Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-02-19

would like to hear the young mans
story. | sat down in despair. 1t was
useless to endeavor to Withstand this
yearning for personal information-one
of the curses, l may say, of our present
civilization. The young man gave no
time for change of opinion, but immedi-
ately began. His voice was rich and
rather low, and his manner exceedingly
pleasing and gentle.
81 wish TO state in the first place."
said he, THAT am reporter for the
press. In the exercise of my vocation /
have frequently found myself in
peculiar and unpleasant positions, but
never before have / been in a situation
so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this.
In tho course of my studies and expert
ences have found that in literature
and journalism, as we'll as in art, one
can make a true picture only of what
one has seen. Imagination is all very
we'll, often grand and beautiful, but
imaginative authors show lis their inner
selves and not our outer world; there is
to-day demand for the real, and it is
demand which will be satisfied with
nothing but the truth. have deter
mined, as far as in me lies, to endeavor
to supply this demand. and I have de-
voted myself TO the study of Realism.
with this end in view, ! have made
1t a rule never to describe any thing l
have not personally seen and examined.
If we would thoroughly understand and
appreciate our fellow beings we must
know what they do and how they do it,
otherwise we can not give them credit
kI@t,, i
ly for their faults. II I could prevent
crime would annihilate it, and when
it ceased 10 exist the necessity for de-
scribing it would also cease. But itdoes
exist. IL is a powerful element in the
life of the human race. Being known
and acknowledged everywhere, itshould
be understood, therefore it should be de-
scribed. The grand reality of which we
are a part can never be truly compre-
hended until we comprehend all its
parts. But l will not philosophize.
l have devoted myself TO Real
ism, and in oder TO be a conscient tious
student l study it in all its branches
l am frequently called upon to
write accounts of burglars and burg
laries, and in order to thoroughly un-
derstand these people and their method
of action | determined, as soon as the
opportunity should offer itself, to ac-
company burglarious expedition. My
sole object was the acquisition of
knowledge of the subiect-knowledg
which to me would be valuable and,
may say, essential. l engaged this
man, James Barlow, to take me with
him the first time he should have on
hand an affair of this kind, and thus it
is that you lind me here tonight in this
company. AS l came here for the pur-
pose OF earnest and thorough investiga-
tion ! will frankly admit that / would
not have interfered with his processes,
but, at the same time, | would have
made it my business to see that no
material injuries should result to any
members of this family"
"That was very kind of YOU 1 said, at
which my wife looked at me somewhat
reproachingly.
''If he really intended it," she re-
marked, 'and do not see why that was
not the case, it was kind in him"
''As for me-" said Aunt Martha. very
sympathetically, Il think that the study
of Realism may be carried great deal
JOO lar OO AlOO Oh1hh OAd1 t1CIO ID Gno
slightest necessity for people to know
any thing about burglars. If people
keep talking and reading about diseases
they will get them, and If they keep
talking and reading about crimes they
will find the iniquity is catching, the
ssIne as SOME other things. Besides,
this realistic description gets to be very
tiresome. If you really want to be a
writer, young man, why don't you try
your hand on some original compost
ton? Thea you might write something
which would be interesting"
''Ah, madam" said the young man,
casting his eyes on the floor, ''it would
be far beyond my power to write any
thing more wonderful than what have
known or seen. If | may tell you some
of the things which happened to me
you will understand why | have become
convinced that in this world of amazing
realities imagination must always take
a second place"
''Of course we want to hear your
story" said Aunt Martha; that's what
we have been staying here for
IF | am unbound" said tho young
man, looking at me, Il could speak
more freely"
mo doubt of it,'' said +, Shut perhaps
you might run away before you finished
your story. wouldn't have that hap
pen for the warld.
Don't make fun of him." said Aunt
Martha. Il was going to ask you to
cut him loose, but after what you say
think it would perhaps be inst as well
tf.I Iraaza fhara nj tod
tives are completed"
With sigh of resignation the Young
man began his story.
II am American born, but my father,
who was a civil engineer and of high
rank in his profession, was obliged,
when was quite small boy, to go to
Austria, where we had extensive con
tracts for the building of railroads. In
that country / spent the greater part of
my boyhood and youth. There l was
educated in the best schools, my father
sparing no money to have me taught
every thing that gentleman should
know. My mother died when | was a
mere infant, and as my fathers vocation
made it necessary for him to travel
great deal, my life was often lonely
one. For society l depended entirely
upon my fellow scholars, my tutors and
masters. 1t was my fathers intention,
however. that when had finished my
studies should go to one of the great
European capitals, there to mix with
the world
s.Bpt when this period arrived / was
in no haste 10 avail myself of the ad
vantages he offered me. Ny tastes were
studious, my disposition contemplative.
and was q lover of rural life.