Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-04
A CONFEDERATE ROMANCE.

A CONFEDERATE ROMANCE.
What Befell asSmall Southern FIag-Its Owner
Led Captive Through Plueky Union Girl.
American (Ga.) Republican
was rebel soldier, in the confeder-
ate army four years, enjoyed its trium phs
took my part of its defeats to heart al
much as anyone, starved, suffered, bled
froze and melted in winter and summer
urder the glorious cross of the south
Nth heart as full OF devotion as child
could have for mother or a ievotee tC
his true and benefcent God.
When I first started out from the love
Hest town In an adjoining state, lovely
daughter Of the city gave me confeder-
ate flag, made Of silk, with bars and starry
decorated CROSS, shining and cleaning
with gold and silver threads. It was 8
pretty thing, and carried il hid in an
lnsids pocket, for it was not larger thsr
gentleman's handkerchief. I carried il
wherever went, for I had promised to
plant it on Washington monument if J
ever got there.
While Lees army was encamped near
Chambersburg, Pa, one June afternoon
[ strolled out with Felix c., and about
four miles from camp found a cosy re-
treat IL cottage inhabited by an elderly
lady and beautiful young girl of about
eighteen years. We got a good dinner
and heard the ladies deplore the war, for
they had relatives south with whom they
spent the summer every year until the
war broke out! Now this pleasure was
debarred. While they were walking I
went to cool shade and soon fell asleep
and then Felix, forgetting my presence,
left me. About two hours after I was
awakened by the young girl and some one
talking, and found that wounded feder-
al officer was her companion. They did
not know of my presence, and when they
ran upon me | was awake and pretty
much alive; but, as the officer remarked,
HE was not in service on account of a
wound received at Cedar Run, and we
could exchange civilities." Wehad pref
~ good talk and milk and bread where
we were. During the talk I exposed the
flag, which was snatched by the girl, who
exclaimed exultingly, I have captured a
rebel flag and intend to keep it," I
begged for it, but she wilfully shook her
head. l told her it was present from q
dear friend named Matte, and that she
should not have it. Then she said
swell. Rebel cir! My name is Matte, a
good Union girl. l have my hands on an
emblem of treason, a traitors flag; and
Ill keen it or die, and her eyes flashed
with fire. II wish 1 were man." she
said, ''that too might fight"
1 tried to snatch the flag, but she was
too quick, and the officer said pretty
loudly, "Hsre, sergeant, bring your men
nninE ~ II I'd I
rounded by four or five men in blue uni
forms before 1 could turn around. She
said, "Well, lieutenant you can keep Your
prisoner IN the cellar until you and your
men have tea," and led the way.
Soon I was locked up alone in cellar,
wherein there was no security, and the
girl laughed as she waved the flag at me.
I knew thas had to get cut before sup
per was over, and, as I .pondered over
my position, fear began to creep over
me that 1 was to suffer long confne-
ment in Yankee prison. After an hour
or two an inner door opened and Miss
Matte, who had stolen my flag, stood be-
fore me, candle in hand, saying: 81 guess,
Mr.. Rebel, that you and [ can come to
terms. You have no arms and can trust
you. I'll keep your flag, and for my love
of friends ia the south, you shall go free.
Cousin Robert and his men are eating. :"
I vent through the house, found their
arms and taking off their caps, wet the
tubes thoroughly, stole a pistol that be-
lOnged to the officer and started for the
door while the young lady was enter
tanning the soldiers. I ran thirty or
forty steps before they discovered my
absence, when with yell they broke
for their arms. Yoa can bet there was
no shooting. In my race toward camp
two guards halted me, but as they were
some distance off, replied 81 don't
understand" and kept running. The
Dutchmon joined the pursuers, but de-
tachment of Lomax's cavalry approached
and they ran the other way. 1 have 10
desire for the return of that flag now, for
it has been south several times since the
var, and will come again and again.
Longevity.
Has the longevity OF the human race
decreased? is a question which many
modern physicians seem inclined to an
tedly prove that within the last eighty
years epidemios have become less fire.
quent and chronic diseases more durable.
our drinking water purer, our domestic
habits ere becoming fe- more hyginic,
and centenarians more FREQUENT, in North
America at least, and in the civilized dis
tricts of western Europe.
On the other hand, the longevity REQ
ords of antiquity canot all be assigned
to the realm o I myths. The years of the
bible may be seasons (of three months
each) bat can hardly have been "mooDs"
for patriarch dying at the age of 300
months could not have seen lis children
and children's children. Politics and
metaphysi sizes are not specially heslth
giving pursuits, yet the list Of famous
Grecian statesmen and philosophers in
cludes scores of octogenerlans. The
truth seems TO be that human longevity
has fallen sadly below the average main
tanned during the nature worshiping era
of pagan civilization, but has slightly in
creased since the midnight Of Medi@val
barbarism, when the cities of Christian
dom were hotbeds of contagious dis
eases and medical superstitions made
every hospital a slauQhtefhouse.
4 Singular Experience.
New York Sun.
DumleY is a man of singular expert
ences." When he can't stop busy friend
and tell him some singular experience
it's because he isn't feeling well.
Brown" he said, buttonholing that
gentI-man, "a most singular experience
occurred to me this morning. I have
owed Robinson some money for long
=. -o3 To Mot