Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-23
A TEMPTATION.

In 1870 WINS tie one half owner Of a daily
newspaper in Davenport, la. had just left
college: was hop.fGl, enthusiastic. and the
prospei Is we're rose hued ami enchanting. A
year later great financial crisis swept over
the country and wrecked my journalistic
venture, leaving me bankrupt wi,Lout any
available resources.
There WINS man living in Davenport at
that date named McGuire. lie was connected
with family OF some wealth, and had been
a steamboat man for many years, and had
closed his career in that line through the loss
Of his eyesight Although totally blind he
preserved his energy and somewhat Of his
ambition, and determined to earn his own
living. Many schemes were devised and dis
cIisscd, and finally one WIS al opted. 1t con-
sisted in u panoramic exhibition The Nor
mon matter was at that time one OF consld-
cradle prominence, and it was believed that
the public interest in the history OF the saints
might be d,3y adrl on source of profit.
Accordingly u CURE ordered tho painting of
panorama a. Waicu, ia a sco,e OF pictures,
there were p9co,'ut Il the prin ,ipal events in
the career OF thr Moiinons.
Mcclure needed some one to oversee his
movements ana 70 act as the lecturer. | was
of, red the Io.tion at the til n munficent
salary OF so week, to he pnid Ill gold. with
the promise of LAVISH share in the prospec-
tive me, tab!, proiiis of the enterprise.
Albeit SOM , lat given h pcs-.mssic views
Of life il,s. mel ri, -pondent conclusions
| became eniili ,ed over his hril'iAut colorings
of the f, lure, nj saw i1yset the possessor of
unlimited wealth.
The opening night Of the panoramic VEN
ture was in June, lrlS There fair
audience, who l-tencd patient as | waded
for three hours through paper which l had
prepared for the occasion, art which was in
the main a young mans savage Pronunciation
OF the prosecutions of the unfortunate saints.
The next night we gave an exhibition at
Rock Island, across the river. The attend
ance was light and as had cut my lecture
to one half its original dimensions. l had
rrason to think that the audience was at
least better pleased with this feature of the
exhibition. A blind musician named Parker
was tue orchestra for the evening
A couple of days later we were en- route
eastward, and male our first halt at Geneseo.
The ntnicnce did not number more than
score At La Sale it rained II tue foun-
datious OF the great deep had again been
broken up. and the attendance in the cramred
and foul SIN Hing room in the court house.
which we had secured for tle exhibition,
could have been taliied by ones fingers
At kalana 200 we had Firemans hall and
but ten people present, three OF whom were
deadheads, With the result that Mcclure was
unable to pay the hall rent, and the pro-
prietor held his pictures security.
There is a little town a few miles beyond
Kalamazoo ON the Mich IAN Central raiIrond.
Immediately at the ciose Of nv lecture at
Kalamazoo Mcclure gave me thirty five
cents 10 ply my fare to this town that l
might distribute the handbillS of the pano-
ran.ic cxhibi,.on lie dill not then know TINT
his appliances would he held | left toward
miini,. hit and that was the Ii st | ever saw OF
the panorama and its proprietor.
secured the little hail contained in the
town, and distributed printed advertisements
The trains came. but no panorama. Two
days thus passed, when letter from Ne CURE
informed Inc that he was about to return to
Davenport to obtain some more money, and
that he would come hack in a few days
Ill
When, after some time had elapsed and the
promised panorama did not come, began to
feel my situation embarrassing The hotel
proprietor had accepted my explanation Of a
lack Of funds, and readily agreed to await
the arrival of McGuire At the end Of q
week matters began TO change. There was
no Mcclure, and was not the ,,ossessor Of a
single nickel l was ashamed to write for
assistance to any Of my friends; in fact,
could think Of none of tn. m that would prob
ably respond to a request for money, under
the circumstances. | became respondent:
my bright promises Of year before had all
faded, and felt myself an abeoluse failure.
region without friend. or resource, or hone.
One day. when sitting in a bowling alley
and watching a game between q couple Of
local experts, stranger entered, and after
looking around in an indifferent manner.
finally. as If by accident, dropped into the
seat adjoining mine. Some peculiar stroke
by one of the players elected a remark from
me, to which be re poiied This grew into
conversation, and later into IN Intimacy. He
was n tail man, about 50 years Of age. with
smooth, open face, keen brown eyes, dark
hair and physique indicating the possession
Of great strength He was very sociahie in
his methods. treating freely at the bar, and
had at his command a large supply Of money.
especially in the share OF gold coin, a nand-
fui Of which he was in the habit Of pulling
from his pocket when lie had to pay for some
purchase.
He seemed to take liking for me- He cul-
tis atei nly acquaintance. He had been about
the world good deal and knew many curl
Gus people and wonderful things In my
loneliness be was a welcome distraction, and
became attached to him and We were IN
separable.
".
One bright Sabbath he invited me 10 takea
walk into the country. We stroile6 along ths
wagon road for a mile or %, and theu surnsd
into meadow near the center of which ~
. large tree. To this b. Id TIE way, and
~a~r ws reached Il ~ ~ dp~n wi1AsS-anA