<p>"The day after I received your telegram I sent to +Louisville and had Mr. Strassel come up; he, Mrs. Neal +and I redecorated and refurnished these rooms for +Mary."</p> + +<p>"You have been very thoughtful. John, your mother +has not given up her rooms for us, has she? If so, we +must refuse to take them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>"No, one of them was mine; the other was a spare +bedroom."</p> + +<p>"Please come to this window. What a happy view, +the garden, the river, the valley, the fields of grain and +the distant, blue mountains! John, I love your mother +and my home most as much as I do you!"</p> + +<p>The neighbors and friends of the Cornwalls were very +kind to Mary. She grew to be very fond of Mrs. Neal and +Mrs. Duffield. Duffield, several years before, had married +Helen Creech.</p> + +<p>Mary was just beginning to feel thoroughly at home, +and under Mrs. Cornwall's tutelage and diplomacy unconsciously +assuming charge as mistress of the house, +which was not so hard, as she had an efficient maid and +had always helped her mother, when Dorothy and Bradford +came on from Pittsburgh. Ever since their marriage +they had spent the month of August with Mrs. +Neal.</p> + +<p>After their arrival they, with John and Mary, began +wandering about the hills and playing the part of lovers +as they had done years before, though the Bradfords +were somewhat hampered in their rambles by a little son +whom they had christened John Durrett Bradford.</p> + +<p>Rosamond, who knew that the Bradfords were visiting +Mrs. Neal, telegraphed Mary that she and her husband +were coming to make her a visit, leaving home on +the 12th of August; they would remain ten days. She +answered, expressing her pleasure, and asked that they +bring her mother with them.</p> + +<p>While it was a matter of no importance to John Calhoun +and, therefore, he made no objection, his wife refused +to bring her, saying: "We will not mention that +we intend going to her. She can go after we return. I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>am going on a pleasure trip; not to look after an old +woman."</p> + +<p>When they arrived, Mary was greatly disappointed +that her mother had not come. When told by Rosamond +that they had not asked her mother because she did not +look well and the trip might prove too trying, she was +worried about her mother's health and immediately +wrote her sister.</p> + +<p>In answer, her sister said: "Mother was very much +disappointed when she learned John and Rosamond had +gone to visit you, as had she known, she would have come +with them. She is perfectly well and it is quite evident +to me that they did not want her with them. You need +not be surprised at anything that pair do."</p> + +<p>John Calhoun did not care to wander about the hills +or picnic along the river bank with his wife, saying: "I +had enough of climbing hills and basket meetings when +a boy." His wife accompanied Mary and John on their +rambles, while he loafed around the hotel and the court +house, making friends and acquaintances, or rode over +to the mines, cultivating the miners and discussing politics +with them.</p> + +<p>He had acquired the knack under his wife's tutelage +of beginning an argument with a man and gradually +coming around to his antagonist's way of thinking; complimenting +his opponent upon his way of making a difficult +question clear. He would tell him: "Now I understand +it for the first time. I was wrong, you are +right." Thereupon he and his opponent usually began +a sort of Alphonse and Gaston species of concessions +which ended in Saylor convincing the man to his way of +thinking. His wife said it was the Clay way of persuasion.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>Several days after Rosamond and her husband arrived, +John's mother had a slight illness which kept +Mary at home. Rosamond insisted on continuing the +rambles which had been planned, and her husband refusing +to accompany her, John was forced to do so.</p> + +<p>Thus, in a way, the relations of more than a half-dozen +years before were re-established. When they were +with Dorothy and Bradford she insisted on going where +they with their little, two-year-old boy could not go, +and in this way managed that she and John were much +together.</p> + +<p>When they passed some place she remembered from +her former rambles of the years before, she had a way +of recalling it and saying: "It was here, John, we sat +on the rock and you brought me water from the spring +in a cup of leaves; let's do it again for old-time's sake. +It was here, John, we seined the minnows; it was here +you taught me the jack-knife dive; it was here you picked +me up, oh, so tenderly! and with so much anxious solicitude, +I have half a mind to fall again" until John grew +timid, and the next time begged Mary to come with them, +and when she said it was impossible, sought to keep with +the other members of the party, but Rosamond was the +better manager and their solitary rambles continued.</p> + +<p>A day or two before she was to return home, as they +sat resting on a moss-grown rock in a secluded cove far +up the mountainside, she placed her hand over John's +and said:</p> + +<p>"Tell me, John, what you were going to ask the night +of the dance so many years ago, when you brought me +out to the arbor and we found Dorothy and Howard +Bradford there?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>"I thought I loved you and was going to ask you to +be my wife."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you, John—do; didn't you love me?"</p> + +<p>"I had a horrid dream about you and before I recovered +from it you became offended and returned home. I +never saw you afterwards until Mary and I were married."</p> + +<p>"So you let a dream shatter my dreams of love and +happiness."</p> + +<p>"You should not say that, Rosamond. You are married +and to a man of your own choosing and I to the wife +of my choice."</p> + +<p>"Mine was a marriage of convenience; I did it believing +that I could manage my husband and, with even the +crude material at hand, make a man. I am regretting +it even now after less than four months. He either has +less sense than I thought or is harder to manage. I do +not even respect him and if you were still single and +wished it, I could get a divorce. Why did you not follow +me home, John? That's what I expected you to do."</p> + +<p>"Don't; such talk is not right and you must not say +such things to me. Even though I loved you once, I now +love only one woman in the world and that is Mary. Were +we both single, I could not marry you unless Mary was +married to some other man. There is no use talking +about such things; they are a forgotten past. I shall not +go out with you again; I dare not; you are a fascinating +woman and the old love might return."</p> + +<p>"You coward!"</p> + +<p>John rose from his seat and, deathly pale, walked +ahead of Rosamond down the mountainside and she, pale +and trembling with anger, followed after. Neither spoke +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>until they joined Dorothy and Bradford under some old +elms near the river.</p> + +<p>From that day until the Saylors left for home John +was too busy at the office for any more rambles. Rosamond +was ill-tempered and spent most of her time in her +room. When her door was opened the quiet of the house +was occasionally disturbed by loud-voiced wrangling +with her husband; though in the presence of strangers +she always greeted him in a gently modulated voice and +with a smile.</p> + +<p>The following spring the Pittsburgh Coal & Coke +Company sold out to a Detroit manufacturer of automobiles +and John was instrumental in closing the deal. As +fee and profit on the sale of his stock in the company +he realized a little more than twenty-three thousand +dollars.</p> + +<p>He was retained by the new company as their local +counsel at a salary of three thousand dollars and from +his other business realized an income of four thousand +dollars more. This seemed to be about the limit of earning +capacity in the little, mountain city, though he and +his wife never thought of moving. They were both satisfied +and loved the mountains and their neighbors. Their +mother was content where her children, John and Mary, +were.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1911 he was the Democratic elector from +the Eleventh Congressional District and made a few +speeches which attracted some little attention. The following +summer he was offered and declined the Assistant +United States District Attorneyship for the Eastern +Kentucky District.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>On the 12th day of May, 1910, his thirty-eighth birthday, +his wife presented him with a son. After a discussion +lasting several days, in which he and Mary had less +to say than his mother or Mrs. Neal or Mrs. Simeon Saylor, +who was visiting her daughter, the boy was christened +John Saylor Cornwall; and to avoid confusion in +an otherwise quiet and well-regulated household, was +called Saylor.</p> + +<p>His father called him "Sailor Boy" and wanted to +take him down to the river to sail toy boats before he +cut his stomach teeth but the boy's grandmothers would +not permit it.</p> + +<p>The two grandmothers were constantly quarrelling as +to who should hold John Saylor Cornwall, while the baby +was either crying to go to his father or squirming to get +down and crawl on the floor.</p> + +<p>His grandfather, who was now Colonel Simeon Saylor +(i. e., by courtesy, since he was quite an extensive land-owner), +began to think that John Saylor Cornwall in the +years to come might grow to be almost as great as his +Uncle John Calhoun, who was now Congressman from +the Eighth District.</p> + +<p>He began telling the boy how great he was going to +be until his mother put a stop to it by threatening to send +him home before the boy's second birthday, the celebration +of which event the grandfather and two grandmothers +looked forward to with excited expectancy, as he was +the only grandchild in either family.</p> + +<p>On his second birthday he was showered with presents. +Everybody remembered him, except his Aunt +Rosamond. She left the Cornwall family alone after her +visit in August, following the marriage of John and +Mary.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>She was now in Washington with her husband; or, as +some of her friends put it, she was in Washington, accompanied +by her husband.</p> + +<p>As a politician, he was not in her class. She some +time since had ceased in her attempts to gratify ambition +by reflective honors from her husband and had marched +forth under the leadership of Mrs. Catt as a most trusted +lieutenant. She was head of the Woman's Suffrage Organization +of Kentucky; was in great demand as a public +speaker and heralded by an extensive following as the +probable successor of Mrs. Catt in the fight for the emancipation +of women.</p> + +<p>Her husband, in spite of his distinguished air and +faculty as a personal press agent, was slowly losing his +identity. He was not infrequently referred to, particularly +in Washington, as the husband of Mrs. Rosamond +Clay Saylor.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On the way home from his visit. Grandpa Saylor +stopped off at Pineville and spent a day or two on the +head of Straight Creek with his former neighbors.</p> + +<p>The old home place was occupied by Jim Helton, who, +when he sold his land to the coal company, moved into +the Saylor house. He spent a day with the Heltons; he +even visited the old cliff-house still and at twilight +started down the creek for Pineville. In the valley it +was very dark, as the moon had not yet risen above the +mountain.</p> + +<p>When opposite Elhannon Howard's, the horse he was +riding stumbled over something in the middle of the road +and horse and rider were hurled over the bank into the +creek. Elhannon, hearing the noise made by the horse +floundering around in the water and old man Saylor +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>swearing, came out bearing a flaming pine knot, and the +two old enemies faced each other.</p> + +<p>Saylor's horse had stumbled over one of Elhannon's +cows asleep in the road and the frightened cow, struggling +to her feet, had thrown horse and rider over the +bank. The rider was unhurt, but the horse's right foreleg +was broken.</p> + +<p>"Damn you, Elhannon, why don't you and your wife +sleep out in the middle of the road, too. You will certainly +pay for that horse and my wetting. I am too old +to fight you, but I will law you in Squire Ingram's +court."</p> + +<p>"All right, Sim Saylor; I'll be thar."</p> + +<p>"And if I lose thar, I'll take it to the Circuit Court."</p> + +<p>"All right, Sim Saylor, I'll be thar."</p> + +<p>"And if I lose in the Circuit Court, I'll take it to the +Court of Appeals."</p> + +<p>"All right, Sim Saylor; I'll be thar."</p> + +<p>"And if I lose in the Court of Appeals, I'll take it to +hell, the next place."</p> + +<p>"All right, Sim Saylor, I won't be thar, but my lawyer +will. Keep on your shirt, Sim, and come into the +house. The old woman can make you comfortable for +the night."</p> + +<p>They went to the house and Mr. Saylor took off his +wet clothes and went to bed. When he awoke the next +morning they hung on a chair, dry and nicely cleaned; +there was even a fashionable crease down the trouser +legs. Elhannon's dude son had pressed them for him.</p> + +<p>As he and Elhannon sat at breakfast they talked +about the bees and the old Southdown ram which several +years before had been gathered to his fathers, leaving +several noble scions behind.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>When breakfast was over Elhannon's boy, the dude, +drove up in front of the house in a buckboard, and Saylor +climbed in beside him. As the boy started off Elhannon +called: "Look here, dood, don't drive that horse +over any cows in the road."</p> + +<p>Old man Saylor laughed and called back: "You and +I are too old to law; you settle with old man Samuels for +his horse and we'll call it square. You and the old woman +come down to the fair and stop with us."</p> + +<p>"All right, Sim Saylor; I'll be thar; so long and good +luck."</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>PART II.</h2> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_127" id="PAGE_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>Seeing Italy at Mrs. O'Flannagan's Expense.</h2> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Mrs. O'Flannagan lived in Limerick, the Irish colony +of Louisville. Her husband, a policeman under the +Grainger administration, was "doped by a friend" and, +being found in a stupor, was fired by the Board of Public +Safety. His friend's brother inherited the beat and the +Tenth-street or side door of the saloon at —— West +Green Street, swung more loosely of hinge on Sunday +than formerly.</p> + +<p>Some days after his dismissal O'Flannagan, passing +the cart of a hot-tamale man at the entrance to the ball +park, became involved in an argument between the vendor, +a Sicilian, and a boy and was knifed by the vendor. +He was buried three days later after a convivial wake, +the success of which was in some measure a consolation +for his widow.</p> + +<p>His estate, besides his widow, consisted of a four-room, +shot-gun cottage, meagerly furnished, and three +boys, Tim, Pat and Jerry.</p> + +<p>Tim was fourteen, and after school sold papers at +Fourth and Broadway. The other two boys were of sufficient +years of discretion to dodge a motorcycle if the +rider gave stentorian warning.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Flannagan, a husky, rawboned dame, adopted +the profession of a washlady, and found many ladies who +were anxious to procure her services since the colored +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>ladies had deserted their washtubs to work in the Axton +tobacco factory.</p> + +<p>Tim always brought home the worn outside paper of +his bundle, or else one that some customer had glanced +through and thrown away, for his mother to read. She +was deeply interested in the progress of the World War.</p> + +<p>After ten hours over the washtub, she would change +her sud-soaked dress, get the boys their supper, clean and +dry the dishes, scrub the two little chaps and put them +to bed; then, after eight o'clock, sit down at the window +where the street light shone in and read about those +"devilish Huns," her moist, strong face, to which clung +her brown hair, stringy from sweat, working and changing +expression with feelings of sympathy and patriotism.</p> + +<p>After she had read all about the war and the Red +Cross, but nothing else, she got out a ball of gray yarn +and needles and knitted till 10:30. She had promised to +knit two pairs of socks a week for the Limerick Red +Cross Unit. Then after her prayers, which were wholly +intercessory, for her boys and their daily bread and the +motherless boys in Flanders, her day's work was done. +She went to the big bed by the window and kissed her +three boys, then to her cot in the corner and slept the +sound sleep of the faithful and the true.</p> + +<p>She had not been to a picture show in three years; +had never been in an automobile, nor to the derby, nor +the State Fair, but each Sunday morning walked in to +the Cathedral to early mass.</p> + +<p>She was always at home, except when she made the +trip to the grocery, or to The Puritan to deliver the wash, +or to the knitting unit to exchange the pair of well-knitted +socks (on the tops of which she always made a +narrow border of red, white and blue) for more yarn.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>She gave the boys twenty cents each every Saturday +night to go to the picture show and for peanuts. They +knew all the knot-holes in the ball park fence and all the +home players by name and sight. They argued and sometimes +fought over the umpire's decision.</p> + +<p>The Government selected and named a training camp +site, out the Preston Street car line, Camp Taylor. It +was soon rumored around Limerick how they were burning +down practically new buildings to make immediate +room for barracks and were paying unheard-of prices for +labor. Every one who owned a saw, hammer and square +and who could hit the hammer with the nail, called himself +a carpenter and journeyed thither. The paper boys +became water boys at three dollars per day. So Tim gave +up his paper stand and became a water boy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. O'Flannagan, going down to the store for a pair +of shoes and taking three dollars to pay for them, the +price she had been paying for the same shoe for ten +years, was forced to return home for three dollars more, +as she was told: "Last week the price was raised to +$5.98." Everywhere she went to buy some simple necessity +she was told of a sudden similar raise.</p> + +<p>The husbands and sweethearts of the few remaining +colored washladies having procured jobs at the camp and +the women themselves receiving liberal offers at other +occupations, deserted the washtub. The ladies of The +Puritan were forced to get Mrs. O'Flannagan or buy an +electric washer and iron or surreptitiously do the family +wash in the bathtub and dry it in the kitchenette.</p> + +<p>Three or four times daily a limousine or sedan drove +up in front of Mrs. O'Flannagan's and a daintily bedecked +creature in a fifty-dollar hat and a two-hundred-dollar +dress, wearing twenty-dollar shoes, stepped out +exhibiting a none too slender calf encased in a five-dollar +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>stocking, though her father might have gotten his start as +a section-hand at two dollars per day on the L. & N. or +have driven a huckster's wagon, or tended bar, or curried +horses. She tripped into the house and, after shaking +hands with the washlady (she was hard pushed), +who was forced to quit work, wipe her hands on the roller +towel and entertain her visitor, said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mrs. O'Flannagan, Mrs. Rothchilds says you are +a beautiful laundress and that you always return all the +things when you promise. I had a nigger doing my work +and she was an awful nuisance. I do believe she wore +my stockings and my teddy-bears. Mrs. Rothchilds is a +friend of mine; we live in adjoining apartments. There +are four in her family and only three in mine and her +son Leo has so many shirts. She tells me you have been +her laundress for three years and that she pays you a +dollar and a half a week. Now that's too cheap. You +give up her washing and take mine. I will pay you +three dollars a week and send it round in the car by +Charles."</p> + +<p>"I have been doing Mrs. Rothchilds' wash for more +than three years. When prices went up so much she offered +to pay me more, saying high prices had cut the +heart out of the dollar. I said: 'No, you furnish the +soap and starch and what you pay is enough. I want +to do what I can to help these times, and the way to put +the heart back in the dollar is to put prices down; we +can all help do that. All I want is to make an honest +living and bring up my three boys to be good men.' I +sometimes think happiness consists in having few wants. +I am glad to see you are doing so well. I believe I know +you. You are Rachael Reubenstein, the daughter of +Herman Reubenstein, who used to have the old-clothes +store at Ninth and Market. You and I used to play dolls +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>together. Father went on your father's bond when he +bought all those clothes and jewelry from two coons for +twenty dollars."</p> + +<p>"Charles, start the car; let us leave this low neighborhood, +and wash the car when you get back to the +garage."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The National War Work Council of the Y. M. C. A. +and kindred organizations, having started their work +and particularly that most important portion of soliciting +funds from the general public, Mrs. Breckenridge +Crittenden Clay, of 4897 Third Avenue, was elected as +head of the women's committee.</p> + +<p>Fair, young girls in fluffy dresses and of just that +age supposed to be most appealing and irresistible to +men, were placed in the office and bank buildings and +were directed to shower their smiles upon the strangers +in the hotel lobbies, while certain fat and willing dames +past forty were given the residence sections of the great +common people and told to make a house-to-house canvass. +They were instructed, however, to omit the factories +and business houses intermittently located in such +sections, as they were to be looked after by a selected +coterie who called in state and were supposed to be specially +fitted for just such solicitations.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weissinger Robinson, who was not on the best +of terms with Mrs. Clay, but who always helped in such +campaigns for contributions, was assigned to the residence +section of Limerick, while Mrs. Clay's most intimate +friend, Mrs. Castleman Smith, was assigned to +Third and Fourth avenues between Kentucky and Hill +streets.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>One hot afternoon, while Mrs. O'Flannagan was +hanging out the wash, the car of Mrs. Robinson drove up +to her door.</p> + +<p>"Horace, climb out and tell whoever lives here to +come to the car."</p> + +<p>The chauffeur knocked on the door and when Mrs. +O'Flannagan opened it, delivered his message. She came +out, wiping her wet, water-wrinkled hands upon her +flour-sack apron, supposing that here was another lady +looking for a laundress.</p> + +<p>"I am Mrs. Weissinger Robinson and this is Mrs. +Decatur Jones. We are asking subscriptions for the +Y. M. C. A. and other kindred institutions, the money to +be used for the comfort and entertainment of our soldier +boys in Europe, to furnish them with shelter huts near +the front line where they may rest, have picture shows, +theatricals, innocent games, a library and be given hot +coffee, chocolate and other home-like things; they will +also be given writing materials. We have been asked to +visit each house in this section and ask contributions."</p> + +<p>"How nice and home-like that will be for the boys! +If every mother gives, she can be sure her boy over there +will share in the giving. I have saved up forty dollars +for winter clothes for my boys, but we will give ten of +it. I am sorry I can not do more."</p> + +<p>At night when the canvass of that section was completed +Mrs. Robinson had collected $843.50, while Mrs. +Castleman Smith, of the Third Avenue section, had collected +$327.00.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Decatur Jones, talking about the contributions +with Mrs. Robinson, said: "I am so glad we put it over +that Mrs. Castleman Smith. My husband gave me twenty-five +dollars to contribute, but I thought that was too +much, so gave Mrs. Smith, who had our district, two +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>dollars. I knew there would be no trouble in collecting +this city's apportionment. We always 'go over the top.' +Limerick certainly did beautifully, and I might just as +well have given all the twenty-five dollars, as I lost it +playing bridge."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The necessary fund having been raised by popular +subscription, the Y. M. C. A., K. of C. and Salvation Army +began the process of preparation to send over a corps +of workers to look after the spiritual and physical welfare +of the American boys sent overseas and assigned for +training or fighting service to camp or trench in England, +France, Italy, Russia and Mesopotamia.</p> + +<p>In the list of recruits for International Y service there +were barbers and lawyers, truck farmers and preachers, +mechanics and professors, dentists and veterinarians, +meat-eaters and vegetarians—an average lot of Americans +picked up in the hurley-burley and hasty preparation +for war.</p> + +<p>All were recommended by men of standing in their +respective communities. If among them there were a +few black sheep, the responsibility rested with the local +Y which made the investigation, or on those respectable +local citizens who indorsed them, and not on the International +Y. The Government, when applications for passports +were filed, made an investigation by special agent +of the applicant's loyalty and character.</p> + +<p>Thus were gathered together several thousand men +whose average of age was probably forty, nearly all +starting from home with a conscientious desire to render +real patriotic service in the great war.</p> + +<p>There were a few young men who joined the Y to +avoid more serious military service. There were a few +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>others who had no other object than to see France and +Italy at Mrs. O'Flannagan's expense. There were perhaps +a very few who sought sinful adventure and experience.</p> + +<p>The majority left home upon the receipt of a telegram +ordering them to report in New York at once, prepared +to sail for Europe. They were fired with zeal and patriotism, +expecting to sail at once and upon arrival in +Europe to serve in the front line under the very muzzle +of German big Berthas.</p> + +<p>When they arrived in New York they reported at the +Hotel St. Andrews and were then assigned to that or +some other hotel and directed to report the following +morning at 347 Madison Avenue, where the International +Y had its offices.</p> + +<p>Then they stood in line a day or two, usually snubbed +if they asked some one of the smaller office men a question, +and when they sought information, or to comply +with certain regulations at the desk designated in their +printed instructions as the proper one, they were referred +to some one else or told by a stenographer that the gentleman +was out just at present, or that the applicant must +first go to some other desk before he could attend to him. +This was the ground-floor experience, where the utmost +inexperience was slowly ground down to competency and +the green Y men were gradually knocked and buffeted +through in accordance with the regulations. In this way +their patriotism and resolutions were given a dush and +first shock, from which they never wholly recovered because +of many subsequent similar experiences.</p> + +<p>The office building was arranged much on the order +of a Chinese restaurant; in that as you journeyed skyward +conditions improved. The ground floor was the +worst, but as the elevator ascended you met with more +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>courtesy and consideration. By the time you passed the +fourth floor the man behind the desk had time to answer +a relevant question, as he was not riled by his own incompetency.</p> + +<p>After they had been in New York a day or two they +learned that their passports had not been issued and +therefore there was no immediate prospect for sailing. +They were then ordered to a training conference for ten +days, which many attended for months, retaining their +rooms and eating at an expensive hotel at the expense of +Mrs. O'Flannagan.</p> + +<p>At the conference, with the exception of lessons in +the language of the country where they were to be located +and the physical training given them, to many the +time seemed wasted. They were subjected to daily lectures +on morals and patriotism by professors who talked +to them as to a group of fourth-grade boys, and sought +to impress upon them that it would be unbecoming in a +Y secretary to flirt with the girls of the street of Paris +and London, or to lie around drunk in a front-line trench. +But the professors could not help it; they were fifty and +their habits were formed. They had been talking to boys +from eight to sixteen years old for thirty years. They +could not understand that a lawyer or dentist or preacher +past forty might be a little set in his ways and might +know almost half as much about the girls of the street +and a plain drunk as a Boston college professor. The +pupil might even have had the experience.</p> + +<p>Possibly some of the men before sailing during their +hundred nights on Broadway received a few instructions +first-hand about the girls of the street and the evils of +intemperance, which in a small measure prepared their +innocent souls for the shock of a short sojourn in Paris. +Certainly that experience with what the professors had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>told them was sufficient to keep them from unconsciously +being led astray, though I have been told that some of +them offered the new and heretofore unheard-of excuse: +"She did tempt me and I did eat."</p> + +<p>Then they were further trained to march and to sing; +since when they landed upon foreign shores they undoubtedly +would spend most of their time marching in +bands about the streets of London and Paris and Rome +and possibly in due course Berlin, singing: "The Yanks +are Coming" and "America Done It," because the French, +Italians and Germans know little or nothing about music, +and any American Y man, especially a blacksmith from +Shoulder Blade, Kentucky, could give them a few lessons. +And the British—why, they could do nothing, or would +do nothing, till they got there. They were drilled for a +month or more in squads right and squads left and taught +by music masters to sing: "Here We Are, Hear the Eagle +Scream."</p> + +<p>The last time they marched was when they marched +off the boat on the other shore; after that when they +walked they hoofed it. And the last time they sang was +just before they heard the Italians sing. The first performance +by comparison with the second sounded as a +tom-tom concert in competition with the celestial choir. +Talk about carrying coals to Newcastle; the most absurd +performance of the Y was exporting American singers +to entertain the Italian army.</p> + +<p>Have you thought about it? Since Woodrow Wilson +has been President, America has been afflicted with what +might be called the Professors' Age. The professors in +the Y certainly had the pull. If a kitchen was opened +in Flanders, a professor of chemistry was the director +in charge; a chef was no better than a kitchen scullion. +If a tooth was to be pulled, a professor of anatomy <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>performed +the operation because he knew the root from the +crown, while a dentist handled freight in a warehouse. +A professor of mathematics was put in charge of motor +vehicles, while a machinist arranged the programme for +a vocal concert. A professor of languages would be made +chief accountant, while an expert accountant was put in +charge of a moving-picture machine. Professor Brown +was given charge in France; Professor Greene in England, +and Professor Black in Italy; and their regional +directors were professor this and that; a professor of +penmanship in Rome, a professor of biology in Genoa, a +professor of languages in Brescia, and a professor of +something else in Naples, Milan, Venice, Trieste and +Palermo. There was as much of school-teacher dictatorship +in the foreign Y as Secretary Lansing found at the +head of the State Department. When a doughboy referred +to the Y as "the damn Y," it is possible he recognized +the secretary in charge as his former professor of +mathematics or languages.