Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1890-11-27
The Three BurglarS---- Continued.

male curiosity is an unknown quantity,
and she unhesitatingly replied that she
would like to hear the young mans
story. sat down in despair 1t was
useless to endeavor to Withstand this
yearning for personal information-on
of the curses, may say, OF our present
civilization. The young man gave no
time for change Of opinion, but immedi-
ately began. His voice was rich anc
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 l been in situation
so embarrassing, so humiliating, as this.
In the course of my studies and expert
-ences I have found that in literature
and journalism, as we'll as in art, one
can make true picture only of what
one has seen. Imagination is all very
we'll, often grand and beautiful, but
imaginative authors show us their innor
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 l have oe-
voted myself to the study of Realism.
'sWith this end in view, have mado
it rule never to describe any thing
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
for their virtues, nor Judge them proper
ly for their faults. If I could prevent
crime 1 would annihilate it, and WHOM
it ceased to exist the necessity for de-
scrtbing it would also cease. But itdoes
exist. 1t is powerful element in the
r.fe of the human race. Being known
and acknowledged everywhere, itshould
be understood, therefore it should BIO de-
seribed. The grand reality of which we
are part can never be truly compre-
hended until we comprehend all it's
parts. But I will not philosophy.
1 have devoted myself to Real
ism, and in order to be conscientious
student l study it in all it's branches.
1 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 &C.
company a burglarious expedition. Ny
sole object was the acquisition of
knowledge of the subject-knowledg
which to me would be valuable and, /
may say, essential. 1 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 find me here tonight in this
company. As l came here for the pur
pose of earnest and thorough investiga
ton 1 will frankly admit that would
not have interfered with his processes,
but, at the same time, I would Lave
made it my business to see that no
material injuries should result to any
members of this family
''That was very kind Of you" I 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.
Gas for me-" said Aunt Martha, very
sympathetically 81 think that the stll..J
of Realism may be carried great doal
too far. do not think that there is thu
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, tho
same as some other things. Besides,
this realistic description gets to be very
tiresome. If ouSsrally want to be 2
wrfter, young man, Why don't you txy
your hand on some original composi-
ton? Then you might write some thisg
which would be interesting"
ssAh, madam" said the young man.
-castins his eyes on the floor, SIT would
30 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
. second place."
VI OOuAcO WO WoAu w ACdI yOui
STORY" said Aunt Martha; 'that's what
we have been staying here for"
{. ''If am unbound" said the. young
man, looking at me, ~ could speak
more freely"
mo doubt of it," said L; ''but perhaps
you might run away before you finished
your story. l wouldn't have that hap
pen or the world"
'sDon't make fun of him." said Aunt
Martha. 81 was going to ask you to
cut him loose, but after what you say !
think it would perhaps be just as well
to keep them all tied until the nara
tives are completed"
With sigh of resignation the young
Han began his story.
81 am American born, but my father
who was a civil engineer and OF hisA
rank in his profession, was obliged.
when I was quite small boy, to go t
Austria, where we had extensive con.
tracts for the building of railroads. Il
that country I spent the greater bart :.
SRly boyhood and youth. There I VIZ
educated in the best schools, my faeil7,
sparing no money to have me taught