The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-05-15
CONGRESSMAN ROOTS, OF ARKANSAS.

lCONGkESSMAA ROOlS, W ARKANSAS.
Logan II. Roots, the first applicant for
seat in Congress from Arkansas, arrived at
Washington to-day Chicago Post.
As Roots is now public man-very
maryland as personal "reminiscences
are the rage of the day, it may not be
amiss for as to relate a chapter in Roots
carly career that may be interesting
When the Normal University was first
started in this State, it opened at Bloom
ington with but handful of pupils,
but among them was the aforesaid Lo-
gan Holt Roots, of Tamaroa, E9ypt.
The youthful embryo Congressman soon
made himself distinguished for high
mathematical ability and excessive Gu
riOsity. The first made him deservedly
popular with his teachers, and the lat
ter trait a general favorite with the
scholars-oVer the left. AT that time
the present magnificent University
| building was just begun, the enterprise
of the Normal school was hardly better
than an experiment. The school had
been started, but it was necessary
to rent hall i'll the city of Blooming
ton-an old ricl1ety concern known as
Majors Hall-in which to hold the dali
ly sessions. The building of the new
University had been delayed, after the
foundation was up, by the financial dis
aStcrs of 81, for whole year. In the
troubles and depression of the building
committee the whole school were post
ed, and the subject was one Of frequent
remark among the embryo school
ma ans and school masters.
About that time some of the boys
started secret society for the purpose
of practicing gcsIiculation. One of the
rules of the order was that everything
connected with it was to be done i'll
pantomimc. Roots speedily discovered
that something was in the wind, and he
cndcavored by watching at the door of
vacant room, where the meetings of
the society were held, to fathom the
mystery. The very singular circnm-
stance that not loud sound emanated
from the society, aroused within him
the gravest apprehcnsions. He couldn't
keep his suspicious to himself Going
to fellow pupil, he confided to him
that there was 4 secret society OF some
kind in the school. and that he was 60
ing to find out what they did. Il know
where they meet" said he, 'tand tonight
Pm goin' TO hide in the room and hear
what they say" Now it SO happened
that some of the books and furniture
for the school had come i'll large box
and that this had been temporarily
placed in the room where the societys
large enough to hold uncomfortably the
body of one person, and into this Roots
determined TO hide. Unfortunately for
him. however, the person in whom he
contided was himself a member of the
society and speedily informed the rest
Of the trick Roots intended to play on
them. To cure him of his informed
ding, the society allowed him ample
opportunity to leave after school and
betake himself to the room, and after
they judged that he was securely stow
ed away. they repaired in a body to the
place. The president raped on the ia
BILE, and the members gathered around
him, whcreupOn he proceeded to unfold
for their consideration a horrible plan.
The building Of the university. he said,
was delayed. Evidently the State
thought that Majors Hall was good
enough place for the Normal School.
So long as they stayed there, then just
so long they would have TO. In this
emergency it devolved upon the society
10 take some measures for the relief of
the school. There were three plans
contemplated: The first was to burn
down the houses of the building COM
mittee. (Here sigh was heard from
Roots box.) This was voted down as
! involving too great destruction of
property. The second was to burn
down Majors Hall, as it was argued
| if they had no place for school, the
State would go on with the University
| building. (Herc another sigh was heard
| from the box.) Finally it was decided
that on the whole it would be better to
blow it up with gunpowder. In the
discussion of the plan of doing it, it
was voted to take the box in which poor
Roots agonized body was ensconced,
to pack the gunpowder in, and in ac-
cordance with the directions of the
president, two of the members of the
society tipped it over and rolled out the
person of the present Congressman
! from Arkansas, very much frightened
and looking very sheepish. He tried,
ter by crying. ''Boys, l sympathiZe with
YOU. It's shame that the State don't
put the Normal through. Let's blow
the old hall up. I'll pay for the pow
der" Logan Holt Roots, of Tamaroa,"
responded the President, ''are you will
ing to join our society ?" eyes, yes ~
cried the frightened lad, '.I'Il join. I'll
blow her upi I'll pay for the powder!
and plunging his hand into his pocket,
he drew out all the money he had.
amounting to just dollar and half.
After solemnly swearing him in, the
president ordered the money to be paid
into the treasury of the society, and the
group disbamded. Roots went home
and passed an uneasy night, and repair
ed to the hall in the morning at an early
hour. At the usual noon recess, what
was his dismav to hear the president of
the society request the attention of the
school for moment, to relate the whole
tjoke. Roots submitted to the laugh as
best he could. and sent out the dollar
and half to be expended in apples, as
the easiest way of escaping from the
torments of his fellows. He however
was known forever after, among the
traditions of the school, as "The Hero
of the Gunpowder Plot" He gradual
ed with honor, went into the war as a
quartermaster, settled in Arkansas
when it was over, and has now bios
somed out as an expectant Congress
man. We hope he may get admitted
Peoria Daily Transcript.
Condemn no man, says John Wesley
for not thinking as you think. Let ev-
cry one enjoy the free liberty of think.