</p> + +<p>But slowly as these professors returned to America +order came out of chaos; the Y adjusted itself and became +an efficient machine. We can probably look upon +it as a permanent organization in foreign lands by the +time these gifted and well-trained executives, these +learned expatriates, have all been called home.</p> + +<p>Because of mismanagement and disorganization in +the beginning, many a Y man who had left home with +the best intentions, became disappointed and disgusted +and so unfit for service.</p> + +<p>He began by traveling from pillar to post and ended +by seeing France and Italy at Mrs. O'Flannagan's expense. +He returned home saying unkind things of the Y. +Those who saw him traveling about, usually in an expensive +car, burning gasoline which cost more than a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>dollar a gallon or traveling free on overcrowded trains, +needed to transport troops or civilians on imperative +business, said unkind things of the Y.</p> + +<p>The men in the service of the Y had no reason for +complaint at the reception or courtesy extended them by +the foreign governments where they were placed. In +Italy they had free first-class transportations and could +frank their baggage. The organization was given free +freight, express, postal and telegraph service. Certain +government monopolies were waived and customs' +charges revoked in its favor.</p> + +<p>Nor could the men complain of the Y in the allowance +for expenses and salaries, as the organization in +every instance more than lived up to its agreement. No +great criticism can be found with the organization. A +man who wanted to work and serve had the opportunity. +Just criticism for incompetence was local, and for discourtesy +and dishonesty was individual.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_139" id="PAGE_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">"Y" Service.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>One evening in the spring of 1918 John Calhoun Saylor, +ex-Congressman, sat before the open fire in the old +Clay residence, reading the Courier-Journal.</p> + +<p>"Just as I expected, thirty-five, that gets me. I was +born in 1885." Then he read to his wife that the draft +age would be raised to thirty-five.</p> + +<p>"But, John, you are married."</p> + +<p>"Yes, thoroughly—but that makes no difference in +my case. We have no children; you and I have some +little property, enough of an income to live on; there's +no one dependent upon me; I'm as strong as a mule, feet, +eyes, ears and teeth all right; no chance for rejection; +they'll get me sure. I guess it would have been better +if I had gone to an officer's training camp. My friends +know I am no coward; I have been shot at before, but I +do not want some spindley, little dry-goods clerk of a +lieutenant telling me where to get off at; and I don't +fancy living in Washington as a dollar-a-year man. I +rebel against restraint and routine."</p> + +<p>"John, though I would miss you greatly, as you know +a few months' foreign service would help you politically. +All the boys and younger men in the eastern end of the +State are in Europe, or preparing for foreign service. +It would be a mistake to wait and be drafted. When the +women begin voting, as they will in a year or two, they +will vote for the ex-soldier."</p> + +<p>"Foreign service is all right, if the war don't last +too long. It is the training camp I want to dodge. Well, +this might help out—'The International Y. M. C. A. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>desires +several hundred men for immediate service abroad. +Kentucky is expected to furnish thirty of this number. +They must be over the present draft age and contract to +serve one year or for duration of the war. Applicants +please write or call upon Mr. Theobald Burton, Y. M. C. +A. Building, Louisville, Ky.'</p> + +<p>"Suppose we go to Louisville tomorrow? Then I +will call upon Mr. Burton and learn what would be expected +of me."</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Saylor went to Louisville and to see +Mr. Burton. John Calhoun made out an application for +service, which was held up until he furnished a physician's +health certificate and the declarations of three +reputable citizens, including the pastor of the church he +attended, as to his moral fitness for the work. Then his +application was forwarded for approval to the general +offices.</p> + +<p>Then he made application for a passport for service +in Italy and France, which was forwarded by the Clerk +of the United States District Court to Washington. He +was then vaccinated and given the typhoid serum treatment—precautions +required under army regulations.</p> + +<p>Feeling assured that the Y. M. C. A. could not do without +his services, he returned home and made preparation +for a year's absence.</p> + +<p>He so managed that the local papers gave him quite +a boost. They told how he had gone to Louisville, where +he had made repeated efforts to enlist in both the army +and the navy, but had been rejected. He then made application +to enter the International Y. M. C. A. for foreign +service and had been accepted. "This Mr. Saylor +had done at great personal inconvenience and considerable +business sacrifice, feeling that it was his duty to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>serve his country. He expects to sail for Europe before +the end of the month."</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 2d of June he received a telegram +from the International Y to report in New York, +prepared to sail immediately upon arrival. He left home +that afternoon and on the night of the 3d reported at +the Hotel St. Andrews, where he was assigned quarters, +sharing his room with another Y man. There he remained, +his expenses paid by the Y, until he sailed three +months later.</p> + +<p>The morning after arrival, reporting at the main office, +347 Madison Avenue, he was told that his passport +had not been received and it was impossible to tell when +it might be.</p> + +<p>Speaking a little Italian, which Luigi Poggi had +taught him when a boy, he was directed to prepare for Y +service with the Italian army and sent to take the training +course at the university.</p> + +<p>There he was taught to march and to sing "The +Yanks are Coming" and other choice vocal selections; +was lectured on patriotism and cautioned against intemperance, +lewd and lascivious conduct and the great temptations +held out to innocent and inexperienced Y secretaries +in the great foreign cities. He was given lessons +in Italian and at the end of three months could speak +that language more fluently than his professor.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of August his passport arrived and he +was notified to be prepared to sail on September 1st. +From that time until he left New York he stood in line +before different clerks and officials, receiving instructions, +signing papers and procuring his outfit. He was +furnished everything except his underclothing, including +a fund for incidental expenses over actual transportation.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>Standing in line with more than a hundred others, +he was surprised to see, only a short way behind him, his +brother-in-law, John Cornwall.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Cornwall, in January, 1918, had made application to +enter the Officers Training Camp at Port Benjamin Harrison, +but had been rejected because he was past forty-five. +He had then tried to enlist as a private, but had +been rejected for the same reason. He had tendered his +services to the Judge Advocate General's department, +but had heard nothing from his application. As a last +opportunity he offered his services to the International +Y and had been accepted.</p> + +<p>He arrived in New York on the night of August 27th +and learned that his passport had been received, and he +and three hundred and sixteen other Y men were to sail +on September 1st.</p> + +<p>In the early morning of that date they boarded a train +for Montreal, where they arrived past midnight and were +marched aboard the Burmah, a British transport of seven +thousand tons burden. At two a. m. they were given a +meal of tea, bread, condensed milk, boiled potatoes and +a most horrible sausage and told to turn in. As their +bunks were hold hamocks, quite a few turned out.</p> + +<p>About daylight the thousand-mile journey down the +St. Lawrence began. When they reached the ocean they +joined a convoy of a dozen ships, screened in a cold mist +and rocked by a choppy sea. Then began the ocean +voyage of twelve days, through fog and rain and over +a rough, gray sea. At night it was early to bed, because +lights were not allowed.</p> + +<p>The fare shows the ship's registry, and for breakfast, +dinner and supper was the same—tea, oatmeal, mutton, +marmalade, condensed milk, cheese, oleomargarin, bread +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>and boiled potatoes. The ship was redolent with mutton. +Those whose stomachs were upset by a first voyage, more +than sixty per cent, declared they could never again look +a sheep in the face and live through it. Several gave +their sheep skin coats away, believing they added to the +prevailing odor.</p> + +<p>Every day of the voyage they marched in the morning +and held a song service in the afternoon, followed +by an address by some diplomatic preacher or professor, +who, being on a British transport, considered it an opportune +time to tell the captain and crew what the Yanks +intended doing and why the soldiers of all the other allied +nations had failed in the war.</p> + +<p>When they were off the Irish coast a half-dozen British +destroyers steamed out of the fog and met them and, +like greyhounds at full speed, chased one another in great +circles around the more slowly moving convoy.</p> + +<p>At Liverpool they marched ashore singing, "The +Yanks are Coming" and never marched again. Then +they traveled by train to London and a day or two later +to Southampton, then by channel steamer to Havre, then +by train to Paris, where most of the men were assigned +to service in France.</p> + +<p>Those going to Italy, some thirty-five, including Saylor +and Cornwall, several days later traveled by train +through Southwestern France to Modane, then by way +of Turin to Bologna.</p> + +<p>There they made settlement of their incidental expense +accounts, which did not include transportation +charges; and though they traveled together and stopped +at the same hotels, Saylor rendered an account for two +hundred and twenty-five dollars and Cornwall one for +eighty-three dollars.</p> + +<p>In Bologna they were lectured and cautioned, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>particularly +against having anything to say about the Protestant +religion in a Catholic country, or making themselves +conspicuous by attending Protestant churches and +gatherings. Then they were indiscriminately scattered +from the Austrian boundary to Syracuse.</p> + +<p>John Calhoun was given a high-powered car and stationed +at Cento, a place within convenient distance of +Florence, Venice, Verona, Brescia and Milan. He always +left Cento on Saturday a. m. and returned Monday +p. m. He saw these and more distant cities. The cafes +on the shores of lakes Garda, Iseo, Como and Maggiore +knew the resonant sound of his Klaxon horn.</p> + +<p>But his weekly reports of work done, sent into Bologna, +showed magnificent accomplishments. There were +but seven thousand soldiers in his district, and only four +huts or places of entertainment for the soldiers. At night +some thirty or forty soldiers gathered in each place, their +wants attended to by a sergeant of the Italian army, who +called at his rooms when supplies were needed; yet this +report recited that an average of three thousand visited +the four places each night of the week, making a weekly +attendance of more than twenty thousand. He made +out his weekly report Friday night, with directions to his +orderly to mail it to Bologna on Monday morning. The +report came in promptly, though John Calhoun might +be in Venice or Verona.</p> + +<p>How he did enjoy these week-end outings. It was a +break in the monotony of sitting quietly at ease in quarters +furnished by the Italian Government, when the only +recreation was lunch and dinner at the officers' mess, +where he drank his share of the red and white wines and +learned to eat macaroni seasoned with grated cheese and +red tomato sauce, wrapping it around his fork and picking +it up in great mouthfuls.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>He was wonderfully kind to Colonel Rocca, the commanding +officer, keeping him supplied with cigarettes +and tobacco from the supply furnished for distribution +among the privates. When the colonel expressed a desire +to accompany him on one of his week-end outings +or even to be carried to some neighboring city (the army +only allowing a horse and cart for his personal service), +the Y Fiat was always at his service. This courtesy resulted +in John Calhoun being awarded the Croce di +Guerra, for distinguished service at the front, though +Cento was seventy-five miles from the front line and he +never so much as heard the roar of a distant gun. He +did visit the battlefields, the whole front line from the +Adriatic Sea, along the Piave, Mt. Grappa and the Trentino, +westward to Tonale Pass and northward to Innsbruck, +but it was after the armistice. He made a choice +collection of war relics and photographs, which he subsequently +used in his lecture: "Personal Experiences at +the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, or How I Won the War +Cross."</p> + +<p>He had spent his boyhood on the trails of Pine Mountain, +often riding to mill straddle of a mule. When the +family moved to Madison County he drove a speedy trotter +to a side-bar buggy over the turnpike, then in his +own Pierce-Arrow over excellent roads, then in Italy a +Y Fiat. He was educated by gradation to speedy locomotion +and was a most competent judge of good roads.</p> + +<p>He knew what he was talking about when he said +that there were no other roads in the world like the old +Roman roads of the plain and no other highways exhibited +such engineering skill and perfection as those of +the mountains, north from Brescia along Lake Iseo to +Tonale Pass, with its tunnels, curves and gradual ascents.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>How he did enjoy riding over the old Roman road +from Bologna to Milan with Colonel Rocca, telling him +about what he had done and had seen! One of his lectures, +descriptive of this road, was reported, and I quote +a portion of it:</p> + +<p>"There is no place more attractive in the ripe days +of spring than the Lombardy plain. The old Roman road +as direct as the truth and a straight, though broad, way +intersects it as though a great master road builder with +the power of a czar had laid down a hundred-mile rule +and, drawing a single line at an angle of twenty degrees +north of west, declared the survey complete and the +route fixed.</p> + +<p>"The road is built above and overlooks the plain. No +pains in the original construction of twenty-odd centuries +ago, nor since in its remodification or repair, has +been spared towards making it an eternal highway down +which as a vast speedway a half-dozen cars might race +abreast.</p> + +<p>"The Po and its tributaries are spanned by great +arched bridges of stone, seemingly cut and placed by +Titans of past ages who spent their full days and plenteous +strength and skill in placing stone on stone.</p> + +<p>"The whole plan seems laid off with a rule. The distant +cloud-capped Alps to the north, the Apennines of +verdant foothills and snow-clad peaks nearer to the south +seem pressing down to meet and clash as two vast armies +contending for the plain—as so many times have the men +of the north with the men of the south until the Master +of All, drawing a line with His sceptre, said: 'Thus far +only.' Then He made the river which surges forward in +a straight flight from Valenza to the sea and swarthy +barefooted peasants of the plain flanked it with parallel +dikes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>"On either side of the whole way are long rows of +mulberry trees for silk culture, and vineyards for red +wine, and between the grass grows rank and green.</p> + +<p>"But three times yearly the geni of the garden comes +forth, on moist, moony nights, and changes the rugs of +green in the aisles of the vineyards and the groves and +the carpets of the fields.</p> + +<p>"When the time of the singing of the birds is come +and the locust and the cherry bloom, then he spreads the +rugs and carpets of promise and of gold, embossed with +yellow tulips and bordered with royal purple, Parma +violets.</p> + +<p>"When nature is voluptuously mature the geni +spreads his rugs and carpets of poppies. It is the season +to wound and to garner; the red of the fields is as the +wounds of the slain.</p> + +<p>"The geni grows old, his beard and hair are white as +lamb's wool. White oxen drew great tanks on wheels +into the vineyards. The grapes are gathered and +trampled into wine. The trees and vines look sad. The +rugs are faded and worn. It is the season of death; the +sleep before the resurrection. So for the last time the +geni comes forth and spreads his rugs and carpets of +white—the last flowers of the year.</p> + +<p>"You will pass several ancient churches along the +way. When the interior walls are scraped it is not uncommon +to find frescoes by some forgotten master, generally +in the nude. The father of the church, being +something of an artist himself, mixes a pot of paint and +dresses the exhumed Saint Anthony in yellow pants, his +conception of how that saint should appear in public.</p> + +<p>"This reminds me of the stars painted on the dome +of the 'Star Chamber' of Westminster Abbey. The Jewish +money lenders of ancient London were permitted to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>deposit the bonds of their Christian debtors in a chamber +of the abbey. The Hebrew word for 'bond' being 'star,' +the chamber was so named. The reason for the name in +time became obscure. A subsequent custodian, having +his own conception, had stars painted on the dome and +walls of the chamber.</p> + +<p>"On this trip I was told by an Italian antiquarian how +the names 'White' (Bianca), 'Green' (Verdi) and +'Black' (Nero) first were given people.</p> + +<p>"In ancient Rome when a foundling was left upon a +doorstep and parentage could not be traced, he was given +the name of some color. Some of the most illustrious and +ancient Italian families of today bear these names."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The first of April, 1919, John Calhoun Saylor was +transferred from Cento to the general offices of the Y. M. +C. A. in the Hotel Regina, Bologna. This hotel had been +requisitioned by the Italian government from its owners +and turned over to the Y at a nominal rental.</p> + +<p>John Calhoun, by his flatteries, ingratiated himself +into most satisfactory relations with Professor Black, +general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. in Italy and, speaking +Italian almost as fluently as the professor, who spoke +it like an educated native, was frequently called upon to +transact business with the Italians.</p> + +<p>There was great excitement in Italy and many unfriendly +demonstrations against Americans when President +Wilson's attitude on the Fiume question became +generally known.</p> + +<p>Bologna, politically, has always been one of the most +demonstrative and volatile of Italian cities. On the 25th +of April, 1919, a great demonstration was made by the +populace in favor of the annexation of Fiume, and word +was sent by the police authorities to Professor Black that +a great crowd was preparing for a demonstration in front +of the hotel, in protest against President Wilson's attitude. +Professor Black, having important business in a +distant city, left about the time the crowd began gathering +in front of the Hotel Regina; and John Calhoun, +in his absence, spoke for him to the assembled multitude +on behalf of the Y, explaining its position on the Fiume +question.</p> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep148.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep148.jpg" width="75%" alt="Demonstration against Y. M. C. A., Hotel Regina, Bologna, April 25, 1919." /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">Demonstration against Y. M. C. A., Hotel Regina, Bologna, April 25, 1919.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>As he stood facing the ten thousand excited Italians, +there was no tremor of voice or limb. It was just the +chance he was looking for; he was in his element; he was +having the best time he had had since leaving America. +In the uniform of an officer of the American army he +spoke in criticism of the Commander in Chief of that +army, the President of the United States.</p> + +<p>The Bologna paper, Il Resto del Carlino, reported the +proceeding as follows:</p> + +<p>"* * * E' un momento d'incertezza, Qualcuno +impreca a Wilson e fischia. Altri protestano giustamente +affermandi che non se deve confondere Wilson coi populo +d'America.</p> + +<p>"E giustamente Ci resulta infatti che i rappresentanti +a Bologna della Y. M. C. A. hanno a pertamente disapprovato +il contegno di Wilson.</p> + +<p>"I benemeriti dirigenti la sede Centrale di Bologna +hanno publicamente cio dichiarato e itri, nei vestibolo +dell' Hotel Regina il ritratto del Presidente e stato sostituito +della prima pagina del Resto del Carlino nella +qualle erano sottolineate le frasi salienti del Messaggio +di Orlando e cancellati i punti del Messaggio di Wilson +nei quali il Presidente si arroga di parlare in nome del +populo degli Stati Uniti.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>"Ma questo e ignorato dalla folla la quale continua +a protestare.</p> + +<p>"Alle finestre si affacciano vari ufficiali e sventolano +bandiere italiane; poi il maggiore Saylor accenna a +parlare.</p> + +<p>"Si fa un gran silenzio.</p> + +<p>"Il giovane ufficiale della Fratellanza americana +grida:</p> + +<p>"Nessun Wilson potra togliere all'Italia il diritto al +conseguimento del sou diritto al diritto che i tricolore +italiano sventoli per sempre sulla Torre di Fiume. Io e i +miei colleghi sentiama per Fiume lo stesso sentimento +che provate voi, o cittadini di Bologna e d'Italia. Togliervi +Fiume e una delle piu grandi barbarie del secolo. +Non disperate; lasciate che Wilson rinsavisca! Fiume +sara italiana!</p> + +<p>"E' fra un delirio di acclamazioni conclude gridando.</p> + +<p>"Viva Italia! Viva Fiume! Viva Orlando! Viva Sonnino! +Viva l'America!</p> + +<p>"Viva l'America risponde la folla in una esplosione +di riconoscente entusiasmo.</p> + +<p class="right"> +"Altri discorsi<br /> +</p> + +<p>"Intanto la prima parte del corteo ritorna da piazza +VIII Agos to e i dimostranti, aumentati ancora di numero +ripetono le acclamazioni dinanzi alla sede della Fratellanza +Americana.</p> + +<p>"Piazza Garibaldi e gremita. Intorno al monumento +dell'eroe si dispongono le bandiere e le rappresentanze e +vengone pronunciati altri discorsi.</p> + +<p>"Parla per primo un vecchio garabaldino il quale afforma +che se continueranno le opposizione per Fiume andremo +laggiu non col grigioverde ma con la camicia rossa +e conclude mandando un caldo saluto al populo americano +mentre impreca al tradimento di Wilson; poi segue Pietro +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>Nenni che invita i cittadini americani graditi e amati +ospiti di Bologna a far conoscere ei loro connazionali il +vero sentimento del populo d'Italia la sua fermezza nei +pretendere cio che gli spetta di diritto. In attesa che +quella giustizia che ci nega Wilson—conclude—ci venga +dal popolo della libera America, noi gridiamo; Guai a chitocco +i tre colori della bandiera italiana. * * *</p> + +<p>"Parla di nuovo, per ultimo, il maggiore Saylor, il +quale ripete il sentimento suo e dei suoi colleghi concorde +con quello dei populo italiano. Wilson-esclama-ha lasciato +il cervello in America; se non avvera in lui un rinsavimento +dovra presto fare un triste ritorno pensando +agli effetti disastrosi della sua megalomania!</p> + +<p>"Nuivi applausi scroscianti poi il corteo si ricompont +e si avviva per via del Mille gli uffici del Giornale del +Mattino.</p> + +<p>"Parla, applaudito, il college Lucchesi. Indi la folla +si reca in via Galliera soffermandosi dinanzi al palazzo +ove e la sede del Corpo d'Armata."</p> + +<p>The mob was appeased; peace was declared; the day +was saved, and several of the Y-men fell on John Calhoun's +neck and wept tears of gratitude because he had +saved their lives.</p> + +<p>There were quite a few Y secretaries scattered over +Italy who vehemently disclaimed that John Calhoun +spoke for them or their sentiments. Among this number +was his brother-in-law, John Cornwall, and two truculent +and undiplomatic secretaries who had charge of the +work with the Twenty-seventh Army Corps at Carpi.</p> + +<p>They sent a communication to General Antonio Di +Giorgi in command of that corps; mailed a copy of this +letter and one written Professor Black to the American +Ambassador at Rome; and, so their position might be +understood, addressed a communication to the paper Il +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>Resto Del Carlino, published at Bologna, which was commented +upon by that paper as follows:</p> + +<p>"Il signor John Smith direttore regionale della Y. M. +C. A. ci scrive da Carpi che, pur avendo le maggior simpatie +per l'Italia e per il suo glorioso esercito, non puo +associarsi alle critiche fatte da alcuni membri della Y. +M. C. A. di Bologna contro l'opera di Wilson.</p> + +<p>"Come cittadino degli Stati Uniti indossante la divisa +dell'esercito di cui il presidente Wilson e il capo-scrive il +Signor Smith—non faccio in Italia o altrove la critica +della sue espressioni; se egli parla a nome della Nazione, +io devo essere solidale con lui.</p> + +<p>"Alla protesta del signor Smith si assicia il senor +E. R. Clarke, insegnante di educazione fisica presso la +missione americana Y. M. C. A.</p> + +<p>"Diamo atto volentiere ai due egregi gentiluomi delle +loro dichiarazioni, inspirate a uno scrupolo patriottico +che altamente apprezziamo.</p> + +<p>"Non vorremmo pero con questo togliere valore all'atteggiamento +generosi di quei membri della benemerita +associazione che nei giorni scorsi si associana spontaneamente +alla protesta del popolo italiano contro la politica +di Wilson, stimando che ogni libero cittadino possa, in +ogni circostanza, apportamente esprimere un giudizio +sullopera del proprio Governo senza rendersi colpevole +d'indisciplina ne dar luogo a malevoli interpretazioni."</p> + +<p>The letter written to General Di Giorgi was as follows:</p> + +<p class="right"> +"Carpi, Italy, April 26, 1919.</p> +<p class="noin">"His Excellency,<br /> +General Antonio Di Giorgi:</p> + +<p>"I have been in the Y. M. C. A. service in Italy since +September 28, 1918. I am fond of the people of Italy +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>and at all times have been justly and fairly treated by +them; and the officers and soldiers constituting her great +army have been especially kind to me.</p> + +<p>"I have just had read to me from the journal Il Resto +del Carlino La Patria, addresses said to have been made +by certain representatives of the Y. M. C. A. at Bologna. +If they are correctly quoted, they do not express my +views.</p> + +<p>"As a citizen of the United States, with President +Wilson the head of the nation, I do not in Italy or elsewhere +criticize his expressions. If he speaks for the +nation, I am controlled by and concur in those statements.</p> + +<p>"Most respectfully and with sincere regret, I am,</p> + +<p class="right"> +"John Smith.<br /> +</p> + +<p>"N. B.—I concur in the sentiment expressed by Mr. +Smith.</p> + +<p class="right"> +"Edw. R. Clarke."<br /> +</p> + +<p>On April 26th in an interview, after the delivery of +his letter, Mr. Smith asked General Di Giorgi: "What +would be the punishment of a soldier who criticized his +king as John Calhoun had President Wilson."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Smith, you must excuse me from answering; I +am not a politician, but a soldier." (The general is considered +one of the most astute politicians in Italy.)</p> + +<p>A major who was present said: "We would turn his +face to the wall and shoot him in the back."</p> + +<p>On April 28th Professor Black sailed for America on +a three-months' vacation, a very inopportune time, as the +Y work was in a chaotic state and his more than two +hundred subalternate secretaries exposed to personal +danger.</p> + +<p>General Treat, Commander of the American forces in +Italy, after an investigation, ordered Saylor stripped of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>his uniform, and he was sent home. Before he left Italy +he was made a Cavaliere. His friends among the Italian +officers, who had repeatedly enjoyed the hospitality of his +Fiat, dubbed him "Sir Knight of the Highway."</p> + +<p>He returned by way of France and attended the first +convention of the American Legion in Paris. He returned +on an American transport with several thousand +soldiers. As he looked at these boys he thought of the +vast horde returning and how in less than ten years they +would rule the nation, and the idea of pushing prominently +into the organization of the Legion took deeper +root in his brain.</p> + +<p>Aboard the transport he did not recount his adventures +on the battlefields of Italy. He was fearful some +officer having knowledge that his uniform had been taken +from him, or having private instructions from General +Treat, might question the value of his services in the +determination of the World War. But when he reached +Kentucky it would be a different proposition; he would +be a rooster on his own dunghill.</p> + +<p>He remained a few days in New York and so managed +as to make himself conspicuous as one of the founders of +the Legion.</p> + +<p>When he reached home he was a zealous advocate +against the League of Nations, and declared himself a +political maverick until that issue was settled.</p> + +<p>It seemed to have been settled when he arrived at the +conclusion that Morrow, the Republican candidate, +would be elected Governor.</p> + +<p>Then he found time to discontinue his series of lectures +on "Italy in the War" and stumped the Eighth +District for Morrow—all the while having his eye on +John Calhoun's tomorrow.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>One of his most interesting lectures was "Personal +Experiences at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto," an extract +from which follows:</p> + +<p>"* * * I have heard and seen enough to know +that it is to be the final great effort and to commence on +October 24th, commemorative of the anniversary, and to +wipe out the stain, of the Italian defeat at Caparetto.</p> + +<p>"For more than a month I have heard the monotonous, +familiar, easily distinguished, never-to-be-forgotten +sound of preparation—of the tramp of the feet of thousands +of men and mules; of the rumble of the wheels of +countless moving vans, guns and wagons going back and +forth in apparent utter confusion from Tonale and Aprica +passes down the valley from Edelo to new assignments, +necessary in the organization of the attacking army of +nearly a million men.</p> + +<p>"The front line extends from Stelvio Pass in the Ortler +Alps along the then Italian-Austrian boundary to +Tonale Pass to Lake Garda, thence a little south of Altissimo, +Asiago, to Mt. Grappa, Corduna and along the +Piave to the sea.</p> + +<p>"The initial plan of battle decided upon is to separate +the Austrian forces in the Trentino from those on the +Piave by a breach at the junction of the Fifth and Sixth +Austrian armies.</p> + +<p>"In conformity with this plan the action was instituted +as scheduled by attacks by the Fourth army in the +Grappa area, by the Tenth army on the Piave south of +Vittorio, supplemented by attacks instituted by the +Eighth and Twelfth armies and diversion raids by the +Sixth army. The primary offensive covered the whole +front from Asiago on the west to a point east on the +Piave, a little east of south of Vittorio.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>"Opposite the Tenth Austrian army were the Seventh +and First Italian armies; opposite the Eleventh Austrian +army was the Sixth and part of the Fourth Italian army. +The Fourth and Twelfth Italian armies faced the Belluno +Group, and the Eighth, Tenth and Third Italian armies +were confronted by the Sixth and Fifth Austrian armies.