Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-10-18

ing feet OF messengers ana 1dlerS
who were, by some fascination, al
ways hanging about the place.
Mr.. Stanton passed on to and be
hind the high desk without recog
nizing any one, and having poised
himself, he cast glance around the
room which, while it sent cold
chill through the very bones of the
spectators in the sufferings of the
war, gave assurance of succor and
redress to the widows and wounded
soldiers.
Instantly tall gentleman, sup
ported by large bundle Of papers,
fawning and gushing, but with very
weak knees and a stereotyped smile,
would approach, with a vulgar sa-
lutte Of presumed familiarity, and
hurriedly utter:
"Good morning, Mr.. Secretary !;
fine morning, sir"
Mr.. Stanton would give nervous
twitch as the familiar voice met his
ear, and turning abruptly to the
speaker, would growl between his
teeth:
"Sit down, sir; I'll attend to you
by and by
And Mr.. Senator Mealymouth,
with his papers about some 'sjob," !"
would disappear.
Next, in presumed Importance, a
gentleman with bran-new suit of
military clothing glistcning like an
ignited pin wheel with stars and
stripes.
"My card, Mr.. Secretary-'Major
| General Brassbuttons'
Mr.. Stanton would turn upon the
new speaker like tiger at bay, ex-
anime the caricature Of Mars from
head to foot, and thunder out:
"Come, sir! what are you doing
IN Washington? If you are not
needed at the front, I'll see about
mastering you OUT
General Brassbuttons would gasp
for breath, and his capacious boots,
less sensitive than the man, would
retain self-possession enough to
carry the discounted soldier from
the field.
CONSERVATION would now reign
supreme in the room; even the wild
ows and wounded soldiers would
grow pale. When they beheld such
great men as senators and generals
in good health so suddenly squclch-
ed out, they naturally asked them
selves, What is to become of us?
BY this time Mr.. Stanton literally
had his audience in hand; no one
was now ventursome enough to OBJ
trude especially his person or wants
upon his notice. So, at his leisure,
he would glance around the room,
then stopping to examine attentive
ly sick or wounded soldier, the
poor fellow would try to rise from
his seat in acknowledgment Of the
honor, when Mr.. Stanton would
mildly, musically say: "Keep your
seat, my good man." And the iron
Secretary would leave his desk and
walk over to the silent but eloquent
applicant for relief, and taking him
kindly by the hand, ask what
brought him there.
The story was the same so often
told. Soldier in one of the Wash
ington hospitals, suffering from a
severe wound; cannot identify him.
self, as his regiment is on the move
and no descriptive list can be OBJ
tanned; can consequently get no
pay, draw no clothing; wants fur
lough and leave to go home. The
hospital regulations keep him with
the strictest severity in the narrow
whitcwashed walls, which have now
become even more offensive than a
prison.
Order from Mr.. Stanton: Advance
of two months pay, transportation
home, and 80 days furlough.
Soldier retires, his face beaming
with satisfaction, and realizing
keenly for the first time that he has
a country worth fighting for, and
men in the government who have u
paternal care for it's defenders.
"What do you desire?" would be
Mr. Stanton's next question, to one
who was soldiers widow or a sol
dicr's neither, seeking information
Of relatives lost in the great nation
al struggle.
cit is impossible, madam, to help
you as we could wish. Take down
the name of the soldier asked for
and see what can be DONE"
And thus, in relieving the suffer
ing. was this precious public hour
consumed which Mr.. Stanton re-
morselessly appropriated from the
short-lived day, every moment OF
which, however industriously occu-
pied, failed to meet the pressing re,
sponsibilities which each instant
accumulated to challenge his per-
sonal notice. At the instant Of -
o'clock the audience ended. Con
tractors and rebel sympathizers had
been oyerlooked.-Harpe''s Maya
zine for Oct,
-