The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-05

Capt. Gregory was what the world
called I" q character probably to dis
tinguish such marked and unique indi-
vidualities from the tiresome uniformity
and low level of average humanity.
He was Scotchman by birth, cos
mopolitanized as much as one Of that
race so tenacious of its characteristics
can be, by ten years. service in her
Majesty's army, five years Of literary
life in London, a period Of artistic study
and work in Paris, and dozen years Of
experience in the United States Is q
public lecturer, a contributor to the
press, private tutor, an artist and a
song-writer. He did many and different
things surprisingly well, 90 well that had
he turned the stream Of his talents into
one channel he would have found him
self in possession Of an enviable power.
But that wasn't his way. He bore true
allegiance to the spirit within him, and
went though life with an independence
so unique and an individuality so well
preserved that he was regarded by the
mass II those who met common fate
in conformity TO the world and its ways,
as little better than . q shiftless fellow :"
"Gregg," as the young fellows used
to call him despite his gray hairs and
military bearing, was one Of the happi-
est men that ever lived. He made no
search or chase after happiness, nor
did he think to buy it or have it bestowed
upon him; for he was wise enough to
understand and apply the unerring
teachers sublime axiom The king
dom Of heaven Is within you" And in
the Captains dictionary this state meant
happiness-both here and hereafter.
lie lived in roomy attic. with paint
ing-windows in the end and side, and a
skylight through which he could look
at the stars as he swung in his ham,
mock under the high rafters. mo
place has such frescoing!n he would ex-
claim as he turned out to 20 TO work,
after emptying his second pipe, gazing
in silence at s'the brave o'erhanging
firmament-the majestical roof fretted
with golden fire." With q few pennies
to buy his lunch Of bread and milk, and
enough left to pay for . warm bit Of
some sort for supper, he was audible
with cheeriness. And If by fortunate
stroke he got money enough It one
time to keep him for fortnight, he
was rs happy Is king-if kings are As
happy as the saying implies. Not in
any hilarious way, but actually, the
Captain was in such case s'o'er all the
ills Of life Victorious
Dressed in his parade suit Of army
blue, minus the gilt and trappings- his
wide-brimmed soft hat set jauntily on
one side, and his fine gray mutton-chop
whiskers brushed gracefully back-he
would walk down the street with his
steady, swinging, upright military gait,
twirling his cane and humming an air
from the opera-with the easy dignity,
and fine air af superiority and slight
hauteur, than fifty distinguish the man
worth million.
Now can paint--or not paint, Is
1 please, by Jove! l can stretch my
self under the elms and watch for burnt
lumber shades on the hills, or can 70
a-fishing and bring home a new song.
No more penny-dreadfulsn (alluding 10
his machine stories for the popular
weeklies) nor sentimental PONIES for
fortnight ahead. have Just made
deposit In my bank--that Is, in nv
wash-stand drswer---that places me
above want. Heb! my boy!--there's
nothing like independence. How I
pity the poor devils that have TO work
for their daily grublr
And the wealthy owner Of q ten-dol-
lar bill would move on, happy at heart
IN his child-like acceptance of the favors
Of Providence, with no more worry as
70 the future than blue-bird feels when
ne sings 70 his mate among the apple
blooms. ~
Captain Gregory had been married.
when young, " 4 "Highland Mary
whom he loved with all the fervor and
more than the whole heartedncs that
inspired the great bard Of their native
land, when he wrote the immortal song
whose beauty and pathos the Captain