Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-10-29
The Duke Of wellington.

whom l once saw defend the Duke of Wei
ington In a mob. But must tell you the
story. In the spring Of 1887, was spend
ing an extra vacation in London, and thus
l witnessed the mobbing Of this great man.
l suppose you have thought that the Iron
Duke bad only successes, and laudations,
and honors in this world. Net SO. He had
not been the Iron Duke. if he had not been
hardened by moral as we'll as by warlike
conflict. At the time was in LONDON, the
Duke had lifted his voice for Catholic
Emancipation subsequently, he had made
himself obnoxious to the bigoted Seeta~
ran preachers preached against him, day
and night from pulpit, stand and stump,
about treason. Popery, aud the like, until
the poor Ignorant masses imagined that they
must be bitted and bridled by pope priest
hood, and 10 the death, If Catholics were
treated like human 5eirxs.
Wellington had thrown his great infiu-
ence in the scale of emancipation, conse-
quently the mob determined 10 avepse
what they considered their wrongs, on him.
The animus of the mob is more frequently
a mistake than wickedness. Ore morning
in February, noticed threatening crowds
near the Pail Mall gate, near the statue Of
Achilles. This statue was cast from can
non taken in the Iron Dukes various bat
ties, and was dedicated ITO Arthur, Duke
OF Wellington, by the Women Of England. !"
determined to watch the Duke, and see
what was going to he DONE Punctual TO
the moment he descended the steps of the
Aspley House, his residence. His appear
ance was imposing. He was in the Cabi-
net, Premier Of England, and he was par
excellence the first man in England.
1t was driZzling morning. He wore
blue frock coat, buttoned up to his chin, a
military stock, and brown pantaloons. His
falcon eye surveyed the excited groups
about the Park gate with sort of pleasant
contempt The mob was either awed by
bis appearance and prestige, or they had
not screwed their courage up to the insult
ing point The Duke passed on horseback
attended by his faithful valet. Nobody
molested him until he reached bis Office
As knew the hour he left Downing street
to return to the Park, was there in due
season. The neighborhood Of the Horse
Guards probably deferred great many of
the excited fanatics from gathering around
his office, but numbers were gathered.
The Duke. who was punctuality itself. came
out at the appointed moment amid groans
and kisses. After he passed the Horse
Guards the noise increased to shouts
When he passed the Charring Cross and
entered the Pail Mall, the mob began to
throw missiles and dirt. Near Pail Mall
gate, there was whirlpool Of human be
ings, eddying around in strange. wild, and
yet in a sort of systematic confusion. !
thought they would murder him there. As
he approached the gate, good deal spat-
tered with dirt and mud, the mob as if
compelled by some higher power than that
of Garth made lane for him to pass. For
moment he was near them. For mo-
ment they seemed awed and appeared to
relent. But when he had entered the gate
their violence rose to fury; he dismounted
with difficulty, placed his back against the
statue OF Achilles, and calmly faced his
furious assaiants. Thoughts and feelings
took mastery OF my nature. then, that have
swayed me ever since. Not one word did
he utter. There was no shrinking-not
even cloud of apprehension upon that
glorious face Oh, how infinitely small his
assailants looked How great is man =
How little is mani
and missiles and dirt, and an old Irisbman
with wooden leg hustled his way to the
side Of the Duke. The man sold apples
ohu Oioueco W hJuc ark gave, anu Dis
basket had been upset by the mob. When
he had reached the side Of the Iron Duke
he stood by his side, and unbound his
wooden leg. and made speech that imme-
diately subdued the monsters. He began /:
'My curse on you for cowardly Sound
relsl If We have pluck come and fight me.
Let theie be two of us against you ALL
Begorra, come and kill both of us. This is
your fair play. This is English justice !
thousands against one Think of Water
loo. But fer him and NJ, Bonny would
have beaten ye. Pve got my wooden leg
for fighting for ye, we williams, aud ye are
| going to pay him by numbering him ye
bloody scOundrels Come on, but come one
at a time, not all of We like towards and
rufians as ye are altogethee-"
The speech was a mighty success. The
mob was ashamed and becalmed and began
to sneak away. Wellington gave a smile
of recognition to the man who had saved
his life, and ever afterward be amply pro-
vided for him, as he did for many others.
out Of his own private fortune, on his own,
quiet, noiseless way.