The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-12
Ready Men.

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The rarcst recorded instance of readiness
was undoubtedly that of Foote, the come.
dian. lie had given offence to a famous
ducllist of the day, who had vowed ven
geancc, and was only waiting to meet the
lucklcss actor. Footc was told of it, and
Kept out of his way for long time. AT
last they met at an inn where the actor
generally dincd, and where the ducllist
happened quite Casua ly to come in. Footc
saw his danger when it was too late; but,
as his enemy said nothing, did his best to
entertain him and keep him III good humor.
NO one could be more divcrting when he
choose, and here lie was not only very
anxious but very successful lie told one
story after another. lie kept the table in
roar. The firc-catcr became quite pacific.
and was delighted with his new friend.
rootc passed from one good story to an
other, and at last took to initiating differ
cnt people, practice for which he had cx
traordinary facility. The other guests got
quite uproarious with the fun, when sud
denly the lucklcss actor saw from the face
| OF his enemy that he had inadvertently imi-
tatcd one of his friends The ducllist WAS.
in fact, putting his hand in his pocket to
pull out card and present it as the Drc
llmlnary to challenge, when he turned
round to the mimic and said in a dry,
sa'iric voice, "Rcally, Mr. Footc, you are
so nncommonly clever in taking other
people of, l wonder whether YOU could
take yourself OIL" ooh, certainly" said
foole. and he walked straightway into the
street. Here his readiness probably saved
him his life.
1t is noticeable how the characters of
mind and body correspond, and how the
read man is generally quick in his :-love-
mcnts, prompt in action and fertile in re-
source. The great Napoleon used to say
tlat no quality was 50 rare or so valuable
rs (what he callcD two-o' clock in-tho
morning courage. The power Of suddenly
changing front and altering the whole
scheme Of campaign was precisely what
INC greatest OF all modern stratcgists would
admire. lle himself cmincntly possessed
it. The man who had the wit to say to
the aristocrat who tauntcd him with his
lack of ancestry, "Moi JIG suis ancetre,"
possessed n readiness Of words as well as of
action. lie was not likely to lose either
his heal or his tongue. But this kind of
promptitndc is rarely coupled with staying
power. 1t is distinctly mlcoric, and part
OF the brlil'ancy is due to the gloom winch
follows it, And, therefore, tho nations
who most possess it arc also purposclcss
and without reserve of force One very
amusing instance of military readiness is
given in Naplcr's "AIemoirs The troops
were dcfiing down narrow gorge in India,
when suddenly mad bull was seen clarg-
ing down at full swing and with tromend-
Gus impetus The captain had presence of
mlnd enough to give the word of COM
mand. which his soldiers mechanically fol-
lowed The order he gave sounds sinrulnr
enough. 1t was this: 'Preparo to receive
cavalry" The soldiers obeycd, and the
unfortunate bull was impaled on their
Dayonets. This episode has always been
cited as an instance of the courage of ths
British soldicry. 1t scoms rather to illus-
tratc the courage Of tho Indian bull.