The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-10-16

ZE ~
ROsnltc aUent to meet them.
ences such defiance so long as it is no
| leveled at the old institutions of aristoc
racy; and this imagination particular.
| relishes antinomian tendencies in the lint
of contempt of northern rules, among
which are counted the revenue laws
In some way Mr.. Ellis embodied THU
irrepressible southern defiance. He look
ed it, and his past career had accorded
with it.
On the other hand. he was gentle
sweet voiced and almost amiable. HI
had many of the elements Of greatness
not the least of which was enthusiasm
and perfect self reliance. His operations
in illicit distilling had been on rather
grand scale, and his profits had been cor
respondingly heavy; but his mastery
tact and skill had been shown to best ad.
vantage in his settlement of the whole
matter with the revenue officials in such
way as to save his fortune and his lib.
erty as we'll He had come to Savannah
with the reputation of a brilliant fellow.
In fact, he was everywhere privately
discussed as hero, his achievements
and adventures losing nothing in the
course of frequent telling. He was well
aware of his prestige, and very quietly
he pursued the advantage it gave him
He had determined to turn his energies
to strictly legitimate pursuits; but, while
nominally a broker in cotton. his
thoughts were fixed on large schemes in
another channel. He saw the broad field
that the south offered for railroad build
ing, especially southern Georgia and
Florida. to which field Savannah held
the key He began at once to study the
situation of all the railroads Of Florida,
and to gather information relative to
certain proposed lines. 1t was not long
till he had mastered such knowledge as
promised to serve his turn. He planned
boldly, but with great care.
Before Mr.. Roosevelt was aware OF
any move, the intrepid tyro in his own
field had got firm control of three pro-
posed routes, with land grants attached,
in Florida, and was negotiating with
New York capitalists for placing the
bonds and procuring money and iron for
building. 1t had been so cleverly ex-
ecuted that Mr. Roosevelt was compelled
to admire and respect the genius of the
man who had originated it, But it
called for prompt action. A telegram
was sent to Mr. Largely requiring him
10 come to Savannah at once. An out
line of the dangerous break in the plan
they had made at Chicago, caused by
this brilliant coup Of Ellis, was en-
bodied in the dispatch. The answer was
short but it meant good deal:
start today. Edgar Juliae will be with me- |
LARGELY.
Mr.. Roosevelt saw at once that Ellis
had in him the germ Of success, and he
viewed him as all the more dangerous Oh
account of his youth and inexperience
Genius is often successful where trained |
experience would fail; it is the success
Of audacity backed by enthusiasm.
The telegram from Mr.. Largely was
he first intimation received at Roose-
velt place OF Edgar Julian's return to
Chicago. In fact he had just arrived
rom New York, and calling at once on
Mr.. Largely had found the latter quite
excited over the dispatch from Savan-
iah. To Mr. Largely this opportune re-
urn of his lawyer and financial adviser
vas great relief. 1t lifted heavy re-
possibility, and gave a mighty impetus
o his energy.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself felt that good
leal might justly be expected of Julian
n the sharp struggle which must soon
'egin, a struggle which would ultimately
INVOLVE the ownership Of the most valu-
BILE railroad in Florida.
Sir Edmond Kane, a distinguished
English baronet, and the representative
I large London capital, had arrived in
lew York, and would soon be at Jack
onville with view to capturing por-
ION of the system projected by Messrs
and Largely.
There was no time to be lost. Vigor-
us action and comprehensive judgment
'ere called for There must be com ,
ination of forces and interests II :.
.ruck Mr.. Roosevelt suddenly that his :
-and schemes were liable to burst at ,
~ moment.
Mr.. Frank Ellis went right on, once
, had started in his railroad operations. '
he newspapers began to be full of his /
,ings. He was called Southern Jim b
ske. a young Vanderbilt. and his
,wer and influence increased prodi-
ously He had gained the confidence
I'd aid of New York capitalists, and his
ergy seemed without limit 1t was as
a mountain storm had struck the stag o
mt waters of Savannahs financial
relies. The bankers and brokers all c
Dked out to see what it could mean. s.
Rosalie soon became aware OF Mr. Il
lis brilliant movements. though he II
yer mentioned them to her She read p
e newspapers. and Colonel Talbot often d
oke in high praise of the young rail
ad king front the Cherokee hills" who e
As revolutionizing internal improve
snts in Florida and southern Georgia Of
. could not help feeling a certain "a
de in Ellis success. on the score that
was from the pocket of course fo