Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-16

to his friends, especially Mr.. Goodman,
who had eaten and slept with Sandy for
many moons, and had even taken him
out shooting on Saturdays, when col
I lectors were in the habit of breaking in
on Baldwin's tranquility Of spirit.
So Joseph T. Goodman arose from his
seat down stairs when the master of cere-
monies said that the procession was now
ready to move, and he invaded the room
where the casket stood, surrounded by its
naughty double rank of titled pail bearers.
In all the grandeur of John McCullough's
clothes, with his arms extending grandly
beyond the sleeves of the great TRACE
dams coat, his legs wandering away be-
and his glimmering head protruding
nobly above his erstwhile hair, he came
with cleaning eye among them, and,
ranging himself fearlessly by the coffin
of his friend, he wilted the weeping COM
pany with the grandeur of his own grief
and indignation.
Gentlemen" said he, Il am here to
act as the pail bearer of Sandy Baldwin.
/ shall do it, and those of you who know
tie for the empty titles which the errors
of humanity bestow upon unworthy men.
He knew his friends while living. He
knows them still. | was his friend.
| am nothing more than that now. If he
| were he would indorse that sentiment"
At that moment Mr.. Goodman stopped
and taking hold of the casket, he gently
| fnlt 10 taS 70 no hoI
hefted it he said:
"Now gentlemen" and he looked like
a Numidian lion whose tail had been shut
| into the door of the Coliseum by mistake,
or Royal Bengal tiger, whose own pri-
vate martyr had been ruthlessly jerked
away from him by means of string;
pride, pomp and circumstance can no
| longer reach Sandy Baldwin in that
mysterious country to which he has
gone. Empty titles and the false gla-
rnour and glitter of hollow honors cannot
gladden. his dead heart now. Your hon
orable this and your judge that cannot
bring the flash of pride to his pallid clay.
But friendly hands shall be the last
to touch his bier, No stranger shall bear
my friend away to his grave, for, by -,
| will carry him myself"
Then he reached down and put his
strong arms about the casket of Sandy
Baldwin to shoulder it. But better judg.
ment moved the man who had charge OF
the services and the original programme
was carried out
Lawrence Barrett said it was at once
the grandest and the most ludicrous
sight he ever saw. There in the midst
of mourning, on the most solemn and
! impressive of occasions. stood a brave
and defiant man, in Prince Albert coat
that tried TO be dignitied but lacked the
necessary scope, and with trousers which
| shuddered at the idea of touching the
| earth by foot or so. With flashing eve
and distended nostril he defied the entire
programme, and threatening to beal
away the body of his friend, like a true
gladiator, he won his case, and SANDY
Baldwin went to his grave surrounded
by little band of plain American cit
liens, followed by the titled but over
awed pail bearers, whose names were re
spectively Messrs. Mud, Dennis anC
others.
1t was beautiful.
Had | been Sandy Baldwin at that mo
ment, | should have made superhumaI
effort to make few desultory remark.
at the grave.
Fresno is also noted latterly for hav
ing among its citizens a gentleman named
Whisk, who has done well for a number
of years by attaching the baggage OF
various theatrical companies. l do moi
mention this because have any persona
grudge against Mr.. Whisk, for am moi
"a theatrical company, pyether did he at