</p> + +<p>"The Austrian force consisted of sixty-three divisions; +thirty-nine on the front line, thirteen in the second +and eleven in reserve. A total of 1,070,000 men and 7,500 +guns and mortars.</p> + +<p>"The Italians had opposing this force fifty-one Italian, +three British, two French, one Czecho-Slovak divisions +and the 332d American infantry regiment—a total +of 912,000 men and 8,900 guns and mortars.</p> + +<p>"The forty-eighth British and the forty-second +French divisions were with the Sixth army. General +Earl of Cavan, commanding the British forces in Italy, +was given the command of the Tenth army, which included +the seventh and twenty-third British divisions, the +twenty-third, thirty-third, thirty-seventh and fifty-sixth +Italian divisions, the Como brigade and the 332d American +regiment, all of whom rendered very distinguished +service.</p> + +<p>"By October 29th it was apparent, by reasons of +breaches made in the Austrian lines and advances effected, +that a great victory by an aggressive policy was +assured.</p> + +<p>"Beginning the night of the 30th, the enemy commenced +retiring under the protection of rear guard actions. +On the 31st the enemy's forces had collapsed on +the Grappa front. The Eighth army had driven the +enemy back into the Belluno valley and the way was open +for advances to the Cadore, the Agordino and the Val +Cismon. Opportunity was presented for a complete <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>destruction +of the Austrian forces in the Trentino. Whereupon +the whole Italian army by general orders issued on +November 1st was directed to press down upon the Austrian +army as a great, solid wave of men from the Ortler +Alps to the sea.</p> + +<p>"The order was followed by the recapture of the +Asiago Plateau, the occupation of Trent on November 2d, +the advance of the Tenth army to Livenza, of the Eighth +army to Belluno and of the Seventh and First armies to +Riva.</p> + +<p>"Although the armistice between the Italians and the +Austrians was signed in Trieste on the evening of November +3d, the advance continued into the afternoon of +the 4th.</p> + +<p>"When the fighting ceased there had been an advance +occupation of territory by the Italians of approximately +3,500 square miles. More than 450,000 prisoners and +5,000 guns and mortars had been taken.</p> + +<p>"On November 3d an Italian force landed in Trieste, +which city was occupied without opposition.</p> + +<p>"It was essentially an Italian victory won by Italian +troops.</p> + +<p>"The result was the destruction of the great army of +Austria-Hungary, the armistice and surrender of Austria +of November 3d and the hastening by weeks of the +armistice of November 11th.</p> + +<p>"I have always felt that the British and French appropriated +for themselves too much of this victory, won +by the united efforts of a million men, mostly Italians.</p> + +<p>"An army or division engaged in one sector of a great +battle is prone to take to itself more than its quota of the +success from the united efforts of many divisions. A division +may be so placed as to bear the brunt of an offensive +and by a stubborn, bloody stand stop a disastrous +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>defeat; but it takes many combined divisions fighting +with equal valor and success under a great staff to put +over a great offensive, such as was the battle of Vittorio +Veneto; in result, at least, the greatest battle of the +world.</p> + +<p>"After the battle the same noises and apparent confusion +of the advance was repeated; of soldiers moving +north by way of Tonale Pass to the front; now far in +enemy country beyond the cities of Male, Cles and Bolzano +to Innsbruck; of prisoners, Austrian, Hungarian +and German, taken south to labor in the fields of the +plain of Lombardy, or even to the Riviera to work in the +quarries and upon the roads on the foothills of the Apennines, +overlooking the blue Mediterranean.</p> + +<p>"Many feel that the final, fatal stroke to the Central +Powers was given by Italy when driving the Austrian +army north and east, she took more than 450,000 prisoners. +More she might have had, but they were permitted +to move on, a disheveled, discouraged host, witnesses +to the Austrian and German people of a last, fatal defeat; +they tramped northward self-stripped of all equipment +as a half-drowned man might throw away his clothes, +hoping to reach a distant shore.</p> + +<p>"After the battle, in which I took a prominent part, +I followed behind these half-starved, half-naked soldiers, +first a fleeing army, then a mighty horde of discouraged +tramps, then corraled and organized and under guard. +The road was pock-marked with shell holes, which were +being filled by laboring soldiers, first with Austrian dead, +then stones, then earth. The way was strewn with +weapons and clothing and blankets and helmets and love +tokens and overturned trucks and cannon and dead +horses and dead men.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>"The weak and famished died by the roadside or +gorged themselves on the dead artillery horses or those +ridden to death by fleeing cavalry and officers. Their +hunger appeased, many sat in the sun, naked to the waist +ridding themselves of vermin or lay in exhausted stupor. +The stench was as revolting as the picture.</p> + +<p>"Such was the panorama all the way from Tonale +Pass east, to Fucina, Male, Cles, Bolzano and south to +Trent and Rovereto and along the Piave to the sea.</p> + +<p>"Now, if you will pardon personal allusions, I will +tell you how I was wounded and how I obtained the +Croce di Guerra. I—, etc. I—, etc," (We will omit the +account.)</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>As John Calhoun now called himself a Republican, +his residence at Richmond in a congressional district normally +Democratic, did not suit his political ambitions; +so in December, following Governor Morrow's election, +he removed to Pineville in the Eleventh Congressional +District, which was overwhelmingly Republican, and for +a lawyer a better business location than Richmond.</p> + +<p>He built a very handsome, brick residence on one of +the foothills of Pine Mountain overlooking the little, +mountain city and the broad valley in the bend of the +Cumberland.</p> + +<p>He felt satisfied that after a couple of years' residence +in Pineville he could procure the nomination for Congress, +which was equivalent to an election.</p> + +<p>The change of residence he found perfectly satisfactory +from every standpoint, but Mrs. Rosamond Clay +Saylor was not satisfied. She closed one of their very +common wrangles, and she usually closed such bouts, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>by saying: "Well, John Calhoun, you have grown very +arbitrary and headstrong since your experiences in the +World War. I shall acquiesce since most of my time will +be taken up on the lecture platform, advocating woman +suffrage. I suppose I can find the place bearable during +the heated term if you make yourself a little more agreeable. +I wish I had married your brother-in-law, John +Cornwall, when he asked me; he at least is a gentleman."</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_161" id="PAGE_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">John Cornwall Travels a Bit and Returns Home.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>I believe it is Victor Hugo who declares sixty the age +of adventure. To the regret of many an adventurous +soul past forty-five, this view was not shared by those +organizing Uncle Sam's oversea fighting force, and these +men, regardless of physical fitness, found their opportunities +limited to camp-follower service in the capacity of +Red Cross, K. C. or Y. M. C. A. worker.</p> + +<p>So John Cornwall, Y. M. C. A. worker, in due course +arrived at Bologna and was assigned for service with +the Seventh Italian army, located in the head of the Val +Camonica and holding the front line around Tonale Pass +and Mt. Adamello, a glacier 11,700 feet high.</p> + +<p>This was hardly a satisfactory winter assignment, as +fuel was scarce and the icy winds and Austrian guns +kept him burrowed in the chiseled caverns of the dolomite +peaks like a prairie dog in winter quarters until the +first of November, when Tonale Pass, which had been in +possession of the Austrians for several years, was +crossed and the advance made into the Trentino, followed +by the surrender of the Austrian armies and the Italian-Austrian +armistice of November 3-4th.</p> + +<p>Then, after following the advancing army several +days towards Innsbruck, he returned to Pontagna and a +winter in the Alpine snow fields, where, above nine thousand +feet, you find the arctic ptarmigan and perpetual +snow, where the telephone lines occasionally fail to function +because under snows, and the magnificent mountain +roads approaching the passes are closed for several +months by deep snows, despite a struggle to keep open a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>narrow trail with snow plows on which, if you meet another +vehicle, all hands shovel snow for an hour, making +room to pass.</p> + +<p>There nothing was to be seen except snow and scenery +and soldiers and guns and snow dogs.</p> + +<p>The Mt. Adamello snow or sled dogs are a cross between +the Canadian and Russian husky, big, white, +woolly, impressive war veterans, snarling and snapping +at one another and their keepers, barking little, knowing +that silence is salvation. White and hard to see, they are +sent between lines into territory where nothing living +and seen can live.</p> + +<p>These dogs are allowed half the rations of a soldier; +are marked with indelible ink on the pink skin inside +the ear; and a pair, with apparent ease, draw a sled load +of three hundred pounds.</p> + +<p>It would be hard to picture John's loneliness that +winter. Though the officers and soldiers were most kind, +he did not speak Italian and none of the officers in the +mess to which he was assigned spoke English. At first +he could not ask for a piece of bread; but the service +was excellent and his wants were anticipated. Bearing +in mind their example and kindness, he made up his mind +always to be kind to any foreigner he might meet when +he returned home.</p> + +<p>He longed for someone to talk with; and when his +work was done he would walk out upon the mountain +side in the bright winter sunlight of those great heights +and hold an imaginary conversation with his wife or +little son, and come home whistling and happy.</p> + +<p>There were no books to read. He was left alone with +his thoughts which, though sometimes sad and lonely, +were never unhappy ones. These six months of silence +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>and thought changed his disposition. He grew older in +spirit. He acquired a habit of silence he never outgrew; +of introspective reflection, such as the old have who sit +silently in the chimney corner.</p> + +<p>In early March, he received word of the death of his +mother. He was not surprised, and, though he loved her +very much, was not overly grieved by it. She had led +a useful, unselfish, happy life; she was old and for several +years had been losing her vitality without apparent +pain. Her life had been a peaceful one; she expected the +peace of the righteous after death; she believed those +of her family she left behind would be happy. John +looked upon her going as a vanishing from sight merely. +She seemed in an adjoining room or near place; a little +too far away to see or hear, but near enough to feel her +presence and love.</p> + +<p>Just when it seemed that winter was the perpetual +season, when his fingers were swollen and discolored by +the cold and he had forgotten how it felt to be warm +unless in bed or shoveling snow, the valley below took +on emerald tints and the snow line crept up the mountain.</p> + +<p>Then John thought, "the hill country will be fine this +summer;" but he was told to come out of his dolomite +burrow and dwell in a tent with the Arabs in Tripolitania +for the summer. A place so near the equator that his +shadow at noon was hid by a none too prominent stomach; +where the thermometer feels comfortable and perfectly +at home at 130 in the shade and where the snow dogs of +his winter home were replaced by the camel, the only reliable +conveyance in the summer.</p> + +<p>The Bedouin, the Tuaregs and some of the blacks, ride +the camel with ease and dignity; but an Englishman, Italian +or American on a camel looks and feels wholly out +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>of place, and at the end of a day's journey is an object of +pity and a subject for soothing lotions.</p> + +<p>The impression that John Cornwall formed of Tripoli +was that it was a vastly overcrowded city, due to a +host of visiting and trading natives and the more than +ten thousand soldiers, at that time, quartered in the city.</p> + +<p>The blue Mediterranean, the white beach, the brilliancy +of the sun, the palm trees and the crescent city, +in the main of cement or plaster buildings, with flat or +beehive roofs, all white except an occasional red or green +tiled one, merely emphasizing by contrast the uniformity +of the building color; make an interesting picture.</p> + +<p>The varieties of nationality, costume and color are +striking in the extreme. Here are seen men and women, +white, brown, yellow, black and shades and combinations +of two or all. Here are youthful forms, graceful and +like living bits of ebony or bronze; antiques weatherworn +and wind-dried, who when asleep upon the sidewalk, +which is quite the custom, look like recently disentombed +mummies; old and wrinkled women with hair dyed a brilliant +red; Italian soldiers in the national green uniform; +native or colonial troops in khaki; some native regiments +and police in vivid blue or brown with red fez topped +with a huge yellow tassel; beggars and children with little +more than a breech cloth; women with faces covered +and breasts and limbs uncovered; women wrapped as +ghosts, with just the feet showing and one eye peeping +and twinkling, encircled about the middle with many +folds of cloth; the medicine or dance man in his costume +of rags, crane heads and feathers, with a girdle of jangling +tin and bones, his little drum with curved sticks, his +dance and music the convulsions and noises of a stupid +beggar; and many, very many, blind;—who seem to have +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>no home but the sidewalk, where you see them asleep at +any time, day or night, waiting in darkness for alms and +the judgment day.</p> + +<p>A certain sect shave the head and grow a crown lock, +Chinaman style, except it is unplatted. The blessed dead +must not be denied by the hands of the living, so the lock +is left to handle the corpse.</p> + +<p>The chief business is fighting. The chief export, a +desert grass used in the manufacture of a fine paper. +Business is stagnant, as the war between the Italians and +the Arabs shifted barter by caravan with the interior to +the British colony on the east and the French on the west.</p> + +<p>Each trade or business is segregated or localized. +The jewelers, an apparently thrifty lot and mostly Turkish +Jews, are bunched on a street near one of the hotels.</p> + +<p>The meat market is quite interesting if you can stand +the smell. The natives eat the whole carcass.</p> + +<p>The milkman, morning and evening, calls at the door +of his customer with his goods in the original package. +The goats are more docile and better behaved than the +children. They stand and deliver the quantity demanded. +There is neither chance for nor great economy in adulteration—water +is too scarce. It is brought to the city +mule-back in porous jars. You can have your milk from +the black, white or brown nanny as desired. A goat is +a respected member of the family and his odor by comparison +not offensive.</p> + +<p>Never after four months in Tripolitania did John +laugh at the Englishman who carried his tub with him. +He is an experienced traveler and knows what he is about. +A cold bath cost John $1.50. The Bedouins and Tuaregs +are proud, aristocratic, heroic-looking people; but they +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>bathe in the sand much as a mother hen dusts herself in +a neighbor's flower bed.</p> + +<p>John Cornwall was forced to go fifty miles south of +Tripoli to Azizia in the desert, where he found the thermometer +130 in the shade. At another time when he +went to Zavia, he found six had recently died of the bubonic +plague.</p> + +<p>In this land of heat, of blindness, of leprosy, of +flies, of fleas and sandstorms, where the sun goes down +red as the wounds of the slain, he was required as regional +director of a district seven hundred by sixty miles to +visit some thirty case del soldato, (houses of the soldier) +in any manner the gods of opportunity presented.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to get something that beat the coast +line vessels, which with oriental slowness and uncertainty +of schedule visited the coast hamlets. A mule would +not answer; a truck was furnished by the army but almost +impossible; a camel was too hard on the backbone; +besides at certain seasons they are vicious as a Hun and +unless muzzled will snatch your arm in their strong jaws +and snap it as a clap pipe stem.</p> + +<p>In this land of rugs, where is the magic carpet? Why +an army Caproni—and the Italian army, until the Fiume +question arose, refused nothing to an American. So +John went to the Governo della Tripolitania Stato Maggiore +and was given a general permit to make his trips +from Tripoli to Homs and Zuara in the Caproni mail +plane.</p> + +<p>The mail to Homs is carried on Wednesday and that +to Zuara on Saturday. The planes are more than twenty +meters from tip to tip and can ascend to six thousand +meters; they are 18 cylinder, 450 horsepower with three +complete engines, either of which is sufficient to operate +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>a machine in case of accident. Then, the cost of building +such a machine was approximately $16,000.00. They +carry two thousand pounds of mail matter or explosives +or ten men. The seat John occupied was in the very bow. +When occupying this seat the pressure of the wind from +the speed of flying is quite a strain on the neck, chest +and back. Your head will be twisted as though wrenched +by strong invisible hands, your back grows tender from +pressure on the back rail and must be rested by leaning +forward with your head adjusted at a certain angle with +the wind.</p> + +<p>The distance from the aviation field near Tripoli +to Homs is 110 kilometers and is usually made in fifty +minutes. It takes seven hours by steamer. The steamer +follows no schedule and may return in a few days or sail +on to Genoa or Syracuse or Bengasi.</p> + +<p>The plane route in general follows the shore line. The +blue Mediterranean from two thousand meters above is +not blue but black. You can see to quite a depth and +where the bottom is distinct the white sand looks blue +and not the water. The colors do not blend—the inky +black deep water, the blue shallows, the brown desert, +with rare patches of white rectangular houses and the +green oases of corn, alfalfa and palm trees. The palms, +almost the only trees, look like inverted green feather +dusters.</p> + +<p>And so, on to the aviation field near the magnificent +ruins of ancient Lebna. The extent of these ruins, great +arches, portals and columns of marble, porphyry and +cut stone overlooking the sea, though half buried by sand +dunes, presents conclusive evidence of a former populous +and magnificent city.</p> + +<p>In the morning, when they expected to return to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>Tripoli, +a heavy fog drifting from the southwest rested over +the sea, and though conditions were not ideal, they started +home.</p> + +<p>The fog, far below, covering the sea as far as vision +reached, looked like an immense broken billowy ice field, +or millions of big powder puffs jammed together in an +immense plain. Following the distinguishable shore line +they came within fifteen miles of Tripoli where the fog, +with dangerous perverseness, extended far into the +desert. Earth passed out of sight and they were in a +private world of much space and no substance, as might +have been before land and sea were formed. Far below +on the cloud-like surface of the fog a circular rainbow +preceded them and when the operators, thinking the +camp near, descending, drew near the fog, in the white +center of the rainbow-circle, ghost-like, appeared a perfect +silhouette of their airplane.</p> + +<p>Then through the fog, as cold as a winter mist, they +came in sight of earth; much too close for comfort, where +a little dip or swerve might land them in the palm tops, +and the edge of the landing field a quarter of a mile to the +right, then up into the fog again and to a safe landing.</p> + +<p>On a day in July, they started for Zuara at six o'clock +in the morning; and the higher up they went the hotter +it grew. The operators, returning to camp, refused to +make the trip as the thermometer registered 60 centigrade +at five hundred meters, stating a ghibli was raging +at a higher altitude. Five hours later Tripoli and the +whole desert country south, suddenly and without warning, +became a blast furnace of heat and a place of dust +and torture.</p> + +<p>Those familiar with the hot winds which at times +devastate the crops and make life miserable southwest +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>of the one hundredth meridian in Oklahoma and Texas +would consider them the cool breeze of a summer twilight +in comparison with the ghibli or Sahara sandstorm.</p> + +<p>Some writer tells that "a geologist has estimated that +a single windstorm across the Sahara once carried nearly +2,000,000 tons of dust from Africa and deposited it +over Italy, Austria, France and Germany."</p> + +<p>At the end of four months spent in Tripolitania, John +Cornwall's contract for a year's service with the Y expired +and he asked for transportation to America. He +made the trip across the sea from Tripoli to Syracuse, +from Syracuse to Bologna by rail except across the strait +of Messina, and then in a day or so to Genoa, where he +took passage on the Giuseppe Verdi for America.</p> + +<p>As he journeyed second-class, which was the way the +Y men were sent home, his fellow-passengers were in the +main Italians on their way to labor in the vineyards and +orchards of California. While he spoke Italian, it was +too laborious and incomplete for general conversation. +He had much time to study the ways of the sea, and the +infrequent ships they passed were cause for reflection.</p> + +<p>He thought how trite from use and yet how true, +truer than any of us even dream, is the comparison that +life is a great sea and we who journey through, as ships, +that at distant intervals dot the surface.</p> + +<p>A ship at sea, as life to many, appears a lonely and +desolate thing. How much room there is for ships, more +ships, bigger ships, for great convoys of ships, yet ships +as a rule travel alone and not in convoys.</p> + +<p>What of the ships?</p> + +<p>Just now, there is passing a corporation-owned oil +tanker, greasy and uninteresting. Yesterday we passed +several scheduled freighters, carrying fixed cargoes to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>fixed ports; the day before a passenger liner, sailing by +the clock, in Naples or New York on Friday, pouring out +its never-ending tide of those going and returning.</p> + +<p>But let us not waste time or thought on commercial +or mercenary craft. Here is not interest or adventure or +much real return on the investment, unless your aim in +life is to die merely a sea captain or a ship owner. Let +us cruise where the currents are strong, where the rocks +are dangerous: in the frozen North or in sight of coral +island or low beach and palm trees, where there is an +uncertainty of return in gold, but a wealth of interest +and adventure and experience.</p> + +<p>The coral islands and the palm groves in this great +sea are not in the South Pacific; nor the ice floes north +or south of a certain degree; nor the swift currents and +dangerous rocks near some inhospitable shore, but at +home; and the ships that pass are our companions.</p> + +<p>And the ships of interest are the barks that sail as +fancy whispers in the chart room or the tramp trader, at +Sidney today, tomorrow at Malta, or the derelict. And +who would not rather hear and know the story of such +a vessel and voyage than smell the oil of the tanker or +hear from daybreak to midnight the victrola, the piano +and the chit-chat of the passenger liner.</p> + +<p>And, strange to tell, most of us when on a most wonderful +cruise with everything within reach, though out +of sight, because we jab our eyes sightless wiping the +tears away, bewail our luck, saying:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"See I a dog? There's ne'er a stone to throw!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or stone? Tere's ne'er a dog to hit I trow!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or if at once both stone and dog I view,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is the King's dog! Damn! What can I do?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>Home again! John finds the boy two inches taller and +Mary as fair to look upon as when first he married her. +The house is just the same, except Mary has taken down +the framed needle-work done by his mother which hung +over the living-room door. He asks that it be replaced.</p> + +<p>When John and you were boys, back in the eighties, +on the wall of the living-room of many a Kentucky home, +was found mother's handwriting on the wall, done in +colored worsted or silk: "God Bless Our Home"; this +her work went to the attic or the ash heap. These mothers +are no longer of this earth.</p> + +<p>After many months in "a far country," John understands +as never before, the sort of home that mother +made and what that sentence meant to her.</p> + +<p>We have dug out the old brass candlesticks and the +old tester bed; would we might find the old, framed +needle-work and see again mother's handwriting on the +wall.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_172" id="PAGE_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Two Candidates.</span></h2> +<br /> + +<p>At the close of the April term, 1923, Judge Finch, +member of the Court of Appeals from the Seventh District, +resigned.</p> + +<p>John Cornwall, though the district was overwhelmingly +Republican, was persuaded by the State organization +to make the race as the Democratic candidate. Not +that he was expected to win, but, being a strong man, +it was thought his name on the ticket would cut down +the Republican majority of the district and thus help +the Democratic candidate for Governor and the rest of +the State ticket.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosamond Clay Saylor, at home for the summer, +read his announcement in the Pineville Messenger. +When her husband came home she met him on the porch.</p> + +<p>"I see John Cornwall is a candidate for Judge of the +Court of Appeals."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I knew that several days ago. He would make +a good judge, but has no chance in this district. I'll +have to vote for him and speak and work for the Republican +ticket in some other section of the State."</p> + +<p>"You will do nothing of the sort. You will make the +race against him. Think what an opportunity you would +have while on the bench at Frankfort to electioneer as +a candidate for Governor in 1927. That is the way Judge +Singer worked it when he was nominated and elected. +Besides, the woman's suffrage organization wants a +judge they can trust, and as long as you are married to +me they can trust you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>"But I want to run for Congress next year in this +district."</p> + +<p>"Can't you see further than the end of your nose. +You have been in Congress; there's nothing in that for +you. You better let that drop. If you listen to me you +will be elected Governor in 1927 if the Republicans win."</p> + +<p>"But John is my brother-in-law; he's a much better +lawyer and would make a good judge."</p> + +<p>"When did they begin electing good lawyers as +Judges of the Court of Appeals? You are standard judicial +timber. And when did you develop such a sentimental +family streak? You have not been to see your +mother since you returned from Italy in 1919."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will go down to Louisville and see what +Searcy Chilton has to say about it. Let's have dinner."</p> + +<p>Several days later he called on Searcy Chilton. After +waiting a short while he was admitted to his private +office. "Well! Hello Saylor! When did you get in? +What do you want? How are things going in the Eleventh +this fall? We must have thirty-five thousand in +that district."</p> + +<p>"I want the nomination for Judge of the Court of +Appeals in the Seventh District."</p> + +<p>"Against your brother-in-law?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he didn't consult me before he announced."</p> + +<p>"You are too late. We have promised that to Judge +Kash; though from the way he's shelling out, he had +better change his name to Judge Tight Wad. Your +nomination would hold some votes which otherwise Cornwall +would swing for the State ticket. How do you stand +with the miners? If I give you the nomination what will +you do for the State ticket?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>"I will give five thousand dollars and finance my +own campaign. I'm all right with the miners, if I do +say so myself."</p> + +<p>"Well, I will think about it and if my answer is favorable +your announcement will be in the Sunday Post. If +you see the announcement bring me down that five thousand +in cash next week. I want no checks. No one +need know what is spent this year. Goodbye. Call +again when you come to town."</p> + +<p>"In the Sunday Post Colonel Saylor read an excellent +biography of himself, coupled with a declaration +that he was a candidate for Judge of the Court of Appeals +in the Seventh District, and was said to have the backing +of the Republican State organization. Though, when +Mr. Searcy Chilton was called up and asked, he stated; +'The organization has adopted an unbreakable policy +of hands off in the district, and local races.'"</p> + +<p>In due course, Colonel Saylor and John Cornwall +were each nominated and entered upon an active campaign +of the twenty-seven counties of the district.</p> + +<p>In the beginning of the campaign it looked as though +Colonel Saylor would be overwhelmingly elected. While +nine-tenths of the lawyers favored Cornwall's election, +Mrs. Rosamond Clay Saylor was making an active canvass +and lining up the women in her husband's behalf; +Luigi Poggi and several other miners were organizing +Saylor clubs among the miners; and a majority of the +American Legion, of course, favored the election of one +of their charter members.</p> + +<p>Slowly sentiment began to shift in favor of Cornwall. +Some of the members of the Legion insisted that Colonel +Saylor as a candidate was using his connection with their +organization too strongly. He made an egregious +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>blunder in an address to the Clear Creek miners and when +his speech was reported he lost many votes.</p> + +<p>Some of the lawyers in the face of his almost certain +election, knowing that after his qualification, he would +even scores with them, charged that he was unfit for the +place; and that the politicians of the State would no +longer permit a good lawyer to be elected Judge of that +court.</p> + +<p>Colonel Craddock, a retired lawyer of the local bar at +Pineville, and eighty-three years old, published a statement +in opposition to Saylor's candidacy. He said in +part;</p> + +<p>"Though an old man I am not a worshiper of ancientism. +I think I can give to present-day men credit where +credit is due. But when you are old and experience has +taught you that no one is infallible and that every one +at times is weak and therefore you should judge your +neighbor compassionately, it has also given you the +power to discriminate between the false and the true +and to see through the shams of life with accurate insight.</p> + +<p>"Exercising this faculty which comes with the loss of +others, as the sense of touch is developed in the blind, +and guided by it, though a Republican, I am forced to +oppose the candidacy of J. C. Saylor as Judge of the +Court of Appeals and advocate that of his opponent +John Cornwall, a Democrat.</p> + +<p>"In the election of a Judge, the standard of measurement +of the conscientious voter should be one of fitness +only.</p> + +<p>"Shall not the Judge do right? And how can he do +right if he is a crook?