National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-10
CALIFORNIA SHEEP HERDS.
(Continued from Firsf Pace


way in California, was greatly stimulated by the
That benencent law has done more than any
thing else to redeem the State from the exclusive
domination OF the cattle lords who ruled It under
the old system. 1t has invigorated her sluggish
productive Industries, making agriculture posi-
Bile with profit, for now the stock must herd
his cattle on and away from the farmers growing
crops, or pay the damage. This permits OF tillARe
In safety without fencing. 1t has thus removed
q serious obstacle in the pathway Of the usoand-
men, and enabled them to take those long strides
forward which have marked the young States
later career In productive ind ustry, notHithstand-
ing the fact that there are, by estimate, only
about fortyeiKht thousand Of her eight hundred
thousand people employed in agriculture.
'sTRIKI LIsHrp'
once heard Colonel HOLSTER tell q character
istie aneedote OF his beyish days, which have
treasured up In my memory, and now endeaVor
Forty years ago, when he and his brother HUB
were boys together in Ohio, they, with other
boys, INDUCED in an old-time coon hunt, GARNER
They took with them, besides their regular crack
hunting dogs, an old house dog, who was In
cludsd In the expeditionary force more out of con-
alteration for the good he had done than because
Of any special confidence reposed In his hunting
qualities. The eager hounds struck out into
night and timber, erellng the forest, and making
the sounding aisles Of the dim woods ring with
their deep mouthed bayinR; still they could not
strike the scent Meantime the old dog set up a
fierce barking at the foot Of tree far in the rear,
but his canine zeal was treated with contempt by
the boys, fQT B0ne Of them believed the coon
was Up that tree; all supposed the
deg was barking up the wrong tree;
the hounds would fail to uncover a coon that
night, the party resolved to abandon the chase
and turned homeward, passing by the spot where
the old dog was, for they could not believe "the
old fool" had anything up his tree. Some of the
rash ones treated him to kicks and cuffs to stop
his noise. But still the dog kept up his vigil
glazing into its branches with the hungry eyes Of
a dog that knew his prey was near, and barking
hercer than ever; The Buys returned to the tree.
deliberate Hub, " land stop beating the deg"
And they struck light. The burning torch shot
its rays into the treetop Illuminating the scene.
The boys, from their different positions under the
tree pssred into its branches. " There he IS!
see him ~ cried one. 81 see his back" cried
another. D." see his tail!' SAID third. "AndI
see him all oVerr' cried a fourth. There was the
game, scgurGmeEte, in a crotch OF the tree. 1t was
telled, and the coon caught. And then the old
laundering, came in for all the praise.
He was called good old doggy" and over
Whelmed with kindnesses.
Col HOLSTER has never forgotten this Incident
nor the words of bis older brother, who he says
never omitted the sober second thought "Strike
Gligh" has been ringing in his head all these long
years, and whenever he has before him new en-
tetprise knotty problem, or a SUBJECT requiring
illumination, his first act is to strike light"
life. By that sign has he conquered, for when he
sees his way clear he is bold actor. The Colo
mel used this anecdote as an illustration IN his
memorable argument before the members of the
California Legislature, at Sacramento. when he
was pleading Tor the mo fenee"lsW OF this wise
and Just measure he was the original champion
and ablest advocate. Though then q graZler, he
fought gaIlantly for fifteen years to secure t. and
won at last He went before the legislators with
the ideas Of statesman and the tact of an adVo-
cate, for the struggle was TO be bitter one. He
was fighting for . He0 systsm-a needed revolu-
ton in the Industrial economy Of the State. He
asked the lawmakers 20 "strike q light" inves-
Na hnar HwkN ~, N.Nl
fore them on Its merits, and do right by protect
ing all industries alike, giving to the weak tllage
interest and to the strong pastoral interest an
vail and great good come Of them.
THE MAN HIMSELF.
But It is not merely because of his achievements
In amassng wealth; not simply because he is the
own Or Of splendid estates, broad acres and vast
hocks, that this man deserves high praise. 1t Is
the worthy uses he deVotes his money to that
makes wealth in his hands Q means Of 50 much
good, public and private. He deserves and re-
ceiveg generous commeBdAtion because Of his
admirable qualities OF mind and heart. He II
pr0-eminentlY Q man Of ideas and of action. He
has been lifelong worker. His high honor AID
splendid character. He IL brave and true. His
public SPIRIT handed Iiberalty, and private
hospitality are ProVerbial. His good works are
FL que ne Is hermoso d vsinte GHos, flerte tri-
enta, rico cuaTsnta, y sGbto ciRcuentG, HuHcG
I Issd usT rico nj :GSt0 Who
forty, and wise at MY, will neverbe handsome,
strong, rich or wisely Colonel HOLSTER has
turned fifty years, and think 1t may fairly
be said Of him that he has perSoninsd
all the qualities enumerated In the Span
ish proyerb in the course Of his eventful ca
reer 1t is not strange that he is held in high es-
TEEN by his fellows, the people Of California But
he cannot afford to accept public oHice. To over
lures looking to the GoVernorship or o seat in
Congress, he replied that he would sooner be q
farmer than hold any Office He may we'll prefer
the delightful quiet Of his own prineely home on
his noble estate BY the sea to public life at Sacra-
mento or Washington.
left him at HGlen Annie" q few days ago,
chshng under the restraint imposed by broken
leg. Small fear, though, that he has had any Of
the native goodness crushed out Of him, for he is
so Drumming over with the milk Of human kind
ness that 1t makes him to the whole world akin.
He regrets the short life allotted to man on earth
in this day and generation, and wishes he could
live two hundred years to carry out his plans and
do good.
What . world Of good such q man could do In q
lifetime Of tive hundred years! Would that the
big hearted old Colonel might live them! Touch
his brow lightly, old Timsl H.G.O.