The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-06
THE DAILY STAR
A HERO, PRO TEN.


afterwards. He was sort of hero then,
but the market is so overstocked with
horoes that the lucky man is he whose
heroism is remembered twenty-four
hours after it occurred.
Bing was young, and the son OF a
iarmer. He was dusty by exposure to
the ardent heats of summer suns. The
storms of winter had toughened every
fibre in his body. Nature moulded him
for life Of continuous insurrection,
against her hardships. Fllial servitude
completed the ground plan of this strug-
gle. But Bing had vaulting ambition.
His mind had been stuffed, in secret,
with the tales of what noted men had
done. Combining the achievements of
"Davy Crockett" Sixteen String Jack, u
"Claud Duval," and "Buckskin Tom"
with the work done by Napoleon, Van
derbilt, Jay Gould, and Others, the re-
suit gave him a mental dyspepsia. II
was then that he no longer found idyls
In the barn-yard. He wearied of the SON
nets whistled by the quail in the golden
stubble of the wheat-felds. The earth
lost its charms of sight, of sound, Of per-
fume.
At the age of 20, James Madison Bing
was wretched. Life was like bitter
apple, which he had to MUNICH or starxe.
His soul got into the bad habit of soar
ing, and then he omitted to read the
county newspaper. The village grocery
lost its power of soothing. His sweet
hearts charms became tame, and he saw
in her freckles, large feet, frowsy hair,
and green eyes, when, in fact,she was the
beauty of the country's sside. He groaned
for broader life and its distinctions
The solemnity of nature nauseated him
There are two panaceas for such ills OF
country youths-increased labor, or that
of putting the sufferers into the mill Of
city life. Bings father limited at the
former course. James Madison met him
more than half way.
"Here is my valise, and there is
the railroad," announced the young
man, with gesture, as if he were pitch
ing quoits "I am going"
SO" said the Spartan-like father.
eff you come back, I'll take you--as a
hired man. Now the worlds before you.
You must do your own grubbing, and
plowing and seeding. Jim, you'll find
more rocks than fallow land; more
Bloughs than dry ground. Keep your
clothes on your back, young man, and
don't get into Jail"
The young fellow, under this benedic-
ton, marched away like a militiaman.
He was buoyed up bv a confidence that
he knew more than his father. But then
every youth is sure of that until events
convert him. What is termed vulgarly
"the big head" is the climax of the dis
eases of boyhood. It carries nine-tenths
if the young men to early oblivion
James Madison Bing was now on his way
to that oblivion.
The boy had childish confidence in
what he saw and heard. To have lived
always amongst honest creatures was his
good fortune. The cattle, the BIRDS the
skies, the trees, nature itself, had never
lied to him. He accepted appearances
for facts. Therefore when he landed in
the city he believed the rascal who told
him that he represented hotel where
only model young men were allowed to
board. and who assured him also, that
he, the runner, was an old and valued
friend of Bing, Sr. Confidence in fellow
man, properly belongs to the uncivilized,
who are ignorant of the money value of
living as a business. James Madison
Bing was not uncivilized but he was a
fool in the tricks Of the world, which is
worse. He accompanied that old friend
of his father to the philanthropic hotel
under whose roof even an angel might
sleep in safety. He went to bed in a
room wherein another man was already
buried in slumber, and, being weary,
dropped asleep.
The next morning he began lamen-
table outcry. His companion had disap-
peared. So also had the clothing and
valise of Bing. With the clothing and
valise went the lads money, But the
thief was not hard-hearted. for he left
garments for his victims nakedness,
such habiliments as befitted a beggar
and would amuse rag-picker-a filthy,
ragged costume that would not have
scared crow. "Keep your clothes on
your back" his father had said, and yet
they were gone before he had been day
In the school of heroism.
81 have been robbed" he declared,
standing at the office desk.
Robbed" said the landlord, in mock
surprise. Robbed, did you say? In my
house? Of your clothes? Well, you
should not sleep with strangers,or should
have gone to bed with your clothes ON.
Now, don't make fuss or threaten. We
Hre not responsible for your lack of COM
mon sense. What shall you do? Report
the affair to the police. Here, John," (to
man standing near) "take this gentle
man to Station A."
They journeyed by entangling crook:
and twists so perplexing that when Bling
suddenly found himself deserted by his
guide he was absolutely lost. A nice
Ipecimen of hero was, now, this ragged
youth, abandoned, penniless, famishing
and bufieted by the crowd. What great
deed could he perform2 Who would
humor him with the benefaction of a