</p> + +<p>"Shall not the Judge interpret the law with wisdom +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>and understanding? And how can he do that if he is +a fool?</p> + +<p>"Shall not the Judge be free? And how can a coward +or a tool, worn blunt in crooked service, be free or +cut straight and true?</p> + +<p>"What an execration when a Judge is a Jeffries and +what a benediction when he is a Marshall or a White.</p> + +<p>"A Judge's mind must be open to argument and he +must have power to discern between the false and the +true.</p> + +<p>"The Lord, the First and Last Judge, alone will be +able to set some judgments straight and straighten some +judges. He in majesty and power upholds the law, which +is never broken. It is man who is broken by the law.</p> + +<p>"The great curse of Kentucky is that many of her +Judges belong to that very common species of Judge. +Judex apiarius. Their capacity for hearing the facts +and declaring the right is blurred by the buzz of the bee +of political aspiration and self-interest.</p> + +<p>"A Judge who belongs to this species can usually be +classed as of the family Judex timidus,—those whose +ears are so great that they can never lift them from the +ground, and when a mosquito hums in Covington their +dreams of peace are disturbed in Frankfort.</p> + +<p>"They are the secret enemies of the law's certainty +and stability. Their decisions shift with the tide of popular +opinion. They wash their hands like Pilate (not always +to cleanliness) and permit the crucifixion.</p> + +<p>"A year or so ago, Chief Justice Grinder, in an address +before a men's Bible class, declared that the Court +of Appeals upon an appeal to it would have reversed the +Sanhedrin. There are more than several lawyers in this +State, who, knowing the members of that court, have +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>grave doubts about it, had that court sat in Jerusalem +and the appeal been prosecuted A. D. 30.</p> + +<p>"Saylor is worse. He would make a judicial tool. +Judicial tools have generally been in politics for a +number of years and, preceding their judicial service, a +member of the legislature for several terms, like Saylor, +where they are first tried out. This judge expects one +day to be Governor and is willing to do any thing to +further his political ambitions. By some hook or crook +or pull he succeeded in obtaining his license to practice +law and since has appeared in court occasionally; generally +when a jury was to be influenced.</p> + +<p>"He is more or less a wanderer and, when he changes +his residence, changes his politics and votes with the +majority. He is usually a candidate for office and spends +more time on the street than in his office.</p> + +<p>"He is a mere pawn on the political chess-board and +his master occasionally has him elected to office. Then +the master tells him how to decide, not all, but certain +cases.</p> + +<p>"His opinions are generally misstatements of the +facts presented by the record and never mention an +authority cited by counsel opposing his master's decree. +His references are not complimentary to such counsel, his +purpose being to make him appear ridiculous and to +forestall all hope for modification by a petition for rehearing, +because it is barely possible that another judge +may then read the record, though it is not considered +judicial etiquette to do so.</p> + +<p>"He being the only judge who has read the record, +is careful to so state the facts in the consultation room +as to meet with no dissent from his colleagues or to +make them curious about the record.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>"All of these demerits Saylor has in full measure. +He is known to all of you. He lives in this county and +the county is none the better for it. He defends every +bootlegger and crook that is indicted and they will vote +for him as they respond to his demands when they are +chosen for jury service, which is entirely too frequent for +the administration of justice.</p> + +<p>"Thirty years ago no man of his reputation and limited +capacity would have dared run for this high office. +Now it is another thing. If elected he will find some of +his associates not much better qualified, so far as knowledge +of the law is concerned. Instead of being learned in +the law they are politicians, who know their district and +how to fool the people.</p> + +<p>"Conditions force comparisons. Until the Civil War, +opinions rendered by the Court of Appeals were quoted +and cited with respect in every State of the nation. The +Court since in personnel has deteriorated. Its opinions +are captious, partisan, uninspired oracles, which perforce +decide the case in hand; but as an authority for future +reference, so far as the reasons given are concerned, are +mere chit-chat.</p> + +<p>"When I was young, and began the practice of law, +there were lawyers at the bar in this State and real +Judges occupied the bench. There was Clay and Crittenden +and Judge Robinson and Judge Underwood. Now +who have we? Such lawyers as John Calhoun Saylor +and such judges as Saylor will make when elected;—The +Lord save us!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>At the November election Colonel Saylor was elected; +but by a very small majority. He ran more than five +thousand votes behind the head of the ticket, and in a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>district where little scratching is done. The State ticket +pulled him through.</p> + +<p>When the returns came in Searcy Chilton, commenting +on the race, concluded his remarks by saying; "Next +time we must throw that Jonah overboard."</p> + +<p>A day or two before he qualified, Judge Saylor came +to Frankfort, and visited the courtroom a few minutes +after adjournment; he even went up and tried the chair +of the Chief Justice, and found the seat was none too +large. No one was present but Jake, the negro janitor.</p> + +<p>"Jake, what do the lawyers and judges have to say +about my election?"</p> + +<p>"They don't say nothin, Boss; they jest laff."</p> +<br /> +<br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_181" id="PAGE_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>NIRVANA.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>We are told that at one time the British Isles were +connected with the mainland of Europe; that Italy was +at least within sight of the African coast; and that westward +from Gibraltar, there was a continent which ultimately +sank beneath the waves, leaving isolated mountain +peaks, now islands and shoals, to mark its submerged +position.</p> + +<p>The Egyptian priesthood told Solon of the greatness +of the civilization of this submerged land, Atlantis or +Kami, even then, as of an ancient past; and Homer, Horace +and Plato have whispered of its greatness.</p> + +<p>The soul of one of its ancient inhabitants, yet wandering +upon this earth, may through transmigration have +become in part your own, and you, in reverie at odd hours +and in company with it, live again a few scenes of those +old days.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Near Winchester, Kentucky, driving out the Lexington +turnpike you pass an old brick farmhouse of ante-bellum +days; flanked on the one side by an old stone springhouse +under two spreading elms and on the other by a +large tobacco barn that looks extremely modern and out +of place. Behind the house is an orchard of ancient apple +and pear trees, all dead at the top, a negro cabin beside +which are two black heart cherry trees, higher than +the farmhouse and more than three feet through; and +yet farther back, hemp and tobacco fields and a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>woodland +pasture of oak and walnut trees. At least this was +a description of my home thirty years ago.</p> + +<p>I had just graduated from Center College, and having +in mind to practice law in Lexington, had during the +summer formed the habit of going down to the springhouse +and under the shade of its eaves and the overhanging +elms, sit and read Kent's Commentaries.</p> + +<p>A negro family lived in the cabin, Mose Hunter, his +wife and boy. Mose was as black as they grow them in +Kentucky; but his wife was the color of my old volumes +of Kent and had build and features which fixed the +country of her ancestry in northern Africa and seemed +to identify her as a desert Berber. Mose worked on +the farm, his wife was cook at the farmhouse, and the +boy, who was said to be half imbecile, was as harmless +and shy as a ground robin. I do not know of his ever having +gone off the place. He was probably fourteen, had +never been to school, and wandered about like a lost +turkey hen. We could depend upon him to pick up the +apples, feed the cider mill, water the stock, gather the +eggs and feed the pigs and chickens.</p> + +<p>The boy had the habit of coming to the springhouse +and taking a nap each day on the milk crock bench, which +had been discarded since we had bought our new refrigerator. +Every warm summer afternoon about three +o'clock, he would run down the path, dodge behind a tree +out of sight, if his mother happened to step out of the +kitchen door, and slipping into the springhouse, lie down +and sleep quietly in its cool moist shade for a quarter of +an hour; then, still asleep, sit up and in a startled way, +talk earnestly for some time, his features transformed by +a look of tragic intelligence, which they did not possess +at other times. Then he would lie down again and after +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>a few minutes quiet sleep, awake and return to the cabin.</p> + +<p>His speech did not disturb me; his voice was low, +though tense, and his words unintelligible. Gradually his +murmurings became a familiar sound, as the call of the +lark from the pasture gatepost.</p> + +<p>Finally I noticed that he spoke in an apparently +strange tongue and even mentioned time and again names +given in my ancient atlas. Many times he used the words, +pehu, Kami, Theni, horshesu, hik, nut, tash, hesoph, +and un.</p> + +<p>I wrote Professor Fales of Danville about this time, +sending him a small box of crinoids, and casually mentioned +the boy and his strange habit, writing out the +above list of words, with others, that he habitually repeated.</p> + +<p>He wrote back that the words were Egyptian or a +kindred Hamite tongue. Consulting the college library, +he had discovered that the ancient Egyptian name for +Atlantis was Kami. That Theni was the name of a very +ancient prehistoric city, its location unknown. That pehu +meant an overflowed land; un, uncultivated land; and the +word tash, tribe; the others he was unable to translate.</p> + +<p>He suggested that I find out from the boy's mother +where she or her people were from; get a stenographer +at Winchester to come out and make careful notes of his +murmurings; and when made send a copy to him and one +to——, a lawyer at Covington, who was an +antiquarian and an Egyptologist.</p> + +<p>The next day after the receipt of the letter I went +to Winchester and inquired at the court-house for the +official stenographer. I learned, as all courts in the district +were adjourned for the summer, he had gone to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>Atlantic City for the month. So I went to Judge Buckner's +office and borrowed his stenographer.</p> + +<p>The Judge said the season was dull and except +on county court day he could spare the girl for an hour +or two almost any afternoon. He also asked if my father +still had on hand that half barrel of Old Mock. The next +afternoon when I went for the girl I brought the Judge +a gallon jug of Dad's Old Mock, telling the folks I was +taking him some cider.</p> + +<p>When we returned, we found the boy asleep in the +springhouse, but within five minutes of our arrival he +sat up and went through the regular program. After he +had talked for some time, he laid down and resumed his +quiet slumber.</p> + +<p>This program was repeated the next day except +the girl brought out a slate and succeeded in making the +boy write or draw upon it characters which were strange +to us, and which he wrote from right to left with great +ease, though he could not write his name.</p> + +<p>The writings on the slate the stenographer carefully +copied and after transcribing her notes gave me the +copies, one of which I sent to Professor Fales, who forwarded +it to his learned friend at Covington. He not +only wrote but telegraphed for more.</p> + +<p>Twice again the boy's words were taken down and +twice he wrote again upon the slate. We might with +patience and quiet have gotten a complete history of a +generation of prehistoric people, but my mother, who +still looked upon me as a young boy incapable of caring +for himself in the company of a designing female person, +and having noted our regular visits to the springhouse, +rushed down unannounced with the boy's mother.</p> + +<p>The two made such a racket when they came in they +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>awoke the boy, who dropped the slate. He never again +came to the springhouse to sleep; and though afterwards +I sat many hours by his bedside in the cabin, he never +again uttered a strange or unusual sound until just before +his death, which occurred in the fall.</p> + +<p>In the early fall his father and mother visited a negro +family who had a child ill with scarlet fever. Within +two weeks their own boy was taken with the same +illness and a few days thereafter died. Shortly before +his death I went into the cabin and found him raving +in the strange tongue. He had been born on the place. +I felt too sad to be curious or to go for the stenographer, +but I remember very distinctly the sounds of the last few +words he uttered, which were twice repeated. These +I wrote down and sent away. I found the translation of +the words was; "After a brief bird life I shall find Nirvana."</p> + +<p>In a talk with his mother, which occurred some time +before his death, she stated that it was a rare thing he +ever talked in his sleep and then only used the most +common expressions.</p> + +<p>She told me her mother was born west of Timbuctu, +belonged to a Berber tribe, and had been taken prisoner +and sold to slave dealers of the west African coast.</p> + +<p>Several weeks after the boy's death I received from +Professor Fales a liberal translation of the boy's talk +and writings, which at the suggestion of the professor +and his friend I have kept a secret, as neither of us believed +in transmigration, or desired to figure as in any +sense encouraging such an outrageously absurd belief.</p> + +<p>The translator and professor are both dead and I +suppose their copies have been destroyed. I give mine +to the public as a spooky flight of fancy unworthy of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>belief, +aware that this declaration will cause a few half-crazy +people to believe the tale is true.</p> +<br /> + +<p class="cen">THE TRANSLATION.</p> + +<p>The city of Theni is the capital of Kami. The western +and southern coast of Kami and the interior country +to the central range is a pleasant land, where palm trees +of many kinds grow and there is much tropical verdure +because on these coasts there is a constant current of +warm water, which comes through an untraveled sea +lying west and south of us, and in which float endless +paths of sargassum.</p> + +<p>To the north and east beyond the central range, as +also the land northeast of us across the sea, are barren +wastes of ice and snow. It has not always been so. Our +records show that centuries ago the whole land was as +the south and west coast country, but each year the +fields of ice swallow more and more of our sweet and +fertile land, until now we have but little space for our +teeming population and each year less and less to eat.</p> + +<p>On the top of a mountain south of our city dwell a +few strange people with a strange faith and who keep +to themselves. For years they have been building a +great ship well up the mountain side. They are directed +and encouraged in this useless labor by a prophet who +tells of the early destruction of our land by ice and water.</p> + +<p>I visited the place recently; the great ship is nearly +completed and they are beginning to sheet the hull with +copper to protect it from ice floes.</p> + +<p>For three nights past my sleep has been disturbed +by strange, wild dreams. I see the warm ocean currents +which wash our shores, shifted westward by some strange +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>freak of nature, and a land far north of us, now ice and +snow, turned into greenland; while our whole land is +enshrouded in death dealing cold and ice and snow and +preceding this, the waters creep up and engulf our city. +The mountain on which the great ship rests sinks down +to meet the rising waters and the ship sails off to the +southeast, leaving us helpless victims to be engulfed by +the rising waters or frozen by the creeping, numbing +cold, or smothered under mountains of ice and snow. +How long before this shall be I do not know.</p> + +<p>I have told my dream to Nefert, the best beloved of +my wives, and we have agreed to prepare against the +portent of such catastrophes.</p> + +<p>We have too many idle, too many to feed; it were +better were our population reduced one-half.</p> + +<p>We will gather all the provisions of the land into +great warehouses, and only those shall eat who labor to +build our great pyramid, within which the chosen shall +find refuge from the rising waters and the destructive +cold.</p> + +<p>When the pyramid is completed, we shall store it with +great quantities of grain and fuel and textiles to last +for years; and as the waters rise, if they shall cover the +eminence on which we shall built it, which seems impossible, +we shall ascend from the lower to the upper +chambers.</p> + +<p>On the morrow we will begin our preparations, which +will not be wasted, though the flood and cold come not, +as it will make for us a most pretentious tomb.</p> + +<p>I shall send a great force to gather grain and other +foodstuffs, another to collect fuel, others still shall be +put to work to weave heavy woolen textiles. Five thousand +shall quarry stone for the pyramid of Theni, which +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>shall be built upon the highest mountain near our city. +Thirty thousand shall drag and carry great stones from +the quarries to the site and fifteen thousand more shall +shape and place the stones. Twelve thousand shall act +as guards and task masters, to see that the work is done +and speedily.</p> + +<p>I shall tell the pyramid is for my tomb and until my +death to be used as a great storage warehouse; else the +people may grow frightened and desperate. They have +not yet learned to fear storage plants. Those of the +people who are too old or too young to labor shall die.</p> + +<p>Dimly discernible from the city is the central high +mountain range, extending from the eastern coast far +to the northwest and there ending in a rugged promontory, +jutting out into a frozen sea.</p> + +<p>The country across these mountains, and even to their +snow-capped, fog-bannered peaks, is a land of ice and +snow, destitute of all life, except a few wild and hardy +white-clothed birds and beasts. Even from the mountain +peaks you may see the spires and walls of an ice-encased, +long dead city.</p> + +<p>Near the city is a lesser range, upon which to their +very tops grow dense groves of palm and other fern-like +trees. In the shelter of these groves are many villas of +the rich.</p> + +<p>Upon the highest of this range and near our granite +quarries I have decided to build the pyramid. The task +of building, beginning today, will be pushed with the +utmost speed.</p> + +<p>The road leading from the city to the top and from +the quarries we broadened and regraded. The site was +cleared and leveled and the basal walls, six hundred and +eighty feet square, started. The height is to be three +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>hundred and fifty feet and the wall angle is approximately +forty-seven degrees.</p> + +<p>During the building there was much sickness and +many deaths from starvation and hardship, for all of +which I was held responsible, and until the laboring-people +swore at and called me Santa, The Terrible.</p> + +<p>Each day the pyramid grew in size; and each night +seemed slightly colder than the one preceding it. It was +reported that the snow on the distant mountain peaks +was deeper than ever before.</p> + +<p>We now used the lower stories of the pyramid as a +storeroom for fuel and grain and were forced constantly +to maintain a heavy guard to keep the half-starved populace +from stealing our supplies. I had executed more +than a dozen who were caught attempting to steal food +stored for their betters.</p> + +<p>The warm ocean current shifted to the west. The sun +was overcast by clouds. The earth trembled. The snow +line crept down the mountain range. The land seemed +slowly sinking into the sea. The people shook from fear +and cold.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to push the work, and, in their terror +and to satisfy their hunger, the whole population labored +on the pyramid.</p> + +<p>One night, when the pyramid was three hundred feet +high, a light snow, the first, covered pyramid mountain. +A few weeks later there was another and the next morning +there was thin ice.</p> + +<p>A swift-running mountain river separated pyramid +mountain and the city of Theni from the foothills of the +distant range. Gradually the current disappeared. The +river became a salt lake, then a bay of the great western +sea.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>One night there was an earthquake, in which we +feared for the destruction of the pyramid, and in which +a number of the houses of the city toppled over on their +occupants.</p> + +<p>In the morning it was observed that the mountain on +which the prophet's people lived had settled until the +place where the ship rested was but a few feet above +the level of our new sea. The mountain on which our +pyramid had been constructed and the adjacent plain +on which the city was built had risen materially in altitude; +at least such seemed to be the case.</p> + +<p>Within ten days the ship rode at anchor. Then I +knew that my gods had been good to me and had truly +warned so I might make preparation. I determined on +the morrow to seize the ship and retain it for my own +use. All owners of boats had long since fled the land. +The next morning when I awoke the ship was a distant +speck upon the growing ocean. It seemed the gods of +some few others were caring for them also.</p> + +<p>The pyramid now was about completed and not having +provisions for all, though we of the palace stinted +not ourselves, having plenty for years, I directed the +guards to issue only half rations to the people. They +died by hundreds and were cast from the cliffs into the +cold waters of the sea.</p> + +<p>Noticing that great crowds gathered in the city and +that they wept and swore and encouraged one another +to assault the palace and tear their ruler to pieces, I +thought it best to desert the palace and take possession +of the pyramid, which was full of provisions, and had a +guard of several thousand soldiers.</p> + +<p>So we of the palace, some hundred persons, with a +guard of more than three hundred, moved into the pyramid; +and, with the stones prepared for that purpose, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>closed the entrance hall with fifty feet of solid masonry, +telling the soldiers outside that we would feed them +from our supplies, which we had no intention of doing, +except as they might be of use. How easy it is to fool +the common people.</p> + +<p>That night it stormed and sleet and snow made the +outer pyramid a thing of milky glass.</p> + +<p>The half-naked, half-starved people came by thousands, +and holding out their hands in supplication, +begged for bread. But we, sheltered and fed and clothed +and sitting by our fires, had no thought for and took no +risk for others.</p> + +<p>The pyramid in the winter sunlight, with its coating +of milk-white ice, seemed an immense half-buried diamond; +and we within its heart were not more considerate +of the starving, surging mass at its base.</p> + +<p>Through the narrow slit-like ventilators, we heard +in the afternoon the sound of strife; and, climbing to the +flat top, where there was a walled-in area about twenty +feet square, looked down upon the soldiers struggling +with and slaughtering the half-armed, starving, shivering +populace.</p> + +<p>For sport, not caring whether they killed soldiers or +subjects, I had some of our guard bring a quantity of +unused granite blocks about two feet square and slide +them down the ice-smooth surface into the seething mass +below.</p> + +<p>After watching for some time, though clothed in a +heavy woolen gown, I grew cold and tired of the sport +and went below to the feast, the music and the dance. +There I sat with Nefert and two other queens, not less +beautiful.</p> + +<p>One of the guards from the pinnacle came down and +reported that the soldiers had ceased fighting the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>populace +and, joining cause with them, were attempting to +scale the pyramid by cutting steps in the icy surface. +So again I went above and Nefert went with me.</p> + +<p>Our guards collected small stone blocks and with +them bowled off our desperate, slowly-climbing assailants. +The boulders slid over the glazed surface with the +speed of a swift-winged water fowl and when they found +a victim precipitated him, a death-dealing catapultic +charge upon the heads of his comrades. The effort to +reach us was utterly futile.</p> + +<p>For several days we found it great sport to shoot +loaves of bread and a few tempting morsels of food down +to the starving mass and watch them fight and struggle +for possession.</p> + +<p>At my suggestion, to make the game of greater interest, +we took the bread from the crusts and stuffed the loaves +with stones. Occasionally, one snatching for the bread +lost his life from the stone loaf. So the days passed, not +wholly without amusement.</p> + +<p>The whole land was now white with snow and ice. +Great white bears came out of the mountains of the north +and feasted on the dead at the base of the pyramid. Nowhere +in the land could we see a living man.</p> + +<p>In our company was a beautiful young maid; and, +thinking she might furnish amusement for a dull afternoon, +I gave orders that she be brought to my quarters.</p> + +<p>She was carried thence, struggling and in tears. +With her came one of our captains, who said she was to +be his wife, and asked me to spare her discourtesy for his +sake. He had many times been of service, but no more +so than a subject should be. I directed that he be thrown +from the top platform, and took the girl with me, so she +might see the spectacle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>The guards lifted him over the wall and gave a shove. +He started slowly, bracing and resisting with hands and +feet, but was soon speeding meteor-like down the icy +incline. He disappeared, in the snow and debris at the +base, but in a few minutes reappeared, with right arm +swinging useless at his side.</p> + +<p>The girl, giving a cry, leaped over the wall and skimming +along the incline as a swallow might the face of a +white slanting cliff, sped towards her lover. The man +leaped to the edge to break her fall and she struck him +with destructive force. They were thrown some distance +and lay still in the snow, which was crimsoned by +their bleeding wounds.</p> + +<p>Two great white bears, smelling the blood, came forth +from behind the cliffs and feasted upon the pair.</p> + +<p>In a few more days the icy waters of a polar sea covered +the city of Theni; and in tears we witnessed the +great dome of the temple of our gods sink beneath its +surface. The next week great icebergs were floating +across the plain and above the site of Theni. It grew +intensely cold and the inner walls of our great upper +hall were coated with frost crystals.</p> + +<p>The wind shrieked; great waves striking the mountain +side shook our pyramid. The sight was blotted out +by a blizzard of snow and ice.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The guards are kept busy with spears and spades +trying to keep the ventilators and the pinnacle area free +of snow and ice so we can have air. Several have been +blown from the top.</p> + +<p>We made a mistake in the construction of our refuge. +We should have shielded our ventilators to keep off the +snow. It is a hard struggle for air. Tomorrow we must +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>start work opening the passageway for light and air. +Nefert says I should have built a ship and sailed away, +as did the prophet and his people.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Nefert awake. It is dark and cold. The air is foul. +I hear rushing waters. It comes in the ventilators above +our heads. It is salty. We are being swallowed by the +icy sea. I have found you! O! How cold! How cold!</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I know not how long it has been, nor how many different +habitations my soul has tenanted since our pyramid +sank beneath the icy sea and, holding Nefert in my +arms, I lost consciousness.</p> + +<p>I am now in India, near the city of Bombay. A city +presenting a magnificent front, but reeking with filth +and disease, where, through the year, cholera daily claims +its victims. It is the year 1790.</p> + +<p>On the top of a high hill in a beautiful garden are +three Dakhmas or Parsee towers of silence. These +towers, built like a windowless colosseum, are massive +cylinders of hard black granite, open to the heavens.</p> + +<p>The parapet supports a coping of motionless living +vultures, waiting in patience to be fed. Here the death +rate is high and there are many to die, so they do not +suffer from hunger.</p> + +<p>The vultures grow restless; they see a funeral cortege +of black men in spotless white robes; they bear a black +corpse in a white shroud. The body is hastily deposited +within the area on its bed of stone and mattress of charcoal. +The vultures swoop down to the feast. In a short +while, satiated, they rise on heavy wing and lazily resettle +upon the parapet.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>All day long, my soul struggling for freedom or +forgetfulness, is caged within the body of one of these +vultures. I do not see the sun except through vulture +eyes. I do not feed except upon the dead. My companions +are vultures. I am never beyond the smell of the dead. +I have no friendships, no hopes.</p> + +<p>There are times at night when my vulture body +sleeps. Then the soul seems to break forth; but it does +not go out in freedom as of old. I may go into the hovels +of Bombay in the form of an old black beggar.</p> + +<p>Then it is my overwhelming desire to do some act +of kindness, but my clothes are in rags; my face is a +horrid mask, and I smell of the dead and am driven away.</p> + +<p>I found a man dying by the wayside, too weak to +move, too blind to see. When he asked for water, I +thought now is my chance. I shuffled to the fountain and +when I would dip up a cupful, it became as solid glass.</p> + +<p>At a time of famine I found a child crying for bread +without the city walls. At great strain upon my feeble +limbs, I climbed a wall and stole from the kitchen of the +enclosed villa a roasted fowl and carried it to the child. +The child took it, but when he raised it to eat, it was the +hand of a putrid corpse.</p> + +<p>When I lift the head of the sick, they shudder and +gasp and grow cold.</p> + +<p>So I return to my vulture body, to my perch on the +parapet, to breakfast on the dead and to my vulture +consort.</p> + +<p class="cen">(End of translation.)</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>I spent the next winter at law school, returning to +the old farmhouse the middle of May.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>The first time I went down to the springhouse, I saw +a vividly-colored golden robin or hangnest restlessly +flitting about the old elm trees and occasionally bursting +into loud-noted song.</p> + +<p>A few days later I heard and saw him again. He was +not so restless, and his song was low-toned and had a +rich and more pleasant refrain. His notes were of endless +and individual variety.</p> + +<p>When he ceased singing I heard an incessant warble +of sweet, though feeble, notes and, looking above my +head, saw the composer, his bride, dressed in olive and +gold, weaving on the pendulous nest of moss and horse +hair, near the tips of the overhanging limb. I then knew +why his song had changed and understood the happy +warble of the busy weaver.</p> + +<p>They were so gaily colored, so happily situated, their +home so far from harm, they were so exclusive, that I +called the pair the little king and queen.