The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-09-02
Affecting Stories.

If this article seems blurred, attribute it to
our fast falling tears. We have wept, and
sweat, and got rid of brine in divers other WAYS,
over an account of affecting interviews between
Gen. Hancock aud old Mexican soldiers, old
women, ct al, until our puckering- strings are
demoralized, and we touch off at the slightest
proyOcation. Hancock is such a tender-hearted
man. Chat all his old soldiers will testify that
all the old, decrept, blind, lame halt, and poll
eviled, go to him for consolation. We had
clipped from paper all account of one days
interviews of the used-up and worn-out pilgrims
with the great and good man; but we cried
over if eopiolsly that our hydraulic works
deluged it, and rendered it illegible. However,
the stories are 80 deeply impressed upon our
mind, that we can repeat them from memory
(we pause, to wipe away tear or two.)
A number of old Mexican war veterans called
upon the General, and after hearty hand
shaking, the name of Corporal Dinkelspiel was
mentioned. "Ah~ said the General II knew
Dink. well, and often used TO play with him,
after the fatigues of the day were over. was
close by him when he fell-that is, once visited
the factory where the spade was made with
which they dug the hole in which to bury him. {"
an, with n stream of tobacco juice running
down either corner of his mouth, ''tlere is one
thing your old comrades want you to do, when
you are elected President. They want You to
restore the old-fashioned dog-leg plug tobacco,
and regain the respect of all who cannot get
used to the new-fangled fne-cnt.v
Il feel very confident as to that and other
things too tedious to mention" replied the Gen.
eral. "The people want a change of chewing
tobacco, and if l am elected, am confident
they will continue to want change, more than
ever.n
One Of the gentlemen inquired if the General
knew the whereabouts of an old doctor formerly
attached to his regiment
''Oh, he is doing very WELL" was the reply
"He is in California, and every now and then
sends me a vaccine scab, or some other pleasant
memento."
Just then, an old soldier without any arms
came up, looking very ragged and hungry.
''Here, poor fellow said the General, reaching
him dime, ''take this, and buy You something
to eat, and a new shit of clothes.r
'No," replied the veteran, 81 don't want mon
ey, nor food, nor Clothes
"Ah, l see" said the General. Then he
scratched it for him.
An old lady, who had walked all the way from
Posey County, Indiana, and swan over to the
Island, called upon Hancock. She had bed
ridden neighbOr, who had nephew killed dur
ing the Rebellion, and she had come to seek
information in behalf of that neighbor. She
forgot the young mans name, and the battle
in which he was killed, and couldn't just recol-
ieet what branch of the army he belonged to,
but Thought it WAS either critter company OF
walkin' company, in the Army of the Potomac,
or the Cumberland, or the Tennessee, or the
Ohio, or the Wabash-she knew it was the
Army of some river, but couldn't Just remember
what one. As a last resort she had come to So
lcit the aid Of the Democratic candidate for
President, for she knew he had a great heart,
because she had read that he called his soldiers
sons of bitches, and other familiar names, Just
rs old friends on the Wabash do when they
meet; and her old man had always said he
wanted no higher praise than To be called son
of bitch on wheels. The General wiped tear
from his eye, blew his nose, and wiped his fin
gers on his boot-heel, then at once telegraphed
to Chairman Barnum to hypotheeate half doz-
en- mules, employ five extra clerks, and set
them to work to find out all about the old wo-
mans neighbor's nephew.