The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-08-26
Selfrt Shrv.
ONLY JONES.

fourth and Twenty -eighth infantry we're
sitting around their mess-table In Castles
town, the capital Of the Isle of Man, one
evening ahcut thirty years ago-that Is,
aif Of them except one; but then, that
was only Jones. Nobody minded Jones;
even his peculiarities had begun to be an
old subject for "chafilng, "and, indeed,
be had paid such little attention to their
"chaffing" that they had come to s6nd it
little pleasure, and after some weeks Of
discomfort Lieutenant Jones had been
allowed to choose his own pleasures
without much interference A "a i
{ TbeseEweteinot extravagant. Asfavor-
ite book, a long walk in all kinds Of
weather was favorable. He would not
Fdriuk-he said it hurt his health; be
would not shoot-he said it hurt his feel
ings; he would nol gamhle-he said it
6urtshis conscience and he did not care
10 fit kor$visit the .belles OF the capital
--he said 1T hurt bis affections. Once
Captain De Reuzy lispingly wondered
tvhether it.was possible "a, "hurt bis hon-
For, and Jones calmly answered that sit
was not possible Tor Captain De Reuzy
Ito doEse." ia - k8
a. Indeed, Jones constantly violated all
|shese gentlemen's ideas of proper beha-
ytor,s but for some reason or other no
one brought hin to account for it. 1t
was easier to shrug their shoulders and
call MIN "queer,''s or say "i: was only
Joness or.eyen to quietly assert his cow
ardice.
One evening Col. Underwood was dis
fcussiug Shuntiag party for the next day.
Jones walked into the room and was i'm
mediatel y accosted 9HHItQ9 z! u
Gf'Some,hiugl newy LIEUTENANT, i ,ind
there are plenty Of hare on the leland
and We mean to give puss a rdn to-mor.
row. / have beard you are good ri.
der; will you join us 2" +,
You must excuse me, Colonel ;Isuct
q thing Is neither in the way OF duty, mol
my pleasure. .eii oti" " III H,
I;osYeu forget the honor the Colone
Fdoes you, Jones'" said young Ensign
Powell. - ,t,
III thank the Colonel for his courtesy
iEbut can see no good reason for accept
ing it. am sure my horse will not ap.
lproYe, Of it3 and I am sure the hare nil
lrot like II; and I am not a good rider
A Therefore 8 should not enjoy it,"
"You need not be afraid" said the
Colonel, rather sneeringly; "the country
is quite open and these low Manx walls
hare easily taken" Aas &Asss
Excuse me, Colonel; J. am afraid. Il
I should be burt IL would cause my
mother and sisters very great alarm anG
ahxfety. am very much afraidsof do.
ling ihis.s.'s
aWhat was TO be done with man ss
|, obtuse regarding couventionali,ies, and
who boldly asserted his cowardice? The
Colonel turned away half contemptuous.
| ly, and Ensign Powell took his place.
The morning proved to be very bad
one, with the prospect Of a rising storm
and. as The party gathered instbe bar
rack, yard, Jones. said earnestly to hi,
Colonel: Saa4BG2
| ~ am afraid, sir, you will meet with {
severe Storm"
! II think 80, Lieutenant; but We prom.
ised to dine at Gwynne Hall, and w
shall get that far, at any rate"
4 q So they rode rathef. gloomily sawayir
] the rain. Jones Intended the military
duty assigned hin, and then about moor
walked seaward. ut was Hard work BY
this time TO keep, bis footing on the mar
How quay; 2bpt amid the binding spray
and mist he saw quite crowd OF men
going rapidly toward the great shelving
Scarlet Rocks, q mile bey ond the town
He stepped an old sailor and ssked: Is
els anything trong2" A sg
"a little steamer, sir, off the Cape ol
Man. She is driving thisIway, an in.
deed, I fear she will be ia rocks afore to
might" ~ jim u
Jones stood still q moment and then
followed the crowd as fast as the storm
would let him. When he joined them
they were gathered on the summit of 9
high cliff Watching sthe doomed craft
She was now withinisight, and it was ev.
ident that her Iseamen had almost lostlall
controlaot her.. She. must. ere long, he
flung blythe waves uponthe Jagged rocks
toward which she.was driving. In the
lulls OF the wind, not only the booming
Of the minute-guns, but also the shouts
Of the imperilled crew could be heard.
"What can be done p said Jones to
an old man whose face betrayed the
strongest emotions 5eau Y-a ais I
"Nothing, sir, I'm afraid. II she'd
managed to rount lta rocks she d have
gone to pieces on ia sand, and there are
plenty of men who would have risked
life to save life. But how are we to reach
them from this height ?" .1s1 sssrf ~
| ttHow far are we above water r. q &
fThis rock goes down like wall forty
fathoms, sir" ygir mrs - u rBa ais )
| "What depth OF water at the foot p
| "Thirty feet or more" an said0t
."Good. Have you plenty OF light
strong roper" So ssass.4s ;,-6 jga II
/ "Much as you want, sir. But let me
tell, you, sir, you can't live three min
utes down there; ia first wave will dash
YOU on to rocks and dash you to pieces.
Plenty OF Us would. put yon do wn, sir,
but you can't swim If you do get down.
I sDo you know. old man, what suri
swimming is? I have dived through the
surf at Nukuheva," ~, l3 - gdea-.s II
"God bless you, sir: / thought no
| white. man could do the same."ss ,sa
| While this conversation was going on
Jones was divesting himself OF all su-
perduous clothing, and, cutting ont the
sleeves Of his heavy pea-jacket with bis
pocket-knife. This done be passed some
light strong rope through them. The
men wstched, him with eager interest,
and, seeing their lnquisitive looks, be
said:a ,sato 4a Il gtyclsk, 7.f :.qasi-
arThei thick sleeves viii prevent the
rope cutting my body" 70 E9a,.
| ttAy, ay, sir. see now what youFare
doing. - Hamsi sldeaiay io 9bss8 "a
e"Now, men, ] have only one request
give me plenty Of rope as fast as draw
on you.i When get on board you know
how to- make cradle, Isuppose 6.at
"Ay,aay, sir. But how are you going
to reach the water 2''a agsa qaa. gtst
| II am going to dive down. I have
dived from the main-yard OF the Ajax