</p> + +<p>Bright pair of boundless wing and sweet song, did +you first meet here? You did not come together. How +did the king mark the way for his queen? Have you +searched all the way from Panama, your winter home, +for this old elm, to celebrate your bird marriage, pass +your honeymoon and find much joy in nest-building and +rearing a family? Do you know tears and night and +nothingness? Or have you found and eaten of the fruit +of the trees of life and eternal love?</p> + +<p>In about three weeks all song ceased. They made +incessant trips to the old orchard and returned with +caterpillars to feed five cavernous yellow-throated +mouths.</p> + +<p>One warm sultry afternoon in June I sat in my old +place by the springhouse, reading Story's Equity <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>Jurisprudence +and, closing the book, enjoyed the ease and +peace of the lazy, if not the righteous.</p> + +<p>I slept; and my mind jumbling the springhouse, the +orioles, the dead boy and his strange tale, whispered that +my little king and queen of the hanging nest were Santa +and Nefert. Thereafter I called them as the dream had +said.</p> + +<p>The little nestlings grew apace and the nest made +tight quarters. One, seeking room and adventure, +climbed out and perched upon a twig. Growing careless +or sleepy, or caught by a squall, he half flew, half fell +from his perch.</p> + +<p>The big black cat, who every week ate his weight +in young birds, pounced upon the unfortunate one, who +let out a squawk of terror.</p> + +<p>Santa darted into the face of the cat with such fierce +force as to rescue the baby bird, but lost his own life by +his brave rashness.</p> + +<p>Before the plumage of white, black and old gold had +been marred I drove the cat away and picked up the +little dead king.</p> + +<p>In the corner of the old orchard, hedged about by a +stone fence overhung with myrtle and honeysuckle, under +three ancient cedar trees, were four graves; three of +slaves long dead and the other of the half-witted boy.</p> + +<p>Under the fresh green sod of the newer grave I buried +the dead bird, and marked the spot with little cedar +grave boards, on which I carved the name, "Santa." +What a place to bury a king who had built a great pyramid +for his sepulchre!</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_198" id="PAGE_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>A CONSCIOUS MUMMY.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I sat under the old elm trees reading a work on Early +Egyptian Civilization, which declared that the recorded +history of that ancient people began when Menes was +king, about 4300 B. C.</p> + +<p>Placing the book, back up on the ground, I thought +of their strange faith; the reverent care with which they +embalmed the body to be again occupied by the soul, +when, after many transmigrations from one animal to +another, having expiated all sins done in the body, it +should return purified to the old body. Assuming their +belief true, where now might be those ancient believers +in Osiris, Ra, Horus, Isis, Set and other nature gods, +having ages before bowed in submission to Bes, the god +of death?</p> + +<p>How limited is sense; how weak intellect; how short +bodily life. Yet the very frailty and uncertainty of life +establishes the immortality of the soul and the soul, in +turn, gives spontaneous testimony to God and of a life +within which the body does not own.</p> + +<p>Nature was enjoying her afternoon siesta. Over the +hills so far away as to make it a picture, a threshing +machine was eating wheat shocks and blowing forth a +golden dust-like breath of straw. The incessant sawing +of harvest flies, a heavy country dinner and the afternoon +glow and heat conspired to drive me into the springhouse, +where the coolness and peace of the place brought +a bodily laziness, and, lying down on the old stone shelf, +I slept.</p> + +<p>Three walls of the springhouse grew as the palace +walls of Aladdin; the front rolled up as the curtain for +a drama; and between great columns of red granite and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>porphyry, chiseled with hieroglyphics and decorated with +the symbols of Amun and Osiris, I looked out upon a +grove of date palms, the pyramid of Sneferru, an island +sea of yellow flood water, and yet beyond, the low hills +of Arabia. A view seemingly as familiar as the one from +my bedroom window.</p> + +<p>It was the Nile valley at Meidoom; Aur-Aa was at +flood stage, then nearly fifty feet above the normal level, +Now, after centuries, the valley has been filled by river +silt and the tide is much shallower.</p> + +<p>The beauty and changefulness of that narrow valley +by comparison with the monotonous lands which flank it +gave promise of a happy people. Hemmed in on the west +by the sand hills of Libya and on the east by the equally +bare, dry, never-changing hills of Arabia; teeming with +people as the channels of an ant hill with ants; intensively +cultivated, some of the crops like the dhourra or +millet, the principal food of the poor, returning to the +sower two hundred and fifty times its seed; shaded by +date palms which yield abundant and delicious fruit; a +land with a delightful climate seasonably watered, fertilized +by yearly tides and protected from invasion by +wide deserts of soft sand; why should we not have been +a happy people?</p> + +<p>Because no one is free. We are enslaved by caste, +a most merciless master, by the priesthood, by our king. +We work continually, but for others. Happy he, who +when life is done, after contributing to the priesthood +and the king, after sacrificing to a hundred gods, leaves +sufficient estate to pay for the embalming of and a safe +resting place for his body.</p> + +<p>This is the best of a short life, with the sad hope that +after you have been many times a lower form of life, +you may return to your old body if, perchance, it may +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>be found. Far better off the unclean fish, which, when +the flood recedes, gasp themselves to death in shallow +pools, choked by the sand.</p> + +<p>I rose from my couch and walked out where a better +view might be had of the river and the valley.</p> + +<p>Near a small eminence more than sixty feet above +the flood tide was a great fleet of barges and rafts of +logs, which had borne heavy blocks of cut stone from far +to the southward down on the tide to construct our +tombs and temples.</p> + +<p>Upon the rafts and barges low caste humanity, driven +by the lash to tortured effort, swarmed and sweated and +groaned that some high priest or royal personage might +in mummied grandeur await his soul's return to its foul, +flinty, wrinkled and desolate home. Near, floating northward +with the tide, was a great obelisk of granite weighing +more than forty tons, held upon the surface by parallel +rafts of buoyant logs and inflated skins.</p> + +<p>I was head embalmer, one of the priesthood and, +therefore, considered one of the fortunate ones.</p> + +<p>The city of Meidoom was called the City of the Dead, +because at that time, 3750 B. C., it was the place of +burial of the royalty and priesthood of Men-nefu, which +name means secure and beautiful, and which centuries +later was changed to Memphis.</p> + +<p>Meidoom's population, near forty thousand, consisted +of more than two thousand priests with their families +and retainers and twenty thousand laborers and +overseers. The majority are engaged in the construction +of temples and sarcophagi.</p> + +<p>The people are firm believers in a future state and +therefore very religious. The priests act as intercessors +between the people and their many gods, look after +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>the sacred animals of the temples, are professional embalmers, +architects and custodians of the tombs.</p> + +<p>The priesthood hold high social rank, are exempt +from taxes, but do not practice celibacy or asceticism. +Their ranks are recruited by heredity or from the nobility; +and it is not uncommon for a prince to surrender his +claim of succession to assume the office of high priest.</p> + +<p>Had there been occasion for a test of power between +the government and the priesthood, the priestly orders +would have been found the real rulers.</p> + +<p>Amun is the chief or spiritual god of the Egyptians. +The name means The Hidden One; and he controls the +conscience and the soul.</p> + +<p>Rahotep is chief priest of Amun and the keeper of the +Book of Death. He and all the priesthood of Amun wear +a costume of white linen decorated with the blue figure +of a man having the head of a ram and carrying in his +hand a sharsh, the symbols of Amun. The chief priest +in addition wears the royal symbol with two long feathers +as a head dress.</p> + +<p>Osiris is the god of good, in contradistinction to Set, +the god of evil. He is the god of the Nile and the guardian +and preserver of the human body after death. His +symbol is a mummy wearing a royal crown and ostrich +plumes. The god of the sun is the soul of Osiris. The +white linen gowns of the priests of Osiris have a figured +border of mummies in black, wearing crowns and ostrich +plumes. Nefermat, chief priest, in addition wears the +royal insignia.</p> + +<p>At this time, besides many shrines, there are three +temples at Meidoom, the temple of Amun, the temple of +Osiris and the temple of The Dead. The two orders of +the priesthood are presided over by Rahotep and Nefermat, +the two sons of Sneferru, who, occupying their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>priestly positions at his demise, the succession passed to +Khufa, a brother, who married Neferma, the widow of +Sneferru.</p> + +<p>As chief embalmer I had charge of the temple of the +Dead, where both orders of the priesthood officiated, +since the one god, Amun, having charge of the soul, and +the other, Osiris, of the body, perforce met officially, +though usually holding little communication with each +other.</p> + +<p>As I stood at the portal two processions of priests +drew near, the one led by Rahotep, the other by Nefermat. +These two, leaving their attendants, entered the +temple.</p> + +<p>As they passed I bowed low to earth and followed into +the corridor, there they found seats, and I stood before +them awaiting their commands.</p> + +<p>Rahotep said, "Our mother, the queen, has just died; +after her body is partly embalmed they will bring it here +from Men-nefer, when you, because of your skill, are to +prepare it to rest in the vault of the great pyramid beside +our father Sneferru, in care of Osiris, until Amun +shall see fit to surrender her soul again to her body."</p> + +<p>(Nefermat) "You mean, until Osiris shall deem her +soul sufficiently purified to re-enter her body."</p> + +<p>"No, as Amun is the superior of Osiris, so is the soul +master of its tenement, the body, though it is by the +grace of Osiris that the body is preserved until Amun has +purified the soul for another human existence."</p> + +<p>"You are wrong; in all sacred animals human souls +dwell; it is only when those souls are made pure that +Osiris permits them to occupy a human form. * * * +Tepti, priest of Osiris, embalmer of and dweller with the +dead and custodian of the temple of the Dead, what +say you as to the body and the soul?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>"Pardon, Most Exalted of Osiris, am I to look upon +your question as a command?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"My belief, of which I am not master, I have kept +unto myself and if put into words is but spoken ignorance. +To become an expert embalmer I experimented +on the bodies of many animals not sacred to our gods +and discovered that they were as easily preserved as the +bodies of men. This forced the conclusion that if man +was specially favored of the gods, it was not in bodily +composition; therefore, it would seem, the body is not +sacred and is unworthy of the great expenditure of time +and wealth which we give it as priests of Osiris. The +body after death is as the husk of a nut from which the +kernel has been extracted and our people would be better +off were it burned as the refuse of earth. We of +Osiris, who say the body must not perish, know better +than anyone else that it does perish. If there is a +difference between the body of a man and an animal's, +that distinction departs at death; therefore, the distinction +is life or a part of life and the questions presented +are: What is life? What is there in man besides matter? +When an animate being dies, the body, the mortal, is +left; life departs. I do not see it go; I know not where +it goes. If it is a man who dies, we say the soul has +left the body, because we are men; if it is an animal, we +say life has left the body. What is the difference between +life and the soul? All I know is that I have a body which +perishes and that, distinct from the body, I have the +power to think, which power troubles me more than my +body, and which power I may lose when life leaves the +body. My power to think is so limited that its indulgence +is like pulling one's self up to the stars by one's toes. I +know I cannot answer the following questions:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>"'What is truth?' Though I once heard a child of +five answer that truth is the right.</p> + +<p>"'What is life?' Though I am told it is the principle +of animate corporeal existence.</p> + +<p>"'What is death?' This I do not know, since I cannot +define life, as death is the cessation of life or the +beginning of a higher life.</p> + +<p>"Since animals think, some more than some men (the +feeble-minded), do they have souls? If so, where do their +souls go?</p> + +<p>"Is the source of new life in the soul?</p> + +<p>"It seems we believe souls have existed from the +beginning, since they never die but are transmigrated. +Is immortality a divine gift or an inherent property of +the soul?</p> + +<p>"And of you, Chief Priest of Osiris, head of our order, +I would respectfully ask:</p> + +<p>"'Does the soul assume a body akin to its own nature?</p> + +<p>"'Should I live to be very old, dwarfed in limb and +blind, when my soul returns to its preserved mummy, +which you maintain it does, will I rise again, old and +blind and weak? If not why preserve the body?</p> + +<p>"'Will I know the friends of my former life if they +return to their bodies in the same period?</p> + +<p>"'Your still-born brother, whose body I embalmed, +had he yet a soul, and when his soul returns to his body, +will it have life?</p> + +<p>"'There is a mummy in one of the old tombs with +two heads and on one body; has that body one or two +souls? And if two souls, will they be purified and return +together to the body, though one be good and the other +bad?'</p> + +<p>"I believe not in Osiris; nor that my soul after many +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>transmigrations shall find and reanimate its rejected +tenement. Yet I know no other god or even if I have a +soul. Can I by searching find out truth or the true God? +Will there be a time when the truth shall be made +clear? I know that error is spread over all things; that +the race is not to the swift, neither the battle to the +strong. That he who disdains ease and comfort, though +poverty is a disgrace and misfortune a crime, recognizes +that wealth consists not in great possessions but in few +wants; looking upon ownership as a trusteeship and +therefore a responsibility; content with what life gives; +thinking himself and conceding to others the right to +think; living and letting others live; believing there is +nothing after death and death is nothing; is as well off +as he who struggles to be a blind leader of the blind. +Would I could believe that we shall live many lives and +each a preparation for a higher one. Our religion, like +our government, as it grows old grows complex and +rotten. What we need is a simple government, a simple +faith and one God."</p> + +<p>(Nefermat) "What you say is the vilest sacrilege. +Your belief, if general, would lead to chaos; to the destruction +of our holy order. You shall find there is a +hell for the unbeliever; your mortal life shall end and +your immortal begin as soon as our mother's body is +prepared for Osiris. You shall know the difference between +soul and body and have your doubts as to a future +state tested and dissolved."</p> + +<p>(Rahotep) "I would not be too hasty with the death +sentence. What matters it what Tepti may think! He +is a good embalmer, reticent of speech and his belief +in death and nothingness if expressed would neither find +believers nor corrupt our faith. The thought of non-existence +is not acceptable to the Egyptians; it lacks +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>enthusiasm, it lacks certainty, it lacks hope; there is no +appeal to pride or power."</p> + +<p>(Nefermat) "I cannot overlook such utterances from +a priest of Osiris; he must die."</p> + +<p>(Rahotep) "He is one of your priesthood; you are sole +arbiter of his life or death, but were he one of Amun's +and I demanding his opinion had been so answered, and +it was delivered as to stone ears, as his was to us, I would +pass it by. However, if you are bent on his death, which +I regret, I would ask his body, hoping by my intercession, +Amun may convince him he has a soul."</p> + +<p>(Nefermat) "As you like. I am through with the +sacrilegious beast as soon as he is dead. I would not +give his body tomb room in the temple of the dead."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the two high priests departed, leaving me +with very sober thoughts.</p> + +<p>Within an hour, three priests of our order, the death +watch, took up their abode in my chambers, which I was +not permitted to leave, and this watch was continued +to the end.</p> + +<p>On the next day the body of the queen arrived from +Men-nefer and I was directed to complete the embalming +already begun. This occupied a fortnight.</p> + +<p>The day the embalming was completed Rahotep came +to my chamber and, sending the guards from the room, +said:</p> + +<p>"On the morrow at sunrise you will be strangled to +death, after which your body will be delivered to me for +disposition. When it is carefully embalmed I shall place +it in a new tomb in the temple of Amun and it shall become +sacred to him. The tomb is so constructed that light +and air penetrates through slits in the portal and it may +be entered from the temple by members of our order. +Amun will permit your soul to occupy and grow in your +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>mummied body. You have said you are not afraid of +death. Neither you nor any other man knows what lies +beyond. It is not the end of things as you declare but +the beginning of the thought life. Living through the +ages in your old shell you shall learn that the infinite +is the author of all things and from the order and harmony +of nature you shall deduce the existence of God +and the immortality of the soul. You shall learn that +the soul is an immaterial being which can go where the +body can not and can live where the body cannot live and +is so sometimes punished. That its controlling force is not +the body nor even the mind but a power which pervades +all space, which has existed from the beginning, looking +after the universe and each creature therein. This is the +infinite, the beginning, the end of all things, which, lacking +a better name and light to discern, I call Amun, The +Great, The Only One. The wind has not a body, yet you +know the wind blows; light has not substance, yet you feel +and see it and know it comes from the worlds in the +skies. Your soul has existed from the beginning as a +part of the infinite. It came into existence as the angels +of light and darkness. It is of the size of the faith that +is in you and yours is quite small. Yours shall grow during +the ages, as Amun is about to begin its experience, +which each soul is to have, though the experience given +each is different, being judged and punished or rewarded +according to the light given, which in every case is dim. +You are first to be turned over to Phtha, the great father +of beginnings. Your little seed of a soul, assuming the +form of a beetle, shall remain in your mummified body. +Your embalming robes shall be decorated with his sign, +the scarabeus. Your body will be carefully watched by +our priesthood to observe the growth of your soul and +know that you finally believe in its existence and the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>infinite power of God. You shall pass through the valley +of humiliation, living as the Chelas live upon your own +soul. Your suffering shall bring improvement and +growth until your soul shall prove sufficient unto itself, +since it shall know God and itself. Finally it shall part +company with your mummied body and become a part +of the light of the world."</p> + +<p>I arose at daylight the next morning and, after carefully +bathing, rubbed my whole body with a preparation +for closing the pores; then, retiring to a couch, drank a +vial of most precious and potent embalming fluid, which, +knowing death to be near, I had secreted when preparing +the mummy of the queen.</p> + +<p>I felt a contraction of my stomach, an icy chill, a +gradual though rapid cessation of consciousness and being. +For what period I know not I slept the sleep of +death.</p> + +<p>Sluggishly in my dead frame fluttered a something. +For days or years, I know not, there was a mere sense +of spiritual life or being and a fluttering of body as of a +small numbed insect; was it a scarabeus? This was succeeded +in time by an acuter consciousness, when I saw +my puny soul in its bare weakness.</p> + +<p>Then began the journey through the valley of humiliation +and suffering, when soul lived upon and thought only +of self and its escape. Through ages of suffering and +loneliness and blackness, my only thought was a constant +prayer for absolute non-existence. Within the heart of +my tiny soul there began to grow a germ-like conception +and reverence for God. With this thought the soul seemed +to take unto itself strength to make feeble efforts to tear +a way through its coffin of flinty skin and in feeble flight +bounded and pounded incessantly on its case of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>parchment, +as a drummer on his drum, with a ceaseless, monotonous, +drum, drum, drum.</p> + +<p>Finally, through the mummy eyes, there seemed to +come dim rays of light. Then the feeble soul stationed +itself immediately behind them and prayed only for light. +And, after a thousand years, enough light was given to +see crevices in the tomb and shifting grains of sand +drift through. Life before had been so bare that the +mere seeing of the flight of a grain of sand into that +place of utter calm and monotony was as an angel visit +to the disconsolate of earth.</p> + +<p>Now the all-absorbing desire was for more light; for +freedom to break through the prison walls of flinty skin +and have one peep at earth and sun. Then, remembering +how I had stolen our most potent embalming fluid and +used it on my own body, I attributed continued imprisonment +to its preservative properties and looked upon myself +as my own jailer.</p> + +<p>As the soul grew, reason discarded this thought and +fixed upon my imprisonment as punishment for disbelief. +Seemingly, ages went by; the soul passed through a +period of great remorse; remorse grew to repentance, +and repentance to hope and faith.</p> + +<p>Then my soul seemed to fill the whole mummied frame +and gained strength until it acquired the power of motion. +I could shift position and look out upon the valley +of Aur-Aa, now called Nilus, where, as time passed, I +saw the maturity and wane of Egyptian power and the +iron hand of Rome reach out in conquest.</p> + +<p>The vandal hand of a conquering Roman tore loose +the stone portal of the tomb, and mummy and imprisoned +soul were carried across the great sea and with other +husks of former life exhibited in the triumph of Octavius; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>then placed in a museum to be gazed upon by the curious +of Rome.</p> + +<p>One night robbers broke into the room, thinking the +dead carried their treasures with them, and unwound our +grave cloths. My soul pounded and tore at its case, +hoping pantingly that they might break the parchment +shell; but all they did was to remove a string of turquoise +and porphyry beetle-shaped beads. When morning came +the mummies were rewrapped and returned to the exhibit +slab.</p> + +<p>As the crowds passed by, if one, perchance, looked +into my sunken eyes, the soul, watching hungrily beneath, +looked out with an intensity and read his very +inmost mind and most secret thought; and some there +were who seemed to know the meaning of my look.</p> + +<p>When I read thoughts of doubt, such as I had known +in life, I sought with utmost soul strength to convey to +them some warning and some hope; and as I struggled +thus, there came rifts of light into my prison as from a +higher life.</p> + +<p>One day a noble Roman youth came strolling by with +a companion and, stooping, gazed upon my form.</p> + +<p>"See, Marcus! How much better preserved this man +of ancient Egypt is than the others. Look! In his sunken +eyes you may discern a glimmer as of intense life; of +consciousness; I feel his look, as though he read me +through and through and would speak in advice or warning."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Come on! You have eaten too heavily or else departed +from your stoical way and conscience has made +you uneasy; else you could not attribute life to this foul +shell, dead these three thousand years."</p> + +<p>"I shall return alone tomorrow when the light is better +and have a good look."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>At noon the next day, when the sunlight rested on +my slab, the youth returned and, bending over my black +parchment face, peered into the hollow eye holes; and +in some weird way I held communion with him. When +he left, my soul seemed to go along, a companion of his +own.</p> + +<p>Lost in thought, he walked a long way into the poorer +quarter of the city, where there was much squalor and +suffering. He was aroused by the cries of women and +children driven from their squalid homes by a band of +Nero's condottieri, who then set fire to their deserted +hovels.</p> + +<p>He rushed to their rescue, remonstrating with the +soldiers. They refused to desist, telling him that the +people were of the new sect, the Christians; and their +orders were to burn them out. He was assaulted by +them, resisted, killed two and was himself slain.</p> + +<p>His soul as a great white bird, with a brilliancy as of +the sun, left his body and flew heavenward. My own +returned to its mummied chamber. But the chamber had +been reformed; it was of many hued crystal, of expansive +wall and gave forth a light all its own. I settled upon a +couch and drifted into a restful peace.</p> + +<p>My own soul became as the tabernacle of God. All +tears were wiped away by the conqueror of sorrow and +pain and death. I had found the Father; the Father a +son; and I entered into the place where God is the Light.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Rome burned. The fire, started by +Nero's soldiers near the Palatine Hill, spread from house +to house and quarter to quarter until it reached my couch. +The old shell parted and burned as tinder. Then the +mortal put on immortality and the shackled darkness of +the old soul gave place to light and liberty.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>I awoke. It was near twilight; the world seemed new +and fresh, but it was the old home place.</p> + +<p>I bent over and examined my couch; it was the old +slab shelf of the springhouse. Looking along its raised +edge, which I had used as a pillow, I noticed for the first +time crude strange characters or letters cut in the stone.</p> + +<p>That night I asked my father the history of the slab. +He said he had brought it from the Stoner Creek farm +near Wade's Mill, where it had been plowed up in cultivating +over a small Indian mound.</p> + +<p>I came to the conclusion the slab possessed weird +properties, making it a restless and unsatisfactory couch, +and thereafter I called it the dream bench.</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_213" id="PAGE_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>DOCTOR BROWN OF DANVILLE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Incidentally I took up stenography, its usefulness +having been impressed upon me by my inability to transcribe +the narrative of the feeble-minded black boy.</p> + +<p>The winter following his death, attending law school +at the University of Virginia, I continued its study and +practice and found it quite an aid in jotting down the +lectures. By the following summer I had grown to be +quite an efficient stenographer.</p> + +<p>That summer, shortly after I had my disturbing dream +as a priest of Osiris, the Kentucky synod of the Southern +Presbyterian Church met at Winchester. My mother, a +member of the First Presbyterian Church, entertained +two of the visiting preachers, both of whom were personal +friends of Doctor Chisholm. One was from the +western portion of the State, I believe Owensboro, the +other, Doctor Brown, of Danville.</p> + +<p>Doctor Brown rarely smiled; his poise was indicative +of the utmost self-control, his form lank, his hair heavy +and graying at the temples, his general appearance giving +evidence of a clean, active ascetic life and a strong +moral and physical make-up. He was inclined to keep +the light of his conversational powers under a bushel, +and at times spoke only when aroused from apparent +self-centered thought. His voice was deep and pleasant, +his diction and expression perfect, his thoughts, clothed +in finished sentences, were entertainingly expressed and +at times exhibited a rich vein of the choicest humor. He +was the leading member of the conference—certainly the +brainiest—and it fell to his lot to deliver the most important +address of the gathering.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>He seemed to fancy the old springhouse, its quiet coolness +and the spreading elms. Except at mealtime he did +all his drinking from its cool fountain and out of the old +gourd dipper, though mother insisted on sending a glass +down for his service.</p> + +<p>Several times I found him sitting in the rustic chair +by the door jotting down notes for some address or sermon, +but never seated on the old stone bench.</p> + +<p>On Monday at breakfast, following a busy Sunday, +on which he had preached two exceptionally good sermons, +and, following the noonday service, greeted lengthily and +cordially seemingly every member of the large congregation, +I noticed his usually active manner had given place +to a languorous calm.</p> + +<p>So I went down to the springhouse, carried the rustic +chair into the open beyond the shade and carefully +loosened and removed one of the legs, placing the chair +in such a position as to show it was unserviceable and +undergoing repairs; then I returned to the house.</p> + +<p>In about an hour Doctor Brown left the library for +the springhouse, carrying a couple of books and a scratch +pad under his arm.</p> + +<p>When he saw the condition of the chair he walked +within and found a seat on the old stone bench. After +resting for some time he stretched his form on the cool +smooth slab and was soon fast asleep.</p> + +<p>Then I slipped in and preparing for business, sat +down upon the floor with note book and pencils handy, +heading the page with the name of our distinguished +guest.</p> + +<p>He began in a conversational tone what was apparently +an introductory address to a gathering of primitive +Christians. It was in Greek, which I was able to transcribe.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>The translation undoubtedly is faulty, robbed of the +thought and beauty of his smooth diction, and gives but +imperfect meaning and interpretation to many idiomatic +expressions.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, servant of Jesus +Christ, on the road to Damascus ordained of God and +called to the apostleship; having been taken a prisoner +at Jerusalem, charged with sedition; appealed to Caesar +and now traveling to Rome for trial, is in Syracuse and +will preach to us tonight.</p> + +<p>"He took ship at Adramyttium, touched at Sidon, +Cyprus and Myra. There a ship of Alexandria was found +sailing into Italy. This he boarded and, sailing many +days, passed near Chidus, Crete, Salmone and Fair +Havens, near the city of Lascea. From whence he sailed, +when the south wind blew softly, close to Crete. There +a tempest arose. The ship was forced from her course +and driven by wind until, days after, she was wrecked +on the island of Malta.</p> + +<p>"After an enforced stay of three months, he sailed +away in the good ship Castor and Pollux and arrived in +Syracusa this morning. He will remain with us for three +days.