Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-09-28
OUR STANDARD-BEARER.
MISS FRANCIS f. wILLARD'S HAPPY
PEN-PORTRAIT.
of Gen. Clinton II. Fisk-His Nobility OF
Heart and His Pleasant Home Life.

OF SiGn. Clinton Il. ElSk-hlS MOBILITY OF
Heart and His Pleasant Home Life.
Some men are born favorites of fortune.
They show this in their earliest outlook on
the world by the universal benignity of their
smiles. the "goo-goo" attempt at utterance.
presumably meaning the world is good" as
distinct from the "bah-bah" attempt, detin-
ing the same world as bad.
pinafore period of their existence, by their
winsome willingness to take hold of hands
and play ring round rosy" with anybody
who comes along. be he the nabob's toddling
son or a barefoot blackamoor. They show it
as they mount to manhood up the foot hill
of their youth, by the generous hardihood
that makes them leaders whom their school
mates love to follow. They show it most of
all when chastened by discipline and
steadied by success; their splendid equi-
personality that incarnates great principle.
and with proud hearts the people call them
cheftains. Fortune has nothing further to
bestow on such as these. She can only eX-
tend the circle of their influence, ever-wid-
ening and eyer-beneflcent.
The campaign of 1888 presents to us in the
attractive and many-sided personality OF
Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, a favorite of fortune,
around whom we are fortunate to have the
chance to rally. 1t takes century to grow
over the sea. 1t took sixty years of growth
through storm and shine to give us the
| character and fame that should move
calmly before us in plenitude Of strength as
our legions rallied to the fray in '8S.
Of no man may it be more truly said that
he was of gentle birth and yet he is black
smiths son. In his cultured home at Sea
bright he remembers and rejoices that he
was barefoot boy. The most considerate
and peace-loving OF men. he was among our
bravest soldiers. Failing of the academic
honors that were his supreme desire. he
can hold in rapt and respectful attention an
audience of scholars; q business man from
| the beginning of his career, except for his
war episode. he is yet romantic IN tenn
permanent, devoted to poetry and in heart
as in face. voice and utteranct, stands tor
ever balanced between wit and pathos
| smiles and tears.
Courted by the rich. he is adored by the
poor, the Indian and colored races having
for generation looked to him as their con-
stituted guardian. helper and friend.
| Gracious of speech as he is of presence
and manner the General adds to his re-
markabe abilities in pulpit. prayer meeting
or platform charming literary style. His
letters, like his speeches. TEEN with humor.
while the lucid phraseology of his recent
letter of acceptance. with its well-chosen
arguments, renders it IL state paper OF
unique value.
he has long been the chosen almoner OF
princely benefactions. won by him from
richer men in church and state. The best
loved layman of Americas chief denom1na-
ton. he is yet the modest Methodist
the humble as the high. Able to entertain
all of our bishops at once under his home
stead roof. he seeks his old farmhouse in
| Michigan once at least every year. ana is
royalty welcomed by the plain people who
love him even as our great Lincoln was
loved. Concord is the name of his earlier,
and Coldwater of his latter home in Michi-
gan--two words of special revelation as
to the Generals genial character
and the temporal, u, conduct eaa OF naH ms
used tobacco. and was a Prohibitionist
from the beginning. Going back few
years since to Concord. where his boylsh
DAYS were passed, his wife got from the log
house garnet board, to take to MS elegant
Eastern home. because it had served as his
bookshelf when his valorous young mind
pursued knowledge under difficulties. 1t
was on the same visit the two went to AL.
bion College. ten miles from the old place,
whence Mrs. Fisk had graduated, and
where the General would have gone, too
but for threatened failure of his eyes
And here he made us happy all commence
ment week. taking the town by storm" say
the lucky Albionites.
has much of the womanly in his character
enough to make him forever our friend
brother and ally. his letter of acceptance
his best point was made when he gently
turned upon RepuDEcanS tueiF OWL weapons
! by showing the odious Inconsistency OF thel1
announcements that the chief concern o
good government is the home" and thel
proceeding to make d war tariff their cam
paign crv. He also declared himself une
auivocally in favor Of the plank in our Pro.
: hibition party platform that favors woman's
ballot. He avows the great influence
Bishop Simpsons mighty mind and char
, acter over his thoughts in this regard
They were great friends. and i'll the las
. conversation ever held between them. thu
, Bishop pledged the General to stand by thu
woman 5 cause. because it is not only tn
cause Of justice but of humanity" Wish
ing to place him on record in his owl
! words. recently wrote the General abou
, J, this and received the following reply:
Bishop Simpson, very early in our ac
: uuaintance, gave me to understand that n
did not believe the great reforms OF tn
t world We're to be worked out except throug
Il the baliot-box. and that woman's vote woul
: be necessary for the accomplishment OF tn
!. work. The last conversation ever hn
with him was along that Very line. and dur
, ing the years of our most intimate aclualnt
/ ;nce the Bishops influence upon my though
) and my conclusions did very much to plac
. me where am to-day.
d SO true Il knight of tho new chivalry coul
/ have none other than lovely home. hav
y been entertained in thousand homes {
u temperance and Christian people, but tn
n devotion of each to every other. the small
l. sweet courtcsies, the tender mlndfunes
8 that seemed as all-surrounding as the al
n mosphere. and beaming love upon all face
a that saw here. 1 have never seen eXcelle'
y and very rarely equaled.
:. Let all good people note the all arount
OH offu In nhnrn1tar