New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-06
A HERO AND A MARTYR.
EY CHARLES READE,

EY CHARLES READE.
l',on the second day of October. 1856. 'he
Glasgow Times told tue world y moving
s:ory. A., r,.,.
There were a score OF people on inc oank;
hut they only groaned, and glared' anu
tIuttered at the child's screams and strug'
pies: not one had both the courage and the
skill to plunge in and rescue him.
But presently came an elderly man who
was a neerless swimmer and diver, and had
saved more than forty lives in that very
Alas he WAS now stone blind: a little girl,
his granddaughter, was leading him by the
Yet to him his blindness seemed no oh:
siacle o.Let me to him: let me to Mmc'
he cried: s'Tll save him yet"
But ia the general dismay and agitation.
his appeal was nnheeded at first. Then he
screamed out in generous fury. 'Ye daft
fnies a mon dispa SOON with his cen; just
fling me in the water, and cry me ~ to
His PRAYER would have been granted, but
his granddaughter. with q girls affection
and unreasOning Fears chung round his
knees and screamed. "Na. ma ye wadna' ye
wadna!'
no longer a moment to loseo The boy sank
for the last time; a deep groan from the
snectatcrs told the sad end. and the poor
blind hero went hOmes tiinging his arms
about in despair and crying like child for,
AZ he had ufterward saido in telling the
lamentable tale, "lt was !addle lung
away: clean flung away"
The chrOnicley went on to ehumerate the
eallant exploits Of this very James Lam
bert before he Lost his sight; and the whole
story set me thinking, l began 70 weigh
Che vulgar griefs OF men against james
Iambert'a high distress. ] taxed myself
and dissected things that had made me
rage or grieys; now they seemed email and
selfish.
From that INV mind went into books, and
I fell TO comparing with the feats and tears
Of James Lambert tho feats and tears
Of heroes, whom history has embalmed OF
poetry canOnjzed.
Strange TO say, il was not my living con.
temporary. but the famous figures OF poetry
and history that paled little in this new
orucible. I often detected some drawback
10 their valor and faint Of egOtisn in
their grief This made me suspect that
poetry, like its readers, may have been
tazzled by the glare Of ArnOr and the blAre
Of trumpets aud left heroic men unsung,
who best deserved . bard. For, look be.
low the surface-unsung Lambert's was
the highest courage; it was solitary courage,
Joint enthusiasm; often no spectators.
Summer and winter he plunged into the
CLYDE, and saved men and women, with bis
bare body, and at great peril 10 his life; for
the best swimmer is . dead man if .
drowning person clutches him and cripples
him Aud what was his reward on earth !!
For his bene olent courage he was stricken
blind. through SO many immersions OK his
heated body in icy water.
Was not this . poetic calamity, and tit
theme for tenderest verse!
Being thus afflicted for his virtue, he
heard q fellOw-creature drowning. He was
potent as ever in the water, but impotent
on land. and they would not help him into
the water; and SO y young life was flung
away, that he could have saved, and he
went home flinging his arms about him in
agony, and weeping tears that angels might
be proud to dry with loving wing. Alas.
and is it so! The eyes that can no longer
see can weep.
A noble. rare, unselfish and most poeticai
distress, though told in the plain prose OF
journal. 1t made me desire to see James
Lambert. and hear his tale from his own
lips, and give him my poor sympathy.
But. unfortunately, am prOcaetinator.
OF course can do unadvisable things ex.
peditlOusiy: but when wise or good thing
is 70 be done, "nOnu'h pre'aasur IN G1num'
is my motto. So for ten mortal years. and
more. was Always goihs-So!nS-So inR-
10 visit James Lambert.
At last, l am ashamed to say when. being
in Selkirkshire, shook Oft 1.-THE thief OF
time" and went into Glasgow to see this
man, a hero in his youth. . martyr in old
age
But had lived long enough to observe
that when you seek u man who was alive
and elderly twelve years ago. you lind he
has been dead from four to seven. SO. on
the road to Glasgow. ] blamed myself bit.
terly for my besetting sin. and actually said
80 myself. very earnestly:
''- from this moment
The very :i.stlings of my heart shall be
The h1silings OF my hand"
That was fine: only. not to deceive you. I
had often repeated this nigh resolve with
great fervor and sincerity; and then gone
ON procrastinating.
In Glasgow | made strict inquiries
after James Lambert: asked the landlord
and all the waters; went to every tradesman
knew in the city. Not one soul had ever
heard Of him or his exploits. This confirm
ed nv fear that he had gone to a better
world. while was busy posfponing here
below. However. my tardy blood was up
at last: so took cab and drove to the
notice chambers, aud asked for the chief,
The request ! had to make was unusual:
therefore prefaced the matter after this
fashion: "Sir. most people come here to ask
you TO lind out some malefactor. ! come
hunting an honest man. and man of great
merit. one James Lambert. who saved many
lives in the Clyde. years ago. ! can hear
nothing of him. alive or dead. Ii yoa will
assist me with your machinery. ! shall! be
truly obliged to you.
Now. they say the Scotch are not so quick
90 take new idea As the English. That
may be: but they are also not SO quick 10
reec. one. An English chief constable
would probably have said at once, THAT is
quite out OF our line: you should 60 TO the
parochial clersy:" but. after twenty min.
utes' discussion. would have reiented and
given me- every assistance: the Scottish
chief. ON the contrary. though manitestly
taken aback. though: before he epoke:
thought. without disguise. for full Thirty
Il Observation-Disclosures that" Then he
turned to Il tube and said. in hollow voice.
..SeHd me detective
This done. he took down my name and
address in Glasgow. aud what knew about
James Lambert.
Ones idea Of detective is--a keen. lean
man. with little glitterinS eyes-a human
weasel The door opened, and in walked
model Of strength and youthful beauty that
made me stare He was about twenty-five
years old, at least Elk feet tour IN height,
and the breadth, and above all the depth
OF his chest, incredible. Until l saw John
Heenan strip and reveal his bullying back |
and breast and every inch of his satin skin !
mapped with muscles, took for granted
the old sculptors had exaggerated, and |
carved ideal demigods, not real men. Nude |
IND III lin. a' " D'' &c. Wy 'SD'