</p> + +<p>"The church knows his service. He has faced every +crisis and danger with an iron will and with unfailing +resolution has kept the faith. He is a most faithful worker +in the cause of Christ and his field of service is, +messenger unto the Gentiles.</p> + +<p>"In his present troubles he has our prayers. We will +now hear him."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>"Brethren of the Church of Syracusa; grace be to you +and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus +Christ.</p> + +<p>"First, I thank God that your faith is spoken of and +an example to all the Christian churches.</p> + +<p>"I came first after landing to Sergius Publius of your +church, to whom I bore a letter from his cousin Publius, +the Roman ruler at Malta.</p> + +<p>"We were at Malta three months waiting for a ship. +During that time by prayer and the laying on of hands, +the father of Publius was healed. For this and other +things, the people honored us with many honors and +when we departed they laded us with such things as +were necessary, we having lost all by shipwreck on our +journey from Caesarea to Rome.</p> + +<p>"Not unwillingly am I sent to Rome for trial as +fitting one born free and a Roman citizen, since Rome is +mistress of the world and to Rome the Christian faith +must be carried to be spread over the Gentile world.</p> + +<p>"Being ordained an apostle to the Gentiles, it is but +meet that I should assume the risks of the journey and +take as personal the command to preach the Gospel in +Rome or elsewhere and to every Gentile nation. A gospel +of universal faith granting to Jew and Gentile alike repentance +unto life and grace through the redemption +of the Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>"This work has been most successful and many strong +Gentile churches have been established; but God forbid +that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus +Christ.</p> + +<p>"After the establishment of a number of these +churches, when I returned to Jerusalem I was falsely accused +of teaching all the Jews which are among the +Gentiles to forsake the law of Moses; and of having +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span>brought Greeks into the temple and polluted the holy +place. And after this charge I was cast from the temple +and the doors closed; then set upon and beaten with +staves and stones until Roman soldiers came to quiet the +disturbance; and by them bound with chains was led +towards the castle. When asking and receiving permission +to speak unto the people, I did so in the Hebrew +tongue saying:</p> + +<p>"'Men, brethren and fathers, hear ye my defense, +now made unto you, I am verily a man, a Jew born in +Tarsus, in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet +of Gamaliel, taught according to the perfect manner of +the law of the fathers and was zealous towards God, as +ye all are this day.</p> + +<p>"'And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding +and delivering into prison both men and women. As also +the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate +of the elders; from whom also I received letters unto the +brethren and went to Damascus, to bring them which were +bound unto Jerusalem for to be punished.</p> + +<p>"'And it came to pass that as I made my journey and +was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly +there shone from heaven a great light round about me. +And I fell unto the ground, and hearing a voice saying +unto me, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"</p> + +<p>"'And I answered, "Who art thou Lord?" And he +said unto me, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecuteth."</p> + +<p>"'And they that were with me saw indeed the light +and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of him that +spake to me.</p> + +<p>"'And I said, "What shall I do Lord?" And the Lord +said unto me, "Arise and go unto Damascus; and there it +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for +thee to do."</p> + +<p>"'And when I could not see for the glory of that light, +being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came +into Damascus.</p> + +<p>"'And one, Ananias, a devout man according to the +law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt +there, came unto me and stood and said unto me, "Brother +Saul receive thy sight." And the same hour I looked +up upon him.</p> + +<p>"'And he said, "The God of our fathers hath chosen +thee, that thou shouldst know his will and see that Just +One, and should hear the voice of his mouth. For thou +shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen +and heard. And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be +baptized and wash away thy sins," calling on the name +of the Lord.</p> + +<p>"'And it came to pass that when I was come again to +Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a +trance; and saw him saying unto me, "Make haste and get +thee quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive +thy testimony concerning me."</p> + +<p>"'And I said, "Lord they know that I imprisoned and +beat in every synagogue them that believed in thee; and +when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also +was standing by and consented unto his death and kept +the raiment of them that slew him."</p> + +<p>"'And he said unto me, "Depart; for I will send thee +far hence unto the Gentiles."'</p> + +<p>"When I had spoken thus far, the multitude would +not hear me further.</p> + +<p>"At the castle, the chief captain ordered that I be +scourged, when, hearing the order, I said to the centurion +standing by, 'Is it lawful to scourge a man that is a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>Roman and uncondemned?' Thereafter no further indignity +was offered me.</p> + +<p>"Then the Lord appeared unto me saying. 'Be of good +cheer, Paul, for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, +so must thou bear witness also in Rome.' Then I was +sent to Caesarea, unto Felix.</p> + +<p>"Before Felix, I was accused by Tertullus, speaking +for the priesthood, as a pestilent fellow and a mover of +sedition among all the Jews and a leader of the sect of +the Nazarenes.</p> + +<p>"To which I answered, 'They can charge me with +nothing unlawful though I confess that after the way +which they call heresy so worship I the God of my fathers, +believing all things which are written in the law and the +prophets, and have hope towards God that there shall +be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the +unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always +a conscience void of offence towards God and men.'</p> + +<p>"After a period of two years Porcius Festus succeeded +Felix and willing to favor the Jews, asked, If I +would go to Jerusalem to be judged, to which I answered; +'I stand at Caesar's judgment seat where I ought +to be judged.'</p> + +<p>"Then Festus after conference said, 'Hast thou appealed +unto Caesar? Unto Caesar shalt thou go.'</p> + +<p>"Shortly thereafter I was delivered to Julius, a centurion +of Augustus' band, and we set sail at Adramyttium +for Rome to be delivered for trial as a Roman citizen.</p> + +<p>"What a privilege it is to be a Roman citizen; to +have the protection of a strong and capable government; +whose laws are stable and enforceable; a bulwark against +petty strife and sect jealousies. Christ our Master declares +the divine origin of government and the obligation +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>of his followers to obey human law when not in conflict +with the commandments of God.</p> + +<p>"This, it seems, is the greatest obligation, next to our +faith.</p> + +<p>"What is faith? What are the teachings of our faith?</p> + +<p>"Faith in God is more than the exercise of the understanding.</p> + +<p>"Faith changed me from a persecutor, until now, I +preach the faith I sought to destroy; hoping thereby you +may rejoice the more in Christ because of my coming; +while I rejoice at your patience and faith under all the +tribulations which you now endure.</p> + +<p>"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence +of things not seen. And Christ our Lord, is its +author and finisher.</p> + +<p>"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the +Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.</p> + +<p>"For God who commanded the light to shine out of +darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of +the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, +that the excellency of the power may be of God and not +of us.</p> + +<p>"We are troubled on every side yet not distressed; +perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; +cast down but not destroyed; always bearing +about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the +life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.</p> + +<p>"For we which live are always delivered unto death +for Jesus' sake that the life also of Jesus might be made +manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us +but life in you.</p> + +<p>"We have the same spirit of faith according as it is +written, I believe and therefore have I spoken; we also +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>believe and therefore speak; knowing that He which +raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus +and shall present us with you. For all things are for your +sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving +of many rebound to the glory of God.</p> + +<p>"For which cause we faint not, but though our outward +man perish yet the inward is renewed day by day.</p> + +<p>"For our light affliction which is but for a moment, +worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight +of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, +but at the things which are not seen; for the things +which are seen are temporal; but the things which are +not seen are eternal.</p> + +<p>"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle +were dissolved we have a building of God, an +house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.</p> + +<p>"I am told that some among you who live according to +the law, say, 'There is no resurrection of the dead.'</p> + +<p>"First of all—Christ died for our sins and was +buried and rose again the third day.</p> + +<p>"If the dead rise not then is Christ not raised; and if +Christ be not raised your faith is in vain; ye are yet in +your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in +Christ and rest in these caverns are perished.</p> + +<p>"But now is Christ risen from the dead and become +the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came +death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. +For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be +made alive—But some men will say, 'How are the dead +raised up? And with what body do they come?'</p> + +<p>"Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except +it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that +body that shall be—but bare grain, it may chance of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>wheat or of some other grain. But God giveth it a body +and to every seed his own body.</p> + +<p>"The glory of the resurrection of man is, that his body +sown in corruption is raised in incorruption; sown in +dishonor is raised in glory; sown in weakness it is raised +in strength; sown in the natural it is raised the spiritual +body.</p> + +<p>"So when this corruptible shall put on incorruption +and this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be +brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is +swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? +O grave, where is thy victory! The sting of death is sin, +the strength of sin is the law. But thanks to God who +giveth us the victory through Our Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + +<p>"Do you seek strength in the Lord and the power of +his might? Put on the whole armor of God that ye may +be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.</p> + +<p>"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but +against principalities, against powers, against the rulers +of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness +in high places.</p> + +<p>"Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God +that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having +done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loin +girt about with truth and having on the breast plate of +righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation +of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of +faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery +darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation +and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, +praying always with all power and supplication in the +spirit.</p> + +<p>"Let us not be dismayed or overwhelmed by persecution, +nor weary in well doing; for in due season we shall +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>reap if we faint not. Learning wheresoever God places +us therewith to be content; seeking by prayer and supplication +to know his will.</p> + +<p>"The Father hath said; 'My grace is sufficient for +thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore +may we glory in our infirmities that the power of +Christ may rest upon us. Thanks be unto God for his +unspeakable gifts.</p> + +<p>"As we grow in strength, we may expect persecution +to grow. Now Rome looks upon our faith as a Jewish +sect. When it is understood that it is a religion distinct +from Judaism, then persecution will begin in earnest. +Then you will be blamed for pestilence, famine and other +national calamities and be offered as martyrs for your +faith. Then must we glory in tribulation, knowing that +tribulation worketh patience and patience experience +and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because +the love of God is shed about in your hearts.</p> + +<p>"I speak to you but as an ambassador in bonds.</p> + +<p>"Brethren, pray constantly for one another and for +me, remembering that the prayers of a righteous man +availeth much. And the peace of God which passeth all +understanding, keep your hearts and minds through +Jesus Christ, Amen."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Doctor Brown, growing restless, and I conscience-stricken, +I thought it best to make a hasty departure for +the house.</p> + +<p>That night at supper I managed to turn the conversation +to dreams, hoping to hear from him.</p> + +<p>He finally said; "It is remarkable the way we fit familiar +scenes or even places we have visited but once into +our dream thoughts. Thus dressed they become quite +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>realistic until we almost persuade ourselves that we have +lived the experience.</p> + +<p>"Some years ago I visited the city of Syracuse and +was deeply interested by the catacombs on the island of +Ortzgia, just a short way from the modern city, particularly +as they had been used as a place of worship, of +refuge from persecution and of burial by the early +Christians.</p> + +<p>"Among other things of interest therein are the frescoes, +in which drawings of fish as religious symbols predominate, +the Greek word for which furnished the initial +letters for the Saviour's name and office; the tombs and +an altar from which Paul is said to have preached, when +sent by Festus from Caesarea to Rome.</p> + +<p>"I rarely sleep in the daytime; but today the cool +subdued light and quiet of the springhouse was responsible +for a lapse.</p> + +<p>"Having in mind to prepare a sermon on faith and the +resurrection, and thinking of certain of Paul's letters in +connection therewith, my dream thoughts were so assembled +that while I slept I seemed to hear Paul preaching +from the altar in the catacombs on that identical subject."</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_225" id="PAGE_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>RICHARD HAWKWOOD.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>I am home from the University of Virginia, having +completed the law course. The restful peace of the old +farmhouse is most enjoyable; but there is another blemish +upon the landscape; my father is building a second tobacco +barn, and the foreman in charge, a union carpenter, +or nine-hour man, as we then called him, is a disturbing +element, spending his time, when not at work, chewing +tobacco and aggressively talking about the rights of +labor and the danger to the world of concentrated wealth.</p> + +<p>When thus engaged he is a typical nail-keg philosopher; +just emerging from ignorance and materialism into +the realm of reflective experience.</p> + +<p>He has at his tongue's end all the platitudes of the +socialist and possesses the knack of picking platitude and +imperfect statistic to fit his theories, whenever he finds +a victim.</p> + +<p>He does not look upon our government as a government +of the people; but a government of the few, who fool +all the people all the time.</p> + +<p>He is a firm believer in organized labor and the disorganization +of everything else, particularly capital. He +believes in the equal distribution of property every few +years and that the masses should throw off the yoke, but +can neither identify nor define the yoke.</p> + +<p>Until I heard him talk, in my inexperience, I thought +that the world was a reasonably comfortable place in +which to live, in fact, I knew no better. We were getting +ten cents for tobacco, eighty cents for wheat, fifty cents +for corn, five cents for hogs and ten cents a pound for +turkeys. We heard no talk of hard times except just +before a presidential election.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>We paid fifteen dollars per month for farm hands, +three dollars a week to the cook; we bought sugar for +six cents and flour for five fifty a barrel. We were paying +the boss carpenter and chief representative of organized +labor three dollars a day, and fifteen dollars per +thousand for clear heart yellow pine lumber.</p> + +<p>Hawkwood, the carpenter, spoke of the ideals of labor +and how he would fight for them through this and other +lives until his words, to my conservative and immature +mind, seemed threats against organized society.</p> + +<p>My views, in the main, he called old-fashioned. I +believed a laborer who was thrifty, efficient and industrious +did not need a union to help him, arguing the +union only helped the inefficient, lazy and profligate.</p> + +<p>I tried several times to get him to rest on the springhouse +slab or dream couch, but his mind and temperament +were too nervously active.</p> + +<p>On Sunday he expected to go to Lexington for the day, +but at train time a heavy shower caused him to abandon +the trip. I asked him to go to Pine Grove church, but +he very emphatically declined.</p> + +<p>At dinner, with malice aforethought, I kept his plate +heaped up and repeatedly filled his goblet with ice-cooled +buttermilk. After dinner as it was a very warm day, I +suggested we go to the springhouse and read, and from +the library got for him Fox's "Lives of The Martyrs."</p> + +<p>I took the lead and appropriated the rustic chair +under the elms, forcing him to occupy the stone bench +in the springhouse.</p> + +<p>He made several efforts to start an argument on the +labor question, which I carefully avoided. After awhile +a sonorous snore announced that he had fallen victim +to my plot.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>His snoring was broken by a jumble of words in +English and Italian, though his English, being of a very +old form, was harder than the Italian to understand and +transcribe. The first words I caught were; "Very well, +Sir John, avanti!"</p> + +<p>I took down his statement and give to the reader a +liberal transcription of my notes.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"I was born in Essex, near Hedingham, on October +20, 1332. My father was a younger brother of Sir John +Hawkwood, who was knighted for bravery by the Black +Prince two days after the battle of Poitiers, where an +English army of eight thousand men defeated a French +army of sixty thousand and took King John prisoner.</p> + +<p>"My uncle, commanding several companies and rendering +most efficient service, was rewarded by being +knighted by the King. I was present at the service and +officiated as his squire.</p> + +<p>"When the successful army returned to England, +several hundred of us from Essex and Suffolk remained +in France and organized 'The White Company,' which, +with Sir John as commander, became famous as condottieri, +or soldiers of fortune, and from 1360 to 1390 sold +our services to various Italian powers.</p> + +<p>"We served under the standard of Gregory XI, the +Marquis of Montferrat, certain legates, the republic of +Pisa, and, finally, the signory and council of Florence, +from 1378 until the death of Sir John on March 17, 1394. +At his death he was entombed with great ceremony in +the Duomo. For years prior he had held the office of +Captain General with the Florentines.</p> + +<p>"From 1374 till 1378 I was captain of one of his companies. +In 1378 I was made his aid, in which capacity +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>I served until 1389, when, having been seriously wounded +and the possessor of considerable wealth, I retired from +service.</p> + +<p>"For more than a year Sir John had been in the service +of the Marquis of Montferrat at Casale, and as the +season was dull and the pay light for our business, it +was with pleasure he received word from the Pope to +come to Avignon.</p> + +<p>"Gregory occupied the papal chair from 1370 to 1378 +and, like his immediate predecessors, resided at Avignon +until 1376, when he terminated the Babylonian captivity +by returning to Rome.</p> + +<p>"During this period of exile the church government +of Italy was conducted by proud and avaricious legates, +who lived as dukes or provincial kings, and in the name +of the church assumed to dictate the policy of government +to many small potentates, maintaining a standing +array of condottieri made up of English, Dutch and +and Breton recruits.</p> + +<p>"Sir John, reasonably satisfied that he would be employed +in Italy at some point east of Casale, left his +soldiers behind, except thirty troopers, and set out for +Avignon. Ten days later he came down the Rhone valley, +into the 'City of Bells,' just as the sixth hour, or +vesper bells, were ringing.</p> + +<p>"We fed our horses, washed away the stains of travel, +and, supper ready, took our places at a long table, Sir +John at the head, I at the foot and fifteen troopers on +either side. We refreshed ourselves, a very hungry and +thirsty company, with red Rhone wine, macaroni, cheese, +fish, mutton, brown bread and a salad.</p> + +<p>"Sir John and I were assigned quite sumptuous quarters +in the palace, while our soldiers remained at the inn.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>"That night Sir John saw the Pope and was recommissioned +in his service. His orders were that half of his +company should report to the legate at Pisa, while I in +command of the other half, about three hundred horsemen, +should report to the legate at Bologna. An invasion +of Tuscany was contemplated under the direction of +these two legates, having in view the humiliation of the +Florentines.</p> + +<p>"The reason assigned for the campaign was that the +Ricci faction had entered into a league with Barnabo of +Milan against the church and the Albizzi party.</p> + +<p>"The Pope thus expressed himself to Sir John; 'These +plebeians are too ambitious. Let the nobility, not the +populace, form a federation, living like brothers with the +church at its head, an all-wise and benign father. Thus, +by a combination of miter and helmet the church, first +in Italy and then throughout the world, shall become not +alone the spiritual but the temporal head of government. +Instituting this plan, we intend to subdue the plebeian +faction now in power at Florence.'</p> + +<p>"Sir John, at the close of the audience, said to me; +'If it were not for the interference of the church, the +republic of Florence and certain other Italian states +might hope for the accomplishment of great things. What +the Pope wants is the peace of decay and temporal and +spiritual supremacy for the church throughout the land. +Experience has taught me that adversity is a great +teacher. It tolerates no compromises and rewards only +patience and strength. Therefore a state is most fortunate +that occupies a position of bare supremacy in +arms, where it is punished for mistakes and grows strong +from reverses.</p> + +<p>"'On the other hand, if a government is too strong, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>the peace of strength brings repose, repose decay, and +decay dishonor.</p> + +<p>"'Florence, more than any other Italian city, is embarrassed +by the natural enmities between the populace +and the nobility. The nobility wish to command. The +populace, aware of their numerical supremacy, are disinclined +to obey, and insist upon ruling the city. Clashes +between the two keep the city in a constant uproar and +will eventually extinguish its greatness. The populace +when in power drive the nobility from the city. When +they lose out the banished nobles return and the populace +are oppressed. Associated with the people, who are the +usual conquerors, are certain adaptable nobles, who, styling +themselves reformers, assume to live and think as the +common people until they have acquired a sufficient following +to control the city, then they assume the government +and the nobles are recalled.'</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"A member of the Connechi family was legate at +Bologna. In the fall of 1374 I reported to him with my +three hundred horsemen.</p> + +<p>"The preceding summer had been extremely dry, +causing a failure of crops through all of central Italy. +The people suffered and many died of privation. The +legate, aware of this, looked upon the time as auspicious +for his invasion and instituted his campaign by seizing +provisions in transit, purchased by the Florentines from +the northern countries. The following spring he invaded +Tuscany.</p> + +<p>"The hungry inhabitants, seeing no hope for even the +future harvest, offered but feeble opposition. Quite a +few castles and small towns were taken and pillaged.</p> + +<p>"Our army moved slowly, and despite the legate's +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>commands, never followed up a victory. It mattered +little to us that his enemies lived to fight another day; +our business was to line our pockets with plunder. It +was no serious affair to defeat our opponents whenever +we met. They were untrained in war and were usually +officered by mercenaries, who cared little whether they +won or lost.</p> + +<p>"One night a messenger from Sir John Hawkwood +brought word that I should confer with the captains of +the Dutch and Breton troops, and if they agreed, we were +to mutiny and desert the legate's standard, when I should +proceed with my men to Florence, where he would await +us.</p> + +<p>"At the conference I learned from the other captains +that their commanders had made peace with the Florentines, +having been paid one hundred and thirty thousand +florins; and that Sir John, having quarreled with the +legate at Pisa about our pay had referred the matter +to the Pope, who responded; 'The affair is wholly within +the discretion of the legate.' Whereupon he sent back +word; 'Henceforth I am an opponent of temporal church +rule in Italy and quit your service.' He then made a +contract with the Florentines to assist them in repelling +the legate's armies.</p> + +<p>"On the next day, when the condottieri were ordered +to attack a small town southwest of our camp, the inhabitants +of which had treated us decently, knowing that +we bore them no ill-will, we disregarded the order. By +prearrangement, each captain at the head of his men +assembled in front of the legate's quarters, when as +spokesman I asked an audience.</p> + +<p>"In a short while he came forth in his regalia, surrounded +by a group of carpet knights and peremptorily +demanded:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>"'What do you want and why have not you and your +comrades begun the assault as ordered?'</p> + +<p>"'As spokesman for the English, Dutch and Breton +condottieri, I am directed to inform you that we +have concluded to sever our connection with your army +and seek more satisfactory employment. Our sympathies +are with the Florentines rather than the church.'</p> + +<p>"'Those of you who refuse to execute my commands +shall be put to death.'</p> + +<p>"'Who will execute your order? Surely not your +three thousand carpet knights, who can scarcely sit their +horses and are coached by their squires. They know +nothing of warfare; they but wear their swords as ornaments. +Why, my three hundred horsemen alone are more +than a match for your knights. They and you do your +fighting by proxy. It takes something more than a +jeweled sword, bright armor and a coat of arms to make +a soldier, and something more than a miter, a string of +beads and a colossal capacity for deception, torture and +persecution, to make a commander whom men trust and +obey.'</p> + +<p>"'So it is your intention to quit my service?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, and immediately, we shall leave your camp +today.'</p> + +<p>"Whereupon I returned to my men. After a brief +conference we raided the general stores and appropriated +a week's supplies; then, loading our pack horses, mounted +and by easy stages rode to Florence.</p> + +<p>"The legate, finding himself deserted by his mercenaries, +his forces reduced to less than three thousand undisciplined +troops, with no one competent to command, +hastily retreated to Bologna and sought to make peace +with the Florentines.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>"But they, justly resentful of his avaricious and unprovoked +invasion, refused to make peace, and until his +death, nearly three years thereafter, having entered into +a league with Barnabo of Milan and certain cities hostile +to the church, conducted a successful war against him.</p> + +<p>"Three days thereafter we crossed through the pass +and camped on the south mountain slope within sight +of Florence. The city from the foothills as you look out +upon it seems an island forest of tall towers, surrounded +by a verdant plain.</p> + +<p>"A wall 9350 meters in length, protected by a deep +moat, surrounds the city. Every one hundred and sixty +meters there is a tower forty meters high and fourteen +meters broad. The twelve gates, six on the left bank of +the river and six on the right, are strengthened by +barbicans.</p> + +<p>"No other city presents such striking contrasts or +combinations of antitheses, adding much to its picturesque +life and appearance. Within arms length of each +other you see the noble in his brilliant attire and the +laborer in rags; the prelate gorgeously arrayed and the +monk in sober gown; almost next door to a cathedral or +monastery and which has taken a century to build, and +beneath its very shadow, is the hovel of some poor +beggar. It is a city of violence, where dominion is maintained +by force; yet the pilgrim, with thoughts on God +and atonement, may pass in peace. Some are given over +to lives of the vilest licentiousness, while their neighbors +lead lives of frugality and sanctity.</p> + +<p>"We came in by the gate north of the church of San +Lorenzo and I found quarters at an inn on Via Por. S. +Marcia, near the Ponte Vecchio. I spent several months +at this inn, reporting each day to Sir John for orders.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>"Sir John was the guest of Silvestro de Medici, the +head of one of the noblest of the popular families. In +this way I became acquainted with Marcella, the sister of +Silvestro, and after a courtship of several months we +were married.</p> + +<p>"My savings amounted to more than eight thousand +florins. The florin is a small gold coin with a lily on one +side and the word 'Florentina' on the other.</p> + +<p>"For sixty-five hundred florins I purchased a small +but substantial house on Via Calimara, near the Arte +della Lana, the guildhouse of the wool weavers. The +armorial design of the art, embossed above the portal, is +a lamb bearing a cross.</p> + +<p>"Two of my friends, who lived on a side street in the +neighborhood, were Michael di Lando, a wool-comber +who had considerable influence with his guild, and Ser +Nuto, a bailiff of the Signory.</p> + +<p>"I had been in Florence six months and married more +than a month when Sir John disposed of our services to +the eight commissioners of war; when, with great unwillingness, +I was forced to leave wife and home and resume +command of my three hundred horsemen.</p> + +<p>"After having been thus engaged for more than four +months, I procured a furlough, expecting to have ten +days of quiet at home. It was the month of May and the +city at its loveliest. On the third night after my return, +my wife and I were eating a late lunch, after a visit to +her brother's palace, when the servant announced that a +man was at the door with a message from Sir John, asking +that I come at once to the inn of the Golden Hat on +the Via de Bardi.</p> + +<p>"Buckling on armor and sword, and telling the good +wife not to wait up for me, I accompanied the messenger.</p> + +<p>"When crossing the Ponte Vecchio in the darkness of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>its many butcher stalls, the messenger, walking behind, +leaped upon my back, seeking to throw me to the floor. +He was almost instantly aided by a half-dozen men wearing +black robes and cowls covering the head, having eyeholes +only; in other words, dressed as friars of the order +of Misericordia. One of these struck me on the head with +a heavy short sword, and when I regained consciousness +I learned I was a prisoner in a dungeon under the +cloisters of the monastery of Agnoli. My friend, Ser +Nuto, had engineered the capture, which had been +ordered by the Bologna legate for my gross insults to +him and consequently to the church. My captors, who +belonged to the Guelph faction, had cheerfully executed +the commission because of my relationship by marriage +with the Medici family.</p> + +<p>"My dungeon was simply a cistern of huge stones +beneath the floor of the cell of a friar of the order and the +same size as his cell. The only aperture was in the floor +of the cell above and closed by a heavy grating, the key +to which, kept by the head of the order, was never entrusted +to the friar, who was as powerless to open the +grating as I.</p> + +<p>"The walls of immense stone were made the more +impervious by iron bars, which prevented contact with +them, and made my prison an iron cage encased in a +stone dungeon. Food was let down by a cord through +the grating by a narrow copper bucket, and in the same +manner each day the refuse of the cell was removed. +The friar who occupied the cell above and who was my +jailer was the only person I ever saw except when tortured.</p> + +<p>"At the end of a week Ser Nuto came into the cell and, +calling down through the grating, said; 'Climb up; you +are to go before the holy tribunal.' The grating was +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>opened, a ladder let down and I climbed up and was led +across the open court through a long hall into a large +room, where twelve men, laymen and ecclesiastics, sat, +the prelate acting as presiding officer. It must have been +near midnight. I remember when I crossed the court how +brilliantly the stars shone.</p> + +<p>"When I came into the room, the prelate said; 'You +are charged with the heinous sin of sacrilegious utterances +against the holy church, which you will confess +and for which you will be tortured even after confession. +Your torturing, because of your insults to the +church and its high officials, will be a compound of duty +and pleasure to us. Until you confess your sins, express +sorrow for same and consent to serve the church with +loyal and unselfish devotion in whatever tasks shall be +assigned you, one of which will be to assist Ser Nuto in +decoying Sir John Hawkwood to this monastery you will +be tortured the limit of your bodily endurance once a +week.'</p> + +<p>"From the four corners of the room near the ceiling +and extending to the center, were suspended four ropes +rigged with pulleys. My hands and feet were tied to +these, when they were drawn tight and I was suspended +in midair; then I was repeatedly hoisted back and forth +from the floor to near the lofty ceiling until my joints were +dislocated from the strain and I lost consciousness from +pain, though I am glad to say, not once did I utter a cry, +give forth a groan or ask mercy of my tormentors.</p> + +<p>"When consciousness returned I was on the pallet in +my cell and lay there for several days suffering as from +severe sprains.</p> + +<p>"My jailer was not unkind. His life I felt was not a +happy one. He seemed to enjoy conversing with me, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>though he was forced to lie on the floor and call through +the grating.</p> + +<p>"This encouraged the hope that in sympathy or for +reward I might persuade him to carry word to my wife +of my place of imprisonment, when she, through the influence +of Sir John or her brother, would be able to procure +my release.</p> + +<p>"I knew how she must suffer and search for traces of +me, fearing I had been murdered and my body thrown +into the river or buried in some secret place.</p> + +<p>"That night the friar lay down upon the floor and +called;</p> + +<p>"'Edward Hawkwood are you awake?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes.'</p> + +<p>"'Has the swelling and soreness left your joints?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I feel about well.'</p> + +<p>"'In a day or two they will torture you again and continue +doing so each week until you confess, express repentance +and do what they ask. This I advise you to do, +else in the end they will torture you to death, or leave +you forgotten to die in your dungeon.'</p> + +<p>"'I at least have this to be thankful for that you are +not unkind.'</p> + +<p>"'If it were suspected that I treated you other than a +caged beast your jailer would be changed and severely +punished.'</p> + +<p>"'Discovery is impossible, since you only talk with +me at night.'</p> + +<p>"'I am not so sure; there are always spies in our +brotherhood and all, from the scullion to the prelate, are +under surveillance.'</p> + +<p>"'I am sorry to learn that, as I hoped to prevail upon +you to deliver a message to my wife, telling her where I +am confined.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>"'Were I caught in the effort, I should be tortured +to death, or confined indefinitely in a dungeon. Should +your friends attempt your rescue or ask your release you +would be murdered and dropped into come deep secret +pit to destroy all evidence, when all would deny that you +had been held a prisoner.'</p> + +<p>"'My wife will give you a hundred florins if you will +but give her a note telling my place of confinement. I +have been but a few months married; she loves me dearly +and is no doubt crazed by my disappearance.'</p> + +<p>"'I wear this cowl and robe and beg as a mendicant +on the street yet have always wished to be a soldier +fighting to free Tuscany from tyranny; the tyranny not +only of the oppressing noble families, chief of whom at +this time are the Albizzi, but of the church with whom +they are allied. I have suffered too much in mind from +disappointment to care for the physical discomforts of +others; and had you not been a soldier of renown, fighting +against those influences which I condemn, I would +have looked upon your imprisonment as incidental and +your suffering without sympathy. I know how little I +can do and that little at great personal risk, which, if discovered, +will be not only your death warrant but my +own. I will not carry a written message to your wife, but +will stand near your home, pretending to solicit alms, and +if she should pass, will tell her your message, but not +disclose your place of imprisonment. She will know +you are alive and have a friend who at rare intervals +will give her news of you and bring back messages from +her which you must give me to destroy. That is all that +can be done. As my reward, you shall teach me to use +the sword so when the opportunity is presented I may do +my part as a patriot to rid Tuscany of her oppressors.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>"'You will at least hand this ring to my wife when +you deliver my message and await her answer?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, I will risk that much.'</p> + +<p>"That night I slept in peace and had rapturous +dreams of freedom.</p> + +<p>"On the next day in the afternoon, when my wife left +our home to go to her brother's seeking news of me, she +was addressed by a mendicant friar, who had even to +touch her arm before she took notice, as she walked as a +woman asleep—mind lost in sorrow.</p> + +<p>"'Do not start; pretend to give me alms and take this +ring which your husband sends. He is alive and well +but a prisoner. I am his friend and will take a written +message to him. Should his friends seek to find his +place of confinement he will be murdered. On each +Tuesday at this hour, if you pass, I will bring you news +of him. I must not be followed on his account.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh! Where is he.'</p> + +<p>"'I have told you all I dare. Return home and write +him a brief message for which I shall wait; fold it closely +and hand me as though it were a small coin.'</p> + +<p>"Turning away the friar solicited alms of a passing +merchant.</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes my wife returned and when he +again asked alms she dropped in his hand two florins +and between them a note for me.</p> + +<p>"That night at a late hour the friar called through +the grating and when I answered told me of the meeting +and dropped the two florins into my hand, stating he +would read the note to me, which he did.</p> + +<p>"'You cannot know how much I have suffered believing +you dead. I hope and live again since you sent +the message and the ring.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>"'What shall we do to find or rescue you? If you +are not permitted to write send me a piece of your +clothing so I may know the messenger comes from you.</p> + +<p>"'Use every effort to come home to me as life is +worthless with you away. I dare not write more. Can +I send you anything?'</p> + +<p>"'Let me have the note so I may see my wife's handwriting.'</p> + +<p>"'I will if you return it so it may be destroyed; your +cell may be searched.'</p> + +<p>"He dropped it down, then let down a cord to which +I tied the note after having read it many times and held +it to my lips.</p> + +<p>"The succeeding night Ser Nuto came to the cell and +I was again brought before the holy tribunal, where an +officer stood to take down my confession and a surgeon +to feel my pulse and estimate the amount of torture I +could bear.</p> + +<p>"As I came in a poor man was being tortured and I +stood and looked on, a horrified witness, until he died +upon the rack.</p> + +<p>"Then I was called before the prelate and asked:</p> + +<p>"'Will you confess your many sins, declare your +repentance and help the Holy Church to secretly take +and imprison Sir John Hawkwood?'</p> + +<p>"Remembering Sir John's many kindnesses to me, +my duty as a soldier to his commander, and thinking of +my dear wife, I unhesitatingly answered; 'I will not.'</p> + +<p>"'It is then my duty to subject you to torture. Reflect +that what is done to your body is for the good of +your soul and in doing this we are the servants of God. +Have you anything to confess in mitigation of our +severest torture?'</p> + +<p>"'I have not.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>"I was seized and bound to the ropes and suspended +in midair; eight husky friars repeatedly pulled with all +their might upon ropes; they swung and jerked me back +and forth from floor to ceiling until it seemed arms and +legs must be torn from my trunk. I would have lost +consciousness long before I did, except I thought of +my poor wife rather than myself. Finally the relief of +unconsciousness came and hers was the last face I saw.</p> + +<p>"It was hours before I regained consciousness and +more than a week before I was able to stand.</p> + +<p>"A week after the second torture Ser Nuto came for +me to be again tortured, but was forced to return and +report that I was unable to stand, much less respond to +torture.</p> + +<p>"While I was on my pallet unable to move, the friar +asked for my message to my wife. I told him to cut off +the corner of my coat and give her, saying I was well and +making every effort for release so I might soon be with +her.</p> + +<p>"He brought back a note full of hope and tender +messages, some money and underclothing. We hid the +money under the floor bars of my cell.</p> + +<p>"About the time I was able to walk again the prelate +of the order died and on the night which had heretofore +been selected for my weekly torture the members of the +holy tribunal were busy with the reception and entertainment +of his successor.</p> + +<p>"In some way Ser Nuto's message of my condition +was misunderstood and entry was made in the register +opposite my name that I had died from the torture, the +friar having told Ser Nuto that I was near death. Thus +I became and remained a forgotten prisoner in a dungeon +without chance of escape, but for the time free from the +dread of torture.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>"Until I had been registered as dead frugal meals +had been furnished from the kitchen. Now the supply +from that source was cut off, except that the friar, by +giving the cook a florin each week and telling him that +he desired a lunch before retiring, had been able to +procure something.</p> + +<p>"This was cold and rather a short ration for a man +whose appetite was always keen and who had boasted +and demonstrated that he could eat a quarter of lamb or +a hen at a single meal.</p> + +<p>"The friar supplemented this by purchases of fruit +and cakes, which he brought to the cell in deep pockets +stitched on the lining of his robe, so while I was always +hungry, I did not suffer or lose strength.</p> + +<p>"He explained the situation to my wife and she filled +his pockets with packages of bread, meat, cheese and +sweets, so that on each Tuesday night I counted on quite +a feast. She also kept him supplied with money to make +such purchases as he could carry through the portal +without detection by the watchful gatemen.</p> + +<p>"We tried all sorts of keys in our effort to unlock the +grating, but were unsuccessful. We even had a locksmith +make a key from a defective wax impression, but +this failed of purpose. The bars might have been cut out +with hammer and chisel except the noise would have +brought the watchman.</p> + +<p>"The friar made a sword of heavy wood and at night +when the others slept I would climb up the ladder to the +grating and instruct him in its use.</p> + +<p>"Could one of the order have seen him, in the brass +lamp's flickering light, making passes and warding off +imaginary thrusts with his wooden sword, prancing and +jumping back and forth in his narrow cell, clothed only +in his under garments, and heard a hollow voice as from +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>a tomb, calling out orders and directing his movements, +he would have been convinced that the ancient cloisters +were tenanted by ghosts or evil spirits.</p> + +<p>"I cannot understand how the swordsman, who for +years had worn cowl and habit, could have developed +the muscular strength he possessed; which, with his +quickness of movement, eye and thought, at the very start +of his training made him a dangerous antagonist. He +seemed to have the combined strength of several men. +It must have been the reward of a clean and regular life, +or else a legacy handed down with his fiery spirit from +some former churchman or crusader who had greater regard +for the helmet than the miter or from a gladiator or +soldier ancestry.</p> + +<p>"He was always absent during the day and I, having +nothing to do to occupy my time, and knowing the importance +not only because of my calling but for my +health of retaining my muscular flexibility and strength, +spent several hours each day climbing around upon and +swinging from the bars of the iron cage until finally the +rust was worn away and they grew polished from contact +with my hands and feet.</p> + +<p>"After several months of this I grew so expert and +tireless that in giving lessons to my soldier pupil I no +longer found it necessary to use the ladder, but swung +from the grating, easing first one arm and then the other +through the long lesson. One night after he had gone +through his sword manual without hesitancy, much less +mistake, I said:</p> + +<p>"'It is time to throw away that toy and practice +with a real weapon, to accustom your arm and hand to the +weight and feel of a real sword. When my wife passes +you on Tuesday tell her to procure a heavy short sword +for you from her brother and to send mine with body +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>armor and helmets for both of us, piece by piece as you +can bring it. After we are armed, if I can only get +through this grating, we need have no fear of the gate +guards.'</p> + +<p>"If I am taken or caught you will starve in your +dungeon.</p> + +<p>"I have thought of that. We must procure the key +from the prelate by some subterfuge. Let us first possess +our swords and armor, then we will get the key and +both escape.</p> + +<p>"Within the week the friar made two visits to my +house and each time when he left, beneath his outer robe, +he wore a corselet and carried a heavy short sword and +helmet. We discovered my wife had converted each helmet +into a store room which I robbed for a substantial +meal.</p> + +<p>"The fear that my kind jailer might be removed or +not appear from some casualty had caused me to store +away a small supply of food and water in a corner of my +cell.</p> + +<p>"My sword and helmet the friar passed through the +grating and when I placed the one upon my head and +grasped the familiar handle of the other, new hope +kindled in my heart. The corselets were concealed under +the couch of my jailer, as mine could not be passed +through the grating.</p> + +<p>"When he returned that night I called to my companion +of the upper story saying; 'Why not go to the custodian +of the dungeon and ask for the key to my cell, +stating it smells badly and you desire to clean it? He +supposes it empty and will readily loan you the key.'</p> + +<p>"Your suggestion is a good one and the odor of your +cell will certainly confirm the declaration. I will do it; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>but will wear the corselet and buckle on my sword. If he +refuses he is liable to lose both the key and his head.</p> + +<p>"A few minutes later I heard him go out and in less +than half an hour he returned with the key, which he +had no trouble in procuring.</p> + +<p>"He fitted it into the lock, I heard the bolts turn and +a minute later I stood in the upper cell embracing this +morbid, strong-armed friar, who had proven himself my +most loyal friend.</p> + +<p>"An hour later he returned the key the locksmith +had made for us. I had the key to the grating in my +pocket and felt in the humor to say; 'Friend, come to my +home and dine tomorrow night,' though no one knew +better than I that thick, high and well-guarded walls +opposed our freedom. I felt satisfied, however, if not +discovered, that within a few days opportunity would +present itself for escape.</p> + +<p>"Each night the friar and I, closing fast the outer +door, donned our corselets and helmets, and descending +into the noise-deadening dungeon, practiced at cutting, +thrusting and slashing at each other with our heavy short +swords.</p> + +<p>"I was surprised at the natural aptitude of the man +and his marvelous quickness and strength of wrist. He +was a worthy opponent for me though for more than +fifteen years I had been ranked the best swordsman of +Sir John's army.</p> + +<p>"One night we lost ourselves in the interest of our +close contest and made such a noise that it reached the +ear of a spy passing the outer door. He tried to effect +an entrance but could not; then knocking, and so loudly +that finally the sound reached us, and doubtless our +neighbors.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>"My friend, climbing out, closed the grating, put on +his robe and opening the door admitted the spy. Looking +around he discovered the key in the grating lock and +stooping opened the door and peeped down. He saw +nothing in the darkness but the top of a ladder; this he +started down, calling for a light.</p> + +<p>"I caught him by the ankles, jerked him to the floor +and called to my friend to close and bolt the grating, +which he did. Whereupon I turned to the spying friar +and said; 'Hand me your robe and cowl.' With these +and my sword and helmet I mounted the ladder to the +upper cell.</p> + +<p>"My friend said, 'What shall we do now?'</p> + +<p>"'We will have to keep the spy a prisoner until we +escape.'</p> + +<p>"'But they will search for him in the morning and in +doing so will visit this cell in my absence.'</p> + +<p>"'I will don his cowl and habit over my armor and +we will escape tonight.'</p> + +<p>"'That is impossible, all portals are closed and guarded +by watchmen stationed in the barbicans over each +gateway. Nor can we scale the walls because the watchmen +do not sleep, being put to the torture if found asleep. +No one is permitted to leave after night.'</p> + +<p>"'Then in the morning as you leave I will go wearing +the garment of our prisoner.'</p> + +<p>"'It is not possible; each face is scrutinized and no +one leaves without a permit. I will leave at the regular +time, procure from Sir John Hawkwood two horses, +which his servant will hold for us outside the gate. When +the horses are ready I will return; then we will leave +together.'</p> + +<p>"Our plans settled, I returned to my dungeon and, +locked in with our prisoner, in a few minutes was asleep. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>The prisoner sat in one corner on the floor and, from his +appearance the next morning, evidently passed an uncomfortable +night.</p> + +<p>"Before my friend left he passed down my sword, helmet, +and the key to the grating. He also cautioned the +prisoner not to call out if any one entered the upper cell.</p> + +<p>"I set out a supply of food on which the prisoner +and I breakfasted. Then, expecting that the upper cell +would be visited by a searching party, I made the prisoner +lie face down on my pallet, placing the edge of my +sword across the back of his neck and telling him if he +made the slightest sound I would cut off his head, I +stood quietly waiting.</p> + +<p>"These preparations were scarcely finished before +two men entered the upper cell and looking around a bit +and trying the grating, which of course was locked, they +went on.</p> + +<p>"About an hour later the friar returned and I climbed +up the ladder, locking the door after me.</p> + +<p>"We put on our metal corselets and swords and over +them slipping cowl and habit, went out into the corridor +and to the main portal. At the gate were three guards +wearing metal helmets, leather jackets and each armed +with sword and lance.</p> + +<p>"My friend told the guard I was a visiting friar of +the order and was to leave in his company. This statement +satisfied two of the guards, but the third, more +careful,—said; 'You must procure a permit from the prelate +before I will open the gate.'</p> + +<p>"While arguing with him we edged towards the gate +and turning quickly started to open it, whereupon he +thrust at me with his lance, but my corselet turned it +aside.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>"Quickly drawing my sword and throwing off the +cowl and robe, I made a vicious thrust at him, piercing +his leather jacket. He sank at my feet helplessly +wounded.</p> + +<p>"My companion and I then rushed the other two who +turning fled, uttering loud cries of alarm. We ran and +opened the small gate, when one of my men rode forward +leading two horses, and mounting, the three of us +rode rapidly away through a near gate of the city into +the open country and by nightfall reached the camp of +my horsemen.</p> + +<p>"I immediately dispatched a special messenger with a +note to my wife telling of my escape and promising within +the week to come to her.</p> + +<p>"These men were anxious to hear an account of our +adventures, believing we had been to England or some +distant country on important service; but I had to remain +silent to hide the identity of my faithful friend. +To their inquiries I answered; 'You must be satisfied +with the little we have told; I will say further my experiences +have not increased my love for the church, or +the Pope.'</p> + +<p>"At the monastery they were unable to learn who had +escaped with the friar or what became of either of us. +Their records showing me dead, made their investigation +the more difficult. Of course, in time they learned that +was a mistake and doubtless concluded that I accompanied +the friar.</p> + +<p>"On the following morning I resumed formal command +and in a day or two things were moving along as +though I had never been absent. The only persons to +whom I ever disclosed the place of my imprisonment, +were my wife, her brother and Sir John.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>"On the third day after I resumed command we +were ordered to take an old castle which the owner, +though a Tuscan, more churchman than patriot, had voluntarily +turned over to the Bologna legate.</p> + +<p>"It was situated on the mountain side and made admirable +headquarters for several companies of soldiers +who acted as a guard for the mountain pass less than a +mile distant, through which the legate's army procured +supplies and beyond which we had, as yet, been unable +to penetrate.</p> + +<p>"To our force of horsemen were added one hundred +English bowmen and more than that number of hardy +native mountaineers, whom it was thought might render +valiant service in scaling or undermining the walls of the +castle if we were forced to take it by assault. These +additional men made our forces about equal numerically +to those occupying the castle. The ex-friar and several +mountaineers were the only ones of our force who had +ever been within its walls or had knowledge of its interior +arrangements. These I sent for, seeking information +which might he of value in perfecting our plans for +its assault.</p> + +<p>"Their description of the stronghold was such as to +convince one that its taking was no easy matter.</p> + +<p>"The structure was built on a spur which jutted out +from the mountain side and which on three sides was too +precipitate to be scaled. The overtopping main peaks +were too distant to be used by our bowmen. The only +approach was across a narrow neck of land which was +intersected by a deep moat, crossed only by a narrow +drawbridge and against which abutted the perpendicular +walls of great height and thickness.</p> + +<p>"The ex-friar said; 'A guard of six is always kept +at the gate and several watchmen are stationed on the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>walls. I know of no way by which we can gain admission +except, by deception or strategy, we first gain possession +of the drawbridge and the gate.'</p> + +<p>"'And how might that be done?'</p> + +<p>"'This evening three of us dressed in the habit of +the monastery of Agnoli, but wearing armor under our +vesture, might approach the gate and ask leave to spend +the night, stating we are traveling as messengers to Bologna +and have gotten separated from two companions for +whom we must wait. During the night you will bring +your men to the chestnut wood that lies along the road as +you approach the castle and place a dozen of your best +archers in the trees nearest the walls. On the morrow +just at six we will come to the gate as though leaving the +castle and stop there talking with the watchmen. When +you are ready our two companions will approach the +drawbridge and join us. Then we will assault the six +guards and your archers at the same time must kill the +watchmen on the wall. While we hold the gate you +with your men must cross the drawbridge and get to us. +You know we can hold out but a few moments; there +must be no delay.'</p> + +<p>"'If we adopt this plan I want you and your companions +to understand that the danger is great and you +will probably be killed by the time we cross. I will force +no man to assume the risk. It will be impossible for me +to go as I must lead the assault. You will choose the +two who go with you and I from volunteers will select +two of my best men to meet you at the gate. You shall +command the squad and, if successful, Sir John and your +companions shall know to whom the credit is due.'</p> + +<p>"That afternoon at four, three stalwart Italians left +the camp, walking up the mountain. They were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>equipped +in full armor and each carried a bundle under his +arm.</p> + +<p>"They crossed a rapid mountain stream near the +headwaters of the Arno and were seen no more. Shortly +thereafter three peaceful-looking friars came forth and +took the trail leading to the castle and the pass, as they +walked along chanting in a subdued tone the vesper service +of their monastery.</p> + +<p>"At twilight, dusty and sweat-stained from apparent +long travel, they crossed the drawbridge just before it +was raised for the night and the gates closed. When +challenged by the guards they asked food and shelter +for the night. The corporal of the guard interrogated +them as to their business in the mountains.</p> + +<p>"'We are three of five messengers sent by our order +to Bologna. One of the other two was taken sick and +forced to remain in the village overnight and a companion +stayed with him; they will meet us here or in the pass +on the morrow.'</p> + +<p>"Reporting to the officer of the day, he was directed +to let them in and to provide them with food and a bed +of straw in the barracks.</p> + +<p>"In the morning, just before six, they came to the gate +and stood waiting. They were civilly greeted by the +corporal who had let them in the night before, but who +was being relieved by another corporal and guard.</p> + +<p>"The new squad let down the drawbridge and opened +the gate as was the custom when no danger threatened.</p> + +<p>"The corporal in charge, who had little love for monks +and friars, turning to them said: 'You are three big +strapping fellows to be supported by charity. You should +be working in the fields or else helping us fight for the +church. Why they pay us to do their fighting instead +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>of training you for that purpose I will never understand. +Either one of you looks as strong as a bull and with that +habit in the ditch, a helmet on your head, wearing corselet +and sword you might pass as a soldier. Here come +two more of your order; not only the cities but the +mountains are full of you. No wonder there is so much +poverty in Bologna and Florence.'</p> + +<p>"'I have always wished to be a soldier. I would like +to try on your helmet and sword and see how my companions +and I look dressed as your squad.'</p> + +<p>"'Let's see how the three beggars look in helmets, +and you might just as well buckle on our swords. Let +the other two across, they can join in the comedy.'</p> + +<p>"So we found ourselves within the gates with the +swords of the guards in our hands.</p> + +<p>"'Remove your habits and stand forth as men.'</p> + +<p>"And so we did and, giving the defenseless, surprised +and chagrined corporal a shove, I threw him into the +moat and my men forced the others to follow him, where, +standing in water and mud to their arm pits and facing +an unscalable wall, they yelled an alarm and hoarsely +bawled for help.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, the castle and the neighboring +wood were in commotion. The watchmen on the walls had +been shot down by the archers as had also several soldiers +who rushed to see what had caused the uproar. I had a +glimpse across the draw of Captain Hawkwood and his +soldiers within a hundred yards of the gate, when turning, +I saw more than a hundred of the castle guard running +towards and within a few feet of our archway.</p> + +<p>"They took us for the gate guards and yelled to draw +the bridge and close the gate, but instead, sword in hand, +we stood at the entrance waiting for them. Then, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>seeing +they faced foes, they came on, but too closely placed +for free sword play.</p> + +<p>"So the five of us held the gate; then four, then +three, then but two, and then I stood alone and as I +pitched forward wounded and bleeding in many places, +you stepped over me, followed by your men and the battle +raged in the court of the castle.</p> + +<p>"(The above account was given me by the friar when +he recovered. I have told it in his own words.)</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes we were masters of the wall and +court and our foes masters of the castle proper.</p> + +<p>"I had reason to be thankful for our bowmen, who, +ranged around and protected by the coping of the wall, +made death certain for anyone daring to approach a +window or port hole of the castle, else our quarters might +have been most uncomfortable.</p> + +<p>"Of our five masqueraders three were dead and the +other two were sorely wounded in many places. I +staunched and dressed the wounds of the ex-friar. In +about an hour he opened his eyes and looking at me +smiled then sank into semi-conciousness.</p> + +<p>"Placing the bowmen on the walls so as to command +every aperture of the castle I determined upon an assault +of the main portal. The corporal and gate guards having +been lifted from the moat were placed in the front line +to shield us and we advanced against the great doors of +the castle, using a heavy bridge timber as a ram, and in +a few minutes effected an entrance, but found each foot of +space which we gained a bloody conquest.</p> + +<p>"Within an hour after effecting our entrance we were +in possession of the ground floor, but our enemy held the +upper stories and were too strong and well fortified to be +ousted by assault.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>"We felt certain they were without food and water, +since our assault had been a surprise, and we had captured +their storerooms, which were on the ground floor.</p> + +<p>"That night we rested, having placed a heavy guard +at the gate and on the wall and barricaded ourselves +against the upper story. The next morning I sent off fifty +men to guard the pass and a messenger to report our +progress to Sir John.</p> + +<p>"We saw nothing of our foes until afternoon, when +we heard them carefully removing their barricades of the +door; then it was suddenly thrown open and they stood +ready for an assault, facing our barricade, which they +had not expected to find.</p> + +<p>"Our bowmen, brought in for the purpose, let fly a +shower of arrows into their faces at close range, which +wounded many. They quickly closed the door and replaced +their barricades. More than a dozen of them had +been killed or severely wounded by the archers.</p> + +<p>"Shortly before sundown the barricade was again +removed, the door opened a few inches and a conference +asked. I consented that their commander with two aids +might be admitted to our quarters.</p> + +<p>"To see if they were hungry, a table was prepared +with food and drink, at which I asked them to be seated, +stating; 'I am about to dine, and after the meal we will +discuss any matter you see fit to call up.'</p> + +<p>"While the commander ate and drank quite sparingly, +I was convinced by the way the two aids responded that +they were without provisions.</p> + +<p>"We finally agreed upon the terms of their surrender. +All were to be liberated and their arms and horses returned, +but not until they had retired from the castle and +crossed through the pass into the valley towards Bologna.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>"Our work, in less than two days, thanks to the ex-friar +and his brave companions, was completed. We +were the masters of the castle and the pass, which for +two years had been held against repeated assaults.</p> + +<p>"Shortly afterward we received word that the legate +was dead and that his entire force had retired from +Tuscany.</p> + +<p>"The ex-friar, who now called himself Lorenzo di Puccio +was not so seriously wounded as at first appeared. His +armor and remarkable expertness as a swordsman had +rendered such protection that of his more than thirty +wounds only two were rated as serious; and even these, +with a month's careful nursing, in my opinion, would be +healed.</p> + +<p>"He was placed in the living quarters of the owner +of the castle and orders were issued that he should be +cared for as a member of the family. In fact, dire punishment +was promised the thoroughly frightened owner if +he was not given the most careful treatment and nursing. +He was even told that the lives of the inmates and the +release of the castle depended upon the complete recovery +of his patient.</p> + +<p>"The result was that Lorenzo received the most solicitous +attention from the wife and daughter of the owner. +Throughout the day one sat constantly by his bedside +and in time both grew quite fond of their patient, regarding +him as a most important personage, since such particular +orders had been issued for his care. Lorenzo +and his fair nurse, the daughter, became lovers, and several +months later were married.</p> + +<p>"Everything having turned out to the complete satisfaction +of Sir John—there being no longer an enemy to +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>fight and the campaign practically ended—I made application +for and was given leave to return home.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Upon arrival in Florence I found the city torn +asunder by jealousy and dissention. Such government +as existed was one of gabble. All recognized and appreciated +that a fiercer contest than the one just happily +closed was impending.</p> + +<p>"Criticism of the conduct of the war and the nature +of the peace to be made appeared the principal issues but +the real issue was factional rule. Though the five war +commissioners, with the assistance of Sir John, had +carried through the war without the loss of a single +battle and had driven the Pope's legate from Tuscan +territory, the campaign had not been conducted in accordance +with the great courage and generalship of the +stay-at-homes of the other faction.</p> + +<p>"All this I perceived with great sadness, since I +now claimed to be a citizen of Florence, and upon the +enforcement of law and order depended the safety of my +wife and property.</p> + +<p>"During my imprisonment and absence, I had, reflectively +at least, become a personage of importance; as +my brother-in-law, Silvestro de Medici, was the head of +the Ricci, or anti-Guelph faction, now in power. It was, +therefore, incumbent upon me, when I moved about the +city, to be attended by a squire and even a small guard of +troopers. Next to Sir John, I was considered the most +important military officer in the city.</p> + +<p>"The Ricci faction was in control of the city. They +had the support of the populace and the Alberti and +Medici families.</p> + +<p>"The faction opposing them was known as the +Guelphs and, while not directing the government, had +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>the power to admonish. They controlled the captains +of the parts, and had the support of the church, the nobility +and the Albizzi family.</p> + +<p>"On St. John's day, when the gathering of their followers +would go unnoticed in the vast holiday crowd, +they had determined upon seizing the government.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime, the government, or Ricci faction, +learned of their purpose, and, over their opposition, +elected my brother-in-law, Silvestro, Gonfalonier, or +chief magistrate of the city.</p> + +<p>"He was thoroughly familiar with their schemes for +oppressing the people and, as steps towards diminishing +their influence, resolved that laws should be enacted retrenching +their powers.</p> + +<p>"To do this he had first to obtain the consent of the +colleague and the council and called together the two +bodies the same morning for that purpose.</p> + +<p>"When he presented his proposition to the colleagues +he was surprised at the opposition encountered and, concluding +that his purpose might be defeated upon a vote, +excused himself from the colleagues and went before the +council, to which body he tendered his resignation, declaring +that since he could neither help the government +nor the people he felt in duty bound to resign as chief +magistrate.</p> + +<p>"At this, his friends in the council gave voice to strenuous +protest. They raised such a commotion that the +colleagues and council, assembling together, demanded +that he remain in office and the colleagues, in the midst +of the greatest confusion, passed his proposed laws.</p> + +<p>"Lorenzo, the ex-friar, now married and living in +Florence, was present as a spectator. He became greatly +incensed at the remarks of Carlo Strozzi and, seizing him +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>by the throat, would have strangled him had not several +of us torn his half-conscious victim away.</p> + +<p>"The excitement increased until the whole city was +aroused and in arms.</p> + +<p>"The plebs, led by Benedetto degli Alberti and +Lorenzo, who some time before had joined the wool-combers' +union, and was an intimate friend and trusted +lieutenant of Michael di Lando, the head of the strongest +trade union or order in the city, were soon so wrought +up as to be past restraint and were ready for any acts of +violence.</p> + +<p>"The merchants closed their doors, the nobles fortified +themselves in their homes and many hid their valuables +in the churches, the monastery of Agnoli, and the +convent of S. Spirito.</p> + +<p>"The captains of the parts, and the other forces of +the Guelph faction, gathered to organize their deferred +revolution and defend themselves; but learning of the +action of the colleagues and the council and perceiving +the opposition too great and dangerous, separated, each +hunting safety for himself.</p> + +<p>"A part of the trade unions, particularly the members +of the wool-combers, joined the mob to avenge themselves +upon the Guelphs. Led by Michael di Lando, Lorenzo +and myself, they broke into, looted and burned the house +of Lapo, but he escaped, disguised as a monk, into the +Casentino. Piero and Carlo, two other of their leaders, +hid themselves and so well we could not find them.</p> + +<p>"Then we looted and burned the houses of other +Guelphs and wound up our orgy by sacking and thoroughly +looting the monastery of Agnoli, at which place we +found great treasure in gold and jewels, knowing just +where to look for it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>"Visiting my old cell in the cloisters we found in one +corner of the dungeon a humped up skeleton, which led +us to believe that the prison of the captive spy had never +been discovered.</p> + +<p>"The next day the trade unions appointed each a +syndic and these, with the colleagues, sought to quiet the +city, but without success.</p> + +<p>"On the following day the unions appeared in force +bearing the ensigns of their trades and, fully armed, took +possession of the palace of the signory.</p> + +<p>"Upon this the council in terror created a balia, giving +general power to the Signory, the colleagues, the +eight commissioners of war, the captains of the parts and +the trade unions to reorganize the government of the +city.</p> + +<p>"The balia restored all privileges to the admonished, +annulled all unpopular laws passed by the Guelphs, declared +Lopo, Carlo and Piero traitors and outlaws, elected +a new signory and appointed Luigi Guiccia, Gonfalonier.</p> + +<p>"Still the disorders continued unabated. No business +was done, the shops remained closed and the populace, +no better satisfied, paraded the streets in armed +bands and in a dangerous humor.</p> + +<p>"The heads of the trade unions were called before the +Signory, when Luigi, the Gonfalonier, speaking for the +signory, asked; 'What do you yet want? At your request +we have taken all power from the opposition; we have +restored to the admonished the power to hold office. You +demanded that those participating in the riots and +guilty of robbery and arson be pardoned; even this to our +shame, we have granted. Yet continuously you appear +before us making new demands, continue rioting and by +numbers and threats seek to intimidate our body. You +have so terrorized the people that no business is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>transacted. +Where will it all end? What more do you want? +How will business be restored and peace brought about? +What is to become of the city? Your vandalism destroys +the very property which furnishes your unions with +employment; your employers are powerless to continue +in business or give the people work. Why do you not disband +and return to work? Your requests, reasonable and +unreasonable, have been granted. What better government +can you expect than the one you enjoy? It is of +your own choosing and based upon the fundamental principle +that the supreme authority of the state is in the +majority of the people.'</p> + +<p>"His suggestions, which were fair and conciliatory, +might have prevailed, except that I wanted greater concessions +for our particular union; and for that purpose +frightened the weakening and consenting ones who had +participated in the riots to further violence by telling +them that to save themselves they must burn and loot +yet more; must commit other and greater wrongs and +incite others to join them, saying:</p> + +<p>"'If many commit wrongs few or none are punished; +the petty criminal is chastised, but the great one is rewarded. +When the whole people suffer, few seek vengeance. +The government stands great and public wrongs +with more patience and resignation than private and +little ones. If we hesitate, or lose, or give ground, we +will be punished; if we carry our rebellion through to the +extent of forcing a reorganization of the government, we +conquer and are glorious. Great power is acquired by +force and great wealth by fraud; the faithful in service +remain in service; and the reward of honesty is poverty; +men, like fishes, feed upon one another. To save yourselves +you must continue to destroy and excite the opposition +to such fear for themselves and their property +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>that they will pardon your offences and look upon you as +saviors when you cease to oppress them. Shape your +conduct by your desires; if you wish to be masters, continue +to oppress; if you wish to be banished and punished +as criminals, submit. What I suggest, though dangerous, +is under the circumstances not only expedient, but your +only course, your only salvation.'</p> + +<p>"This reasoning, coupled with similar arguments +from Lorenzo, seemed so conclusive that our auditors +agreed to our suggestions, and Michael di Lando was +chosen to command our organization. He was already +head of the wool-combers union, the largest and most +powerful in the city, supporting the plebs and the low +class people.</p> + +<p>"The second night thereafter was fixed upon to put +our plans into execution. We bound ourselves in mutual +defense and to undertake to gain possession of the republic.</p> + +<p>"One of our men named, Simone, was arrested and, +when put to the torture, disclosed the plot. While he was +being tortured, Nicolo Friano, who was repairing the +palace clock, saw it and heard a part of his confession. +He fled to our meeting place and reported what he had +seen and heard.</p> + +<p>"Immediately we armed ourselves and, more than a +thousand strong, gathered in the square of S. Spirito, +and so the revolution began.</p> + +<p>"The signory issued orders that the gonfaloniers of +the people and their companies should assemble in the +public square at daylight the next morning, but less +than a hundred men appeared under arms in support of +the government, while our forces had grown to more than +three thousand.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>"A body of the plebeians first assembled at San Pietro, +but there was no force to oppose them. Then other trade +unions gathered in various squares and market places, +including the palace, or public square.</p> + +<p>"They demanded from the signory that all prisoners +be released, which was done, and these immediately +joined our ranks.</p> + +<p>"We took the gonfalon of Justice from its bearer and +under the authority of that banner burned and looted +many houses and killed many of our enemies. Any member +of our companies who desired to punish any private +enemy or satisfy his revenge had but to call out; 'Let +us burn the house of Luigi Poggi; he is an enemy of the +people and unfriendly to our order.' When leading the +way he was followed by and had the assistance of the +whole assemblage.</p> + +<p>"Many a plebeian in rags was knighted during this +period, and many a patrician was satisfied to lose all if +he and his family but escaped with their lives.</p> + +<p>"By night of that first day our numbers had increased +to more than six thousand, and before the following +morning we were in possession of all the trade ensigns, +were using their headquarters as barracks, and practically +controlled the city.</p> + +<p>"The signory, assembling, asked our wishes. We +named a committee of four to confer with them. They +demanded new judges, and three new companies of the +arts who should have representation in the signory, one +for the wool combers and dyers; one for the barbers and +tailors, and a third for the lowest class of the people, +that is, the unskilled laborers. We demanded a cancellation +of all debts and that our enemies be banished or +punished. These demands we forced the signory to +grant, and gave our promise that disorders should cease.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>"The next morning, while the council was still considering +the proposition, a tremendous mob of the trades +entered the square carrying their ensigns and so intimidated +the council and signory that the members fled with +the exception of Alemanno and Niccolo. They were +finally driven away by threats that if they did not leave +their houses would be burned and their families +murdered.</p> + +<p>"Then we entered the palace, led by Michael di Lando, +who bore the standard of the gonfalonier of justice. The +most of our crowd were in rags.</p> + +<p>"He took possession of the dias of the presiding officer +of the Signory and, turning to his followers, said; +'You are now in possession of the palace and the council +hall, in control of the city and in a position to constitute +yourselves the governing authority in place of those who +have deserted their posts; what is your pleasure?'</p> + +<p>"'We wish you for our gonfalonier and that you +govern the city as the representative of the trade unions +and the people.'</p> + +<p>"'I accept your command and shall proceed to restore +peace and order in the city.'</p> + +<p>"Though meanly clad, he was possessed of much good +sense and was not without dignity and courage. With +capacity and self-possession, he proceeded at once to +exercise the authority he had assumed.</p> + +<p>"Lorenzo and I, who all the time had acted as his +lieutenants and advisers, to hold the mob in check and at +the same time settle an old score dating back to my imprisonment +in the monastery, suggested that Ser Nuto, +then sheriff, be arrested and delivered to the mob. He +had made himself very officious in oppressing the trades +and the plebeians.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>"While those deputized to find him were searching +the city, others built a gallows in the palace square for his +execution; we having determined that his execution +should be the first to strike terror into those who had +opposed our wishes.</p> + +<p>"He was soon found and hung by the mob from the +gallows by one foot. In less than five minutes he was +torn to pieces, nothing remaining but the foot by which +he had been suspended.</p> + +<p>"The first order issued by Michael di Lando was that +any one who burned or looted a house should be punished +as Ser Nuto had been.</p> + +<p>"He removed the members of the signory and the colleagues +and deposed the syndics of the trades. The eight +war commissioners who had assumed to set up a new +signory were ordered to resign, which they did.</p> + +<p>"He then assembled the newly-elected syndics of the +trades and in conjunction with them created a new signory, +composed of four members from the plebeians, two +from the major and two from the minor trades. One of +the four members of the plebeians was the ex-friar, appointed +under his assumed name of Lorenzo di Puccio. +No one ever suspicioned his former connection with the +monastery of Agnoli.</p> + +<p>"My brother-in-law was awarded the rentals from +the butcher stalls of Ponte Vecchio; Michael di Lando +retained for himself the provostry of Empoli; Sir John +Hawkwood was made Captain General, and I was made +his aid, knighted and placed in command of all mercenaries.</p> + +<p>"No sooner had order been restored than certain of +the trade unions, much incensed at the prospect of work, +and a majority of the plebeians who seemed better <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>satisfied +with disorder, sought to incite violence by charging +that Michael di Lando in reformation of the government +had favored the higher or richer class citizens and neglected +his associates, who had placed him in power; a +charge which was not true. Whereupon many of them +took up arms and started fresh disorders.</p> + +<p>"They came before him a riotous multitude, demanding +many changes. He ordered them to lay down their +arms, stating that no concessions would be made to a +show of intimidation.</p> + +<p>"His answer but enraged them the more. They withdrew +and, assembling at Santa Maria Novella, appointed +eight leaders and prepared to storm the palace and make +good their demands. They then sent a delegation to the +signory, directing that they grant their demands.</p> + +<p>"This delegation was so arrogant and threatening +that Michael di Lando, losing his temper, drew his sword +and, after wounding several, had them cast into prison.</p> + +<p>"When this was reported, their organization marched +towards the palace. Michael, in the meantime gathering +his forces, started for their place of assemblage. The +opposing forces, traveling different streets, passed on +the way; the mob arriving at the palace about the +time that his forces reached their place of assemblage.</p> + +<p>"With his force, in which was the remnant of The +White Company, he returned to the palace, where a +fierce contest waged for its possession. Our opponents +were vanquished and driven beyond the city walls or +found safety by hiding within the city.</p> + +<p>"Order was restored and for the first time in many +months the city was quiet. Michael gave to the city a +just and, for the time, a peaceful administration of three +years. While he rescued the city from the lowest <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>plebeians, +his administration was artisan-controlled and +governed. The signory was made up of nine members, +of which the superior trades furnished four and the inferior +trades five members.</p> + +<p>"Shortly after restoration of order and reorganization +new factions were organized between the artificers +on the one side, called the plebeians, and the nobles and +church on the other, called the popular party.</p> + +<p>"It was discovered that certain members of the popular +party were in conspiracy with Gianozzo da Salerno of +Bologna, who had been prevailed upon to undertake the +conquest of the city.</p> + +<p>"Piero and Carlo were accused of connection with this +conspiracy and Sir John Hawkwood, Tomasso Strozzi +and Benedetto Alberti, with a strong force, prepared to +resist this invasion.</p> + +<p>"Piero was executed. Subsequently Giorgio Scali +and Tomasso Strozzi made themselves offensive to the +government. Tomasso fled, but Giorgio was made prisoner +and beheaded.</p> + +<p>"Beginning with this, one disorder followed another +in the political struggles between the plebeians and +the popular party and the major and minor trades.</p> + +<p>"After many balias had been appointed for the reformation +of the government and there had been two +general assemblies of the people, a new government was +formed, controlled by the opposition. They recalled all +people banished by Sylvestro. All who had acquired +office by the balia of 1378 were deposed. The Guelphs +were restored to power and the plebeians and trades deposed. +Michael di Lando and Lorenzo di Puccio were +banished. The good they had done and the services they +had rendered were quickly forgotten."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>The boss carpenter, after more than an hour's steady +talking, stirred and groaned; he opened his eyes and sat +up saying;</p> + +<p>"I have been dreaming of labor unions and fighting. +I believe I will walk to Winchester, as I am expected to +talk to some friends at a meeting tonight."</p> + +<div class="img"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +<a href="images/imagep268.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep268.jpg" width="85%" alt="A Chiseled Cavern and Italian Battery" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">A Chiseled Cavern and Italian Battery, Front Line 7th Army; Dolomite Peaks, Italian Alps, Altitude 8,000 Feet.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<hr /><span class='pagenum'><a name="PAGE_269" id="PAGE_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +<br /> +<h2>THE SEARCHLIGHT.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>In the summer of 1918, I visited an Italian army hospital +at Edelo. On one of the small white beds was a +young soldier, horribly mangled by a bomb dropped +from an Austrian airplane.</p> + +<p>I learned that he had lived seven years in New York, +having been carried there by his father when a boy of +fourteen. When Italy entered the war, he returned to +his native land and volunteered his services. At the time +he was wounded he was operating a portable searchlight.</p> + +<p>He was near death and, in unconscious monotone, +spoke in English:</p> + +<p>"A year ago it looked mighty blue; we were on the +run at Caparetto. Now it looks as though we might win +the war within the year. Things are mighty quiet with +the enemy. I have not seen an Austrian plane for more +than a week.</p> + +<p>"I do love this old searchlight. How it makes the +ice and snow of the mountain tops shine out in the night. +When things are quiet like tonight I turn the light way +down into the valley upon the house in the olive grove +where Marcella lives.</p> + +<p>"She has said her prayers and lies asleep; and I, ten +kilometers distant, flash the light upon her shutters. It +seems I might walk upon the beam as upon a bridge of +silver to her very door.</p> + +<p>"My God! Is the war to last forever? Is she to live +on macaroni and chestnuts and break rock upon the road +in sun and rain and snow, summer and winter, until she +dies? Am I to stay up here within sight of her house +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>but never within reach of her arms? When can we ever +marry? On my pay it would take a thousand years to +save a decent fee for the priest. Mother of God, be good +to her!</p> + +<p>"Let's take a look at those poor devils up there +in that hell of ice. No wonder our great poet pictures a +section of hell as such a place. They can have no fire +and must sleep with the dogs to keep warm. It looks +grand in the light; but it is the grandeur of eternal +winter, and eternal winter is death. It is a lonely beautiful +region ten thousand feet above the sea. God and +those boys alone will ever know the heart-bursting strain +of placing their big guns, which were raised a few feet, +day by day. What a land to live and fight and die in. +The chasms, the sliding snow and the Austrians each demand +and receive toll. Are the dug-outs and trenches +and tunnels, in solid ice and rock, lonely places for those +boys from Naples and Palermo? When they look at the +dolomite peaks which, too pointed to give the snow bedding, +stick out from under the white spread of the mountain +tops like big black horns, do they long for the +azure sea and lemon groves? No wonder they call the +peaks the 'Horns of The Old One'; or that when my light +falls upon them I think of ebon fangs protruding from +white guns, and call the place 'The Mouth of Hell.' If +those boys but show their heads above the crest the +awful silence is broken by the roar of guns. What a +life! Always under potential fire and for three years +within range of the deadly machine gun and hand-grenade.</p> + +<p>"There seems little use for this searchlight tonight. +The Austrians, if it be possible, are even more weary of +the war, more discouraged and worse off than we. +There's nothing doing; no airplane hovers above like a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span>great hawk to be plucked out of the darkness and clothed +in lucent raiment for destruction by my arrows of light.</p> + +<p>"I will turn it down into the valley again. May it be +a precursor of where I shall soon go. There's the house +and her shutters and to the right on the spur of the Cima +della Granite in the chestnut grove, the old church. +How the gold cross on the spire stands out!</p> + +<p>"Sometimes at night the light catches the spire so I +see only the cross of gold. Then the thought comes that +all there is in life for the poor, or me, or any one, is the +cross; and that my lot may not be so bad, even though I +die here, the death of a man for men.</p> + +<p>"Since Christ had none to comfort him upon the +cross, why should I have so much comfort here? Is it +not enough to have the bar of light and the cross of gold! +Can not I reach out along the bar towards the cross and +say; 'Into thy hands, Father, I commend my spirit?'</p> + +<p>"When the night is dark and still I flash the bar of +light from this high point down the valley and I say; +'It is the eye of God, the shepherd, searching for a lost +lamb.' And, in order that the sheep may know the way +into the fold, I flash the light upon the door of the church +and then slowly let it climb the spire until its rests upon +the cross.</p> + +<p>"Alone in the night, I have learned that the one great +thing is light. With the light you may find the way. I +have learned that all things bright and fair are from the +Father; and understand why God first said; 'Let there +be light!' I can partly measure his infinite love and +compassion in offering to all, even those as poor as I, who +cannot buy a postage stamp, light and the cross and the +resurrection. In the light of this thought may I not in +faith and peace, await the life eternal?"</p> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Transcriber's Note</p> +<br /> + +Inconsistent spelling in +the original document has been preserved.<br /> +<br /> + +Typographical errors corrected in the text:<br /> +<br /> +Page 5 occuping changed to occupying<br /> +Page 11 automobil changed to automobile<br /> +Page 21 Pittsburg changed to Pittsburgh<br /> +Page 23 Cornwell changed to Cornwall<br /> +Page 25 palid changed to pallid<br /> +Page 52 unconciously changed to unconsciously<br /> +Page 55 ecstacy changed to ecstasy<br /> +Page 58 wierd changed to weird<br /> +Page 63 hydrangias changed to hydrangeas<br /> +Page 70 hydrangias changed to hydrangeas<br /> +Page 73 suprise changed to surprise<br /> +Page 79 arn changed to arm<br /> +Page 80 Machavelli's changed to Machiavelli's<br /> +Page 84 courtley changed to courtly<br /> +Page 85 Loginus changed to Longinus<br /> +Page 101 Rachel changed to Rachael<br /> +Page 107 knew changed to new<br /> +Page 141 sign changed to sing<br /> +Page 143 Southhampton changed to Southampton<br /> +Page 144 Claxon changed to Klaxon<br /> +Page 145 Isco changed to Iseo<br /> +Page 145 Innsbruk changed to Innsbruck<br /> +Page 149 imprtca changed to impreca<br /> +Page 149 benimeriti changed to benemiriti<br /> +Page 149 Missaggio changed to Messaggio<br /> +Page 149 perlare changed to parlare<br /> +Page 150 acclamezioni changed to acclamazioni<br /> +Page 150 silenzo changed to silenzio<br /> +Page 150 banddiere changed to bandiere<br /> +Page 152 Georgi changed to Giorgi<br /> +Page 152 directore changed to direttore<br /> +Page 153 Gorgi changed to Giorgi<br /> +Page 163 domolite changed to dolomite<br /> +Page 164 vareties chanaged to varieties<br /> +Page 169 Saharah changed to Sahara<br /> +Page 169 Giuseppi changed to Giuseppe<br /> +Page 175 Excercising changed to Exercising<br /> +Page 202 Naferma changed to Neferma<br /> +Page 205 Egpytians changed to Egyptians<br /> +Page 211 wierd changed to weird<br /> +Page 212 wierd changed to weird<br /> +Page 214 ever changed to every<br /> +Page 216 Brethern changed to Brethren<br /> +Page 217 brethern changed to brethren<br /> +Page 222 firey changed to fiery<br /> +Page 227 Duoma changed to Duomo<br /> +Page 229 pebleian changed to plebeian<br /> +Page 233 Veccio changed to Vecchio<br /> +Page 234 Veccio changed to Vecchio<br /> +Page 235 Misercordia changed to Misericordia<br /> +Page 235 hugh changed to huge<br /> +Page 236 Hawkwod changed to Hawkwood<br /> +Page 237 tortue changed to torture<br /> +Page 254 severly changed to severely<br /> +Page 257 Strossi changed to Strozzi<br /> +Page 264 Veccio changed to Vecchio<br /> +Page 266 Strossi changed to Strozzi<br /> +Page 266 Georgio changed to Giorgio<br /> +Page 270 graudeur changed to grandeur<br /> +Page 271 percursor changed to precursor<br /> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHIT-CHAT; NIRVANA; THE SEARCHLIGHT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 29071-h.txt or 29071-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/0/7/29071">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/0/7/29071</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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