The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-17
Found in Egyp'.

There was nothing remarkable in Edgar
Hartland's starting out in the world. He
was simply bold, earnest and persevcring
young man, who intended to make bis
life's visit to this world fact worth re-
membering
Young Hartland was twenty-five years
old when he finished his collegiate course,
in his preparation for which, as in all his
studies, his constant effort had been to
make thorough work of whatever he at
tcmpcd to learn, and not simply to put his
real or imaginary attainmcnts TO the best
use in making sensation on public occa-
sions.
And now the young man was looking out
Into the world for something to do. As
for the triangular professions medi-
cine and divinity--thcre were as he thought,
too many already III them. He thought it
would be difficult to make a good use of
his head or his hands, while obliged to be
using his elbows at the sane time, in
crowdng other poor fellows out of the
way. Sc he concluded at last to take his
compass, level, and measuring line, and go
West
Forty years have passed since the events
to which the reader is now turning his at
tention, occurred, and yet even then the
watchword: "To the West to the Westl"
was IN old, familiar and stirring appeal.
Hartlend repaired TO the land office and
applied for an appointment as surveyor Of
government lands.
You are quite young man, " said the
commissioner, s'to be assigned to so arduons
and responsible duty; and besides you
90 not look as If your constitution could
stand the fatigucs and exposures of camp
life."
81 was strong and healthy" said Hart
land "whcn boy, being accustomed to
spend good deal Of the time on the farm
with my father. lie died about seven years
ago, and since then I have been studying
until lately. A few months in the open air
will bring nc all right"
"Well, my young friend" said the COM
missioner; ''you appear to have the right
spirit, and a man who has q soul in him
can soon put a body around it, Your tcs-
timonials as to character and attainmcnts
are good, and we will give you place in
our corps of surveyors. may be II oath
or six weeks before you will be ordered
into service. In the meantime, here is a
small book of Instructions which it Will be
well for you TO look over Your salary
dates from to-mC Crrow, and you will receive
remittance for outfit with your order to
report, which will he sent as soon as wc
determine where your services will be re-
qnired. Here is your commission. Where
shall l address you2"
The place named was tho home of his
mother, to which Edgar Hartland imme-
datcly repaired to bear the good news.
But to her it was also sad news for
she now realized that her beloved son must
soon leave her for some distant field of
labor.
81 am ordered to Egypt, MOTHER" said
Edgar, rs he opened and read letter from
the commissioner. But the alarming an
nouncement was turned into pleasant and
gratifying surprise when the lady learned
that the Egypt referred to was no further
of than the western part of Illinois.
Every department of business has ways
of its own; and the old saying, that ''therc
are tricks in all trades but ours" would be
nearer the truth if ours also were includ.
cd.
TO survey, map out and describe the
public domains has been work of cnor-
nous dimensions; but Edgar Hartland, and
the men who were with him, soon discov-
cred that most Of the maps with which they
"clc luIHlslcu, puIFoTtilB 10 snOW OH
surveys to be verified and traced, had been
made by imaginary tcld-notes. Tho act
ual work which these maps profcsscd to
record had never been done. The rivers,
mountains, rocks, valleys and trccs-min-
utcly Observation-Disclosures oak, rcd beech,
hickory, maple and sycamore were not there
and never had been. The woodland was
an open prairie; and as for the mountains
and rivers 50 carefully described in the re-
ports. they had never been seen by the old
est inhabitant But those maps and reports
had been received and paid for long time
ago, ard tho men who made them had gone
to receive another reward. The only thing
the new surveyors could do was TO begin
their work and go on with 1t exactly as If
those old maps had never been made
The people out there, counted by thous-
ands, and sometimes not counted at all,
were scattered here, there and everywhere,
and knew little or nothing in regard to the
grounds On which tho government rested
its claims to those lands. AS for the sur
veying companies that were passing occa-
sionally through their fields, and driving
stakes near their cabins, they did not place
high estimate on them, and occasionally
expressed their want of